The ling fishing has been good but what an array of quality cod.

[big cod]

It may be possible to return blown ling with a device used in Australia. It is a lead weight with a big 9/0 barbless hook sticking out of the top of it. The idea is to hook the ling through the top lip with the hook point protruding into the fishes mouth. The weight is attached to a rod and line at the hook shank and lowered to the seabed which recompresses the bladder. The weight when retreived will unhook the fish.

I have thought about getting one made, but I am also convinced the fish will die anyway. I saw an American report years ago which said any fish with a swim bladder would die if caught and returned in depths in excess of 90ft.

Alan

Alan Cefas did a survey a few years ago on returning cod if they were brought to the surface i think they did the survey in water between 150-200ft cod were caught on longline and were then tagged with an electronic senser and returned what they found out was the cod went down into midwater for roughly about a week to decrompress then they gradually return to the bottom interesting stuff but on the other hand for some reason when a trawler brings fish to the surface most die if returned it must be the speed of the winch brining the net to fast to the surface what does the damage.

paul.

[paulthespark]

when i've been boat fishing and have a mixture of cod and ling, i bring them home and my wife makes fantastic fish pies with the cod and ling, added prawns, nice creamy fish sauce, mashed spuds with garlic and loads of butter as a topping, then on top of that grilled mature cheddar and on top of that sliced grilled vine ripend toms, one of my fave dishes and you know what makes it taste so good the strong flavour of the ling.

[wildcard]

Alan Cefas did a survey a few years ago on returning cod if they were brought to the surface i think they did the survey in water between 150-200ft cod were caught on longline and were then tagged with an electronic senser and returned what they found out was the cod went down into midwater for roughly about a week to decrompress then they gradually return to the bottom interesting stuff but on the other hand for some reason when a trawler brings fish to the surface most die if returned it must be the speed of the winch brining the net to fast to the surface what does the damage.

paul.

Interesting stuff Paul. I think the thing with net caught fish is the sheer weight of fish pressing down on the ones below them, literally tons of fish in some cases. The ones in the mid to bottom of the net have the life squeezed out of them and cannot be returned alive.

Alan