experienced fisherman ???

[danny boy]

I have a question for experienced fisherman.

Does a macky die once it is touched and put back.

i was talking to a well experienced fisherman and he told me that macky have some kind of coating on their skin and once it is touched it dies.

This used to be a old wifes tale but he confirmed it by looking on the internet.

so if this true why put macky back once you have caught them.

Danny

[northeast1]

Yes they do (so the men in the white coats say) they are like trout, if you remove the protective coating they dont last long with diseases and skin issues, this causes them to die a not very nice death.

Using daylights catches lods and using spinners means you need to handle them more if using a trebble hook.

[Lowrider]

As always i say if you put a fish back as quickly and as gently as possible it has the chance to survive.
If you kill it and keep it,well ??????????????
Plus if it does go back and does die it will then feed other creatures within the sea.

[g-force]

After getting to grips with one of those Gemini disgorgers last winter I plan on using this to un-hook any mackerel that are to go back - no need to touch the fish, just slide the trace through the disgorger, pull gently and the fish drops back into the water. Of course this'll only work with a standard hook (which is all I use under a float) - a treble hook will still need taking out by hand.

Gary

[el_sid]

personally mate try not to handle them if ur not gonna keep them, stick a single on ur spinner and de-barb, then take ur fingers/forceps/pliers and grab the hook shank and basically flick the macky off hook and back to sea

another thing that will deff help if you handle them and worry bout their safted when returned, wet ur hands with sea water before handling(take an old tub etc and scoop bit of sea water up on ur way up pier)

again good to see someone who cares about the fish they are releasing

[jonny_s]

I have a question for experienced fisherman.

Does a macky die once it is touched and put back.

i was talking to a well experienced fisherman and he told me that macky have some kind of coating on their skin and once it is touched it dies.

This used to be a old wifes tale but he confirmed it by looking on the internet.

so if this true why put macky back once you have caught them.

Danny

Mackerel do seem to be particularly susceptible to poor handling. When you take this into account combined with the stress, injury, exhaustion and oxygen deprevation associated with being hooked and landed it is a fact not all fish will survive.

All we can do is be respectful and humane. I would assume if you are using feathers you are more likely to be wanting to keep them, but if you are more of a sport fisherman then try to use a single barbless hook on a spinner if targeting mackerel. A twist of the hook should be enough to release the fish without touching it and it stands a good chance of survival.

Jonny

[micky-quayle]

I have a question for experienced fisherman.

Does a macky die once it is touched and put back.

i was talking to a well experienced fisherman and he told me that macky have some kind of coating on their skin and once it is touched it dies.

This used to be a old wifes tale but he confirmed it by looking on the internet.

so if this true why put macky back once you have caught them.

Danny

i think it was probably me you were talking to about this on roker pier, i've done a bit more research on the internet and it appears if a mackerel is handled death occurs within approx 30 hours, handling damages the delicate skin lining and prevents the fish from keeping its osmotic balance. it appears the mortality rate is close to 100% if handled. the mortality rate is also assumed to be extremely high if using feathers / daylights as the mackerel will damage there skin against each other and the line. the only way a percentage may survive is to use a spinner with a single barbless hook and unhook without touching it so it goes straight back in the water. even doing this only a percetage will survive, how big this pecentage is is unclear.

[batt22]

might be better to use a clean rag dipped in sea water before handling ???, mackerel do seem to shed loads of scales when handled maybe that's what does the damage ?

[danny boy]

i think it was probably me you were talking to about this on roker pier, i've done a bit more research on the internet and it appears if a mackerel is handled death occurs within approx 30 hours, handling damages the delicate skin lining and prevents the fish from keeping its osmotic balance. it appears the mortality rate is close to 100% if handled. the mortality rate is also assumed to be extremely high if using feathers / daylights as the mackerel will damage there skin against each other and the line. the only way a percentage may survive is to use a spinner with a single barbless hook and unhook without touching it so it goes straight back in the water. even doing this only a percetage will survive, how big this pecentage is is unclear.

yes micky it was you who told me about this.

the reason for this that some people on this forum are saying that they returned macky alive and only keep what they need.what is the point in returning them if they die,why not stop catching them when you have enough.

micky thanks for the invite to gambia next year.

Danny

[Lowrider]

ywhy not stop catching them when you have enough.

Danny

A very good point

[paulthespark]

yes micky it was you who told me about this.

the reason for this that some people on this forum are saying that they returned macky alive and only keep what they need.what is the point in returning them if they die,why not stop catching them when you have enough.

micky thanks for the invite to gambia next year.

Danny

because we are anglers and i have yet to meet an angler who will stop fishing when the fish are there to be caught.

[Lowrider]

because we are anglers and i have yet to meet an angler who will stop fishing when the fish are there to be caught.

Maybe it is time that this should change.
Just as at one time people would take as many fish as they could now catch and release is more common.
Maybe it is time to have that as a more common ideal.
After all i have no doubt that examples such as this give ammo to the anti brigade

[dizzydaz]

because we are anglers and i have yet to meet an angler who will stop fishing when the fish are there to be caught.

i totally agree i keep what i need for the table and for bait during the winter months,and then il carry on with catch and release dont forget it is a great sport to be had on very light gear whats the point in fishing if its not to enjoy the sport

[paulthespark]

yes micky it was you who told me about this.

the reason for this that some people on this forum are saying that they returned macky alive and only keep what they need.what is the point in returning them if they die,why not stop catching them when you have enough.

micky thanks for the invite to gambia next year.

Danny

because we are anglers and i have yet to meet an angler who will stop fishing when the fish are there to be caught.

[SnaggedUpLad]

If I do catch/fish for mackey I'd rather keep it than release.

Main reason is because they're tasty. Other reasons, future bait and the fact that when handled they'll die.

Don't get me wrong I won't sit on the end of the pier fishing from dawn till dusk with a bag full, just enough to eat.