Not ready for a big fish!

[cgBosun3]

Greetings; This weekend we finally got on some big cats, our first over 25 lbs. On Saturday, we were catching a bunch of little guys about 2-5 pounds, when we hooked a 40 pounder. We struggled to get it to the boat (using 10 pound test) and barely got it on deck with our net. Sunday the wife hooked a fish that could eat the 40 pounder! Our net was WAY too small and after a half hour, we just could not get the beast on deck (we have a pontoon boat) so we released it in the water. So... you folks that catch these things on a regular basis, what do y'all use to get them out of the water without hurting them?:helpsmilie:

[Salmo trutta]

Nice report. Wear a good leather work glove, grab the bottom jaw and heave the fish over the gunnels. They have enough slime on them to protect them for the most part. Actually a net probably removes more slime then landing them by hand.

I have only been blue cat fishing for five or so years. I never liked the idea of putting my hand in their mouth. They can bite down pretty hard but it's actually not that bad. Gloves make all the difference in the world. Otherwise you'll only end up with some scrapes. You won't lose a finger or anything. No teeth to worry about but dome decent jaw muscles.

[CaptMikeStarrett]

Ah but the death roll will break your fingers..or least your little pinkie one..

When a big cat gets on the boat and rolls up in a corner it can break your hand or wrist up. With the right twist even with a glove. I use a big net and pat the fish on the belly to check if it needs burping.

You net the fish and lift with the handle straight up or it will break the net also.

They can be very difficult at times.

BTW I was at the fish market down town and saw a 30 lber for sale. I asked if anybody ever buys the big ones and the monger said NOPE. I asked why you buy it then? He said it brings people up close like moths to a light.

Most of the time they end up in the dumpster after a week or two..

Capt Mike

[cgBosun3]

Thanks guys. I'm going for the net, if someone makes one big enough! Then again, it took me a YEAR to catch one that size, so i guess I'll have plenty of time. I fish salt water a lot and I need to stay out of the habit of sticking my hand in those toothy mouths!

[capuzzi2]

My net will hold a 60#. But in the back of my mind is that 100lber. Might have to risk an orthopedic injury for that one.

[ekim22]

I caught one that was probably between 30-40lbs last winter....I have to say, I was surprised at how hard it bit down on my hand when I grabbed it by the lower jaw. I had leather gloves on.

It didn't hurt or anything. Just a lot of pressure.

[martineta]

I bought the biggest net that Green Top sells. I call it my Optomist Net. Eats 60 pound cats for breakfast and 50 pound eel caught Stripers in the winter. I know I could put a 100 pounder in there with room to spare. I used to lip the big boys and still do on occasion when I forget the net. Without going to the shed, I think its a frabil brand.

[Nightfisher-]

I have catfished from a pontoon for 5 years now. If you don't have a low front deck (playpen) where you could reach down and grab a fish, you will need a large net. No other way to do it I can come up with. Mine is a Frabil Powercatch and it has landed fish up to 68lbs no problem. Once netted, grab the net by the hoop, NOT the handle, and lift straight up (with handle pointed up) and into the boat. Sometimes two people are needed to perform this maneuver. Weigh the fish in the net as well. Just hook the netting or hoop with your scale, lift everything, then subtract a couple of pounds for the net. (weigh your net to know exactly how much to take off) This saves the fish from the scale's hook damaging it's jaw by putting all that weight on one small spot. They also tend to flop when jaw hung directly on a scale and invariably wind up slamming to the floor of the boat. Not good for the fish. NEVER weigh one by hooking into it's gills or hold it up by the gills. Once again, not good for the survival of the fish after release. Use gloves to lift the fish from the net for photos. One is fine if you don't mind slime on the other. They can clamp down pretty hard, but it's not like they can crush anything with jaw strength alone. It's that roll that gets you the twisted wrist or popped finger joints. Just keep em held close to your body to keep them under control and keep two hand on them. One holding the lower jaw and one supporting hte belly. Watch out when you release one. This is when I get twisted on a lot. As soon as that tail touches the water....YEEOOWCH!

[J_MAN]

The Frabil Powercatch is the right way to go for huge fish.

I used to fish the Chesapeake for Stripers and had a huge net for the Spring run fish and still use it for the huge blues we get down on the Potomac.

[cgBosun3]

Thanks everyone. Decided to go with a bigger net. Hooked another huge (maybe not by y'alls standards) fish on Sunday, along with several others 15-25 lbs. After declining to put my hand in its mouth while it rolled like a gator, we released it in the water. Love those circle hooks!

[JPritch]

Definitely the big net is the way to go. I'm 6'3 and know a guy with a net that could scoop me up if I ever fell in.

I once hand grabbed a fish after my net got tangled up in some rods. I got my hand in its mouth and as I was lifting it over, the fish twisted, I lost my grip, and the hook snagged my pinky finger as the fish was falling. 42# of falling fish ripped the hook right out of my finger along with tissue the size of a bead. I did end up regrabbing the fish and got it aboard for some pics.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/JPritch1978/Hand.jpg

[cgBosun3]

Nice picture...thanks for sharing! I got a large net at BPS last week while I was passing thru Hampton. Those last few fish would have fit in this net, so I'm feeling ready to battle again! They were some fine fat fish, and pix in the water just didn't do them justice. Wish I could get my pictures to show up...see attachment(maybe)

[mini moe]

Here's a 71 1/2 lber in a not big enough net. Half the fish was hanging out of the net but my partner held it in with his hand.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/rats_bucket/Pops61stBirthdayPresent009.jpg (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/rats_bucket/Pops61stBirthdayPresent009.jpg)

[cgBosun3]

My older net was not deep enough, we could not get more than a third of the fish into it, and trying to grab its tail just made it more pissed off! Now that the barge is out of the water on its yard trailer, we will have to wait till early spring to try out the big net.
Very nice fish, by the way!:bigfish:

[JPritch]

Why put your boat up.....the fishing is about to get really good.

[odoiminioncatter]

Captain Mike,

Where is that fish market? i've heard some other bad stories about big fish like that. What a shame.
Thanks

[River Lizard]

Why put your boat up.....the fishing is about to get really good.


:clapping2::clapping2::rockon::clap:

[CaptMikeStarrett]

Captain Mike,

Where is that fish market? i've heard some other bad stories about big fish like that. What a shame.
Thanks

Maine Ave SW DC..

Capt Mike

[fishbill]

44'' red drum in a baby bass net. took me all of 5 seconds to throw this fish in the boat with a well undersized net. Its all about technique. You ALWAYS net a big fish or a good eating fish HEAD first. You get a fish head first and it cant swim backwards and its not going anywhere. Like theyre saying lift the net straight up otherwise the net will bend and break. Good fishn!
Bill

[cgBosun3]

We had to winterize the barge this year, I/O with raw water cooling and its a new engine under warrantee. About the net, it just was not deep enough; we just couldn't get enough of its head into the net to lift it, and we couldnt get the tail under control over the railings. Like I said, we were just unprepared for something over 20 pounds, let alone 40+. We own a plenty large enough net now.

We had been fishing for little cats, since after a year, we had not caught anything over 20 pounds. The kids were happy just having caught a lot of little guys, rather than sitting all day/night and getting 2-3 bites.

We started putting out little baits for the little guys and a few larger baits for something a bit bigger, and found the bigger ones liked the treats on the kid's rods! Go figure!

[River Lizard]

JPritch knows what I think about gloves! :2guns: :yes: What's a little blood?

[cgBosun3]

Wow - I never figured on this much response! Thanks to all, can't wait to get back on the water once deep freeze is over, about mid-March. I can't afford to replace a frozen/cracked block this year!

[PLAYIN' HOOKIE]

Great post! Wish I could get out there and catch some of those big cats!!

[LY2000]

All good advice above but since you are releasing them, bump your line weight up to 20# test.