In 2011, why not be a better sportsman? - two tips inside!

[Joe M]

I'm not sure how you can argue that a barbed hook dose less or the same damage as barb less stick both in you pull them out and see what leaves a large whole.

the 30 sec come from multiple studies where they exercise fish then hold them out of water for set time and study survival rates.
"As you'd expect, the control group had a 100% survival rate. The rainbow trout that were exhaustively exercised and not exposed to air survived at an 88% rate. However, the rate of survival for fish exposed to air for 30 seconds was only 62%, and those that were held out of the water for 60 seconds had a mere 28% chance of living to fight another day."

the line i like from one article is

"Holding a fish out of the water for 60 seconds or even 30 seconds would be like a human running full speed for a half an hour and then immediately being submerged in water for up to one full minute"

if you want some reading material this is what came up with a quick search
one for rainbows
http://www.wildtroutstreams.com/CatchRelease/catch_and_release_review_and_guidelines.pdf
one for Atlantic salmon
http://www.asf.ca/docs/uploads/tufts.pdf

as for your question on , whats the most humane way to fillet and eat a fish? do it like the asians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivstO1Nv0rY&feature=fvst

Ok with the 30 second thing, although I'd like to see that same study on a fish that is not so sensitive, like bass or pike. I would expect slightly different results.

The main issue i have here is that you are saying that the 1-2 millimeter hole size difference between a barbless hook and a properly removed barbed hook is going to make a difference in fish survival. It absolutely is not. That hole would be closed in a few days and the fish wouldn't know better either way. The same damage can be done by an improperly removed barbless as an improperly removed barbed.

If your not careful, the fish might die either way, but I'm not going to worry about that while fishing. I go to college to worry about stupid crap that doesn’t matter, I fish to not care about college. And to eat fish. And I will never consider using barbless hooks for everyday fishing.

 

[Joe M]

pengu while i don't argue your point in any way, it is trout and salmon being used in those studies, and they seem to be affected much more by this than other native fish correct?

at the end of the day, barbless will harm the fish less, but cause more losses. use your own judgment, and happy fishing

This

Salmon and trout I dont even lift out the water if I plan to release. But fish like pike, walleye, bass, and catfish they can sometimes breathe for hours out of the water.

And This

 

[Northern Pike]

yes it is true, i have accidentally killed trout using barbless hooks to, trout and salmon are alot less hardy than "pond fish" like bass pike, catfish, etc. Mainly when im trout fishing I use a fly rod with barbless flys, while im out spin and baitcast fishing for bass, pickerel, pike, catfish etc. I use barbed hooks, don't want to loose a fish just because i felt it would help the percentage of survival, I've got property with ponds all over it, I've caught bass, pickerel, and crappie that I ave caught before using barbed hooks, so they can survive. And btw I always catch and release unless its a perch or walleye, then they hit the frying pan.

 

[busterbrown]

just about all my flies are barbless and the smallest one i have is a 24 i think. it is more gratifying though