How To Hold A Catfish By The Gills

Part of our fishing 101 series this video discusses the proper way to hold a catfish.

How to hold a catfish by the gills. When a catfish is removed from the water its spines extend instinctively. This is the preferred method of holding or handling any catfish thats small enough for you to get your hand around and hold firmly. Catfish have three spines and the smaller the catfish the sharper the. Water is more than 700 times denser than air with an oxygen diffusion rate that is about 10000 times lower.

Placing your fingers behind the gill plate or the flaps on either side of the fishs head will typically give you a secure grip. Now that the hooks have been removed place your hands underneath the gill plate but do not touch the gills themselves. For more on the hold check out our article for practicing proper catch and release here one final point on gills if you are not taking a quick photo of your catch there should then be no need to remove the fish from the water. This video explains how to hold a catfish so you dont get stung by the catfish spines.

Small cats holding the fish from the top is the preferred method. That fishs life is worth more than a 2 hook. Be very careful not to touch or insert your fingers in the actual gills which are delicate organs necessary for the fishs survival. The dorsal fin spine can actually serve as a backstop where you can wedge your hand.

Position the webbing between your thumb and forefinger on the rear edge of the dorsal fin. Hold the fish horizontally with your hand behind the gill plate.