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The Fish Grip is a product sold by Norton Brass Rattler ,Jackson MS.
It is a fish gripping device that resembles Vise Grip Pliers but made of a floating plastic material and designed in a way that securely holds the fish by the mouth but without causing injury. I use them on my guideboats along with Fish Off Gloves, everyday.
Because the harvest season on stripers is closing this Saturday, that also means that anglers will be catching and releasing throughout Maryland waters at least until April and for some, all year 'round.
Consequently , a writing on the reverse side of the Fish Grip package is something that needs to be published on a public forum. Where better than here ? It raises some important issues not the least of which is whether fish that are to be released are being handled in a manner that most likely causes harm to the fish. Here is the quote.
Notice to Conservation Minded Anglers
Anglers who wish to release their catch in a relatively unharmed condition should discontinue the ancient practice of lifting a fish from the water by its mouth. Recent scientific studies reveal that this could possibly be a death sentence, especially for larger fish. Though they may vigorously swim away after being photographed, weighed, and released; fish could slowly hemotthage and die if held up by their mouth. A fish's delicate internal organs are shifted and damaged by gravity alone when held out of the water in a vertical position. We strongly recommend gaining good control of fish while still in the water, by clamping the Fish Grip onto its jaw. This will enable the angler to more surely lift the fish horizontally from the water with a hand under the fish's belly for support. Please tell your friends.
I've never read these studies, but there is an element of common-sense in this quote.
ORIGINAL POST BY CAPT BRADY BOUNDS:
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...67#post1897167
It is a fish gripping device that resembles Vise Grip Pliers but made of a floating plastic material and designed in a way that securely holds the fish by the mouth but without causing injury. I use them on my guideboats along with Fish Off Gloves, everyday.
Because the harvest season on stripers is closing this Saturday, that also means that anglers will be catching and releasing throughout Maryland waters at least until April and for some, all year 'round.
Consequently , a writing on the reverse side of the Fish Grip package is something that needs to be published on a public forum. Where better than here ? It raises some important issues not the least of which is whether fish that are to be released are being handled in a manner that most likely causes harm to the fish. Here is the quote.
Notice to Conservation Minded Anglers
Anglers who wish to release their catch in a relatively unharmed condition should discontinue the ancient practice of lifting a fish from the water by its mouth. Recent scientific studies reveal that this could possibly be a death sentence, especially for larger fish. Though they may vigorously swim away after being photographed, weighed, and released; fish could slowly hemotthage and die if held up by their mouth. A fish's delicate internal organs are shifted and damaged by gravity alone when held out of the water in a vertical position. We strongly recommend gaining good control of fish while still in the water, by clamping the Fish Grip onto its jaw. This will enable the angler to more surely lift the fish horizontally from the water with a hand under the fish's belly for support. Please tell your friends.
I've never read these studies, but there is an element of common-sense in this quote.
ORIGINAL POST BY CAPT BRADY BOUNDS:
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...67#post1897167
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