Conference wahoo::fishing

    Try this: place a wet rag (an old terry towel works best) over the
    fish's head. Grasp as gently as possible from the top of the head.
    USE LONG NOSE PLIERS to remove the hook.
    Or, if you can do it, gently place your foot on the fish and work
    the hook out.
    
    Some tricks to make release easier where blues are concerned:
      		- replace tail treble hooks on lures with a single.
    		- remove 1 or all belly hooks on plugs (if lure balance
    			is compromised, add split shot)
    		- Remove (or bend down) all barbs
    
    Or...get someone else to do it for you   :-)
    
    Bagel

    I use 80lb 24 inch steel leaders to help me land a blue. In the
    boat I just grab the leader and hoist the fish in, no gaff involved.
    I then just hold the fish down, sometimes between mu foot and gunnel
    of the boat and twist out the hook. Bluefish are tough critters
    and I have yet to toss one back that did not high tail it off.
    I may be wrong but as long as you do not puncture the body
    cavity or damage the gills the fish will probaly do fine.
    
    
    Bruce
    
    (also get a thick pair of leather or rubber glove to give you some
    added protection if you want)

    Little Stinker makes a tool called fish grippers.  They are great
    for holding catfish or other toothy denizens of the freshwater deep.
    Would they work for Blues?  I think you can get them in different
    sizes

    Last couple of years a group of us DEC'ies have gone out to Nantucket
    for Blues. What a blast! The captain and his mate use wire mesh
    gloves to handle fish. They also use them to fillet fish. These
    gloves help even when grabbing the leader. 
    
    I would not try a fish gripper on a big blue, but it would work on
    small ones. 
    
    Another thought. When possible use single hooks. You don't need
    trebles when the bules are hitting, they'll get hooked. Single hooks
    are much easier to remove.
    
    Love them BLUES!!!!!!!
    
    			Ed

    	I went to a Bluefishing seminar recently and the question of
    releasing them came up. The speaker, who was a party boat captain,
    claimed that you could hold them by inserting your index and middle 
    fingers into the opening behind the gill plates to hold them still. I 
    am suspicious about doing this without harming the gills themselves but
    I thought I'd report what he said. You can make your own judgement.
    The next time I go bluefishing I intend to look it over closely.
    	I use the same general area as the speaker recommends but I
    grab them with a pinch hold at the hard flesh/cartilage area on the
    belly side of the fish behind the gill plates, where the flesh comes to
    a "^" shape. This grip keeps the head under control while I remove the
    hook with pliers. I don't think this grip hurts the fish. Your fingers
    are grabbing the flesh/cartilage and the plates do their job of
    protecting the gills themselves. I also like to use a wet cotton
    glove while I do this. It protects both my hand and the fish.
    
    Paul       

    sometimes you can do more harm than good by trying to remove a hook.
    if left alone it will corrode out in a few days. 

    
    re -1
    
         but leaving a $6.00 - 8.00 lure can get expensive if the
    fish are hitting all day!
    
    :^)
    

    What I do with bass and other fresh-water fish (pickerel in particular)
    is to either push the barb through and cut it off or unscrew the
    treble hook.  The first method is preferrable as there is no way
    for a fish to hook it's mouth closed.  Replacing treble hooks is
    a small investment to pay in insuring good fishing for future
    generations.
    
    Tim
    

    re: .8
    Unfortunately, saltwater lures, for the most part, are either
    thru-wired or the hooks are mounted on split rings. Also, said hooks
    are usually made from rather hefty wire and not easily cut. Not
    to mention the bluefish's penchant for REVENGE.
    
    Bagel _who_has_the_scars_

    re: .9 "Bagel _who_has_the_scars_"
    
    One of the first things I tell someone who has never gone bluefish
    fishing before is "Never turn your back on a live bluefish". I don't
    have the scars (yet) and hopefully will never get them. I'm surprised
    that I haven't seen more stories in this notes file. All of the
    old timers that I run into have amusing stories about their scars...
    
    I've been thinking about removing the barbs from the hooks, which
    would make releasing easier. Any hints on how to play a fish, set
    the hook, etc, when you are using a barbless hook?
    
    	Marty Sasaki

    As I mentioned earlier about using my foot to help hold down a Blue...
    
    I have had many more close calls getting a good nip in the ankle
    than losing a finger!! A loose Blue on the deck and bare feet is
    no place to be!
    
    Bruce

    While were on the subject of blues , please bare with me and let
    me go off on a little tangent. One of the reasons the Blues are
    so good at inflicting wounds is their choppers but the other reason is
    that they are one of three fish that see as well out of water as they
    do in the water. Thats right they have perfect vision while
    some fish are almost blind when out of water blues see you and
    your fingers very well , chomp, thanyou.
    
    I can't seem to remember the other two fish but we could make this
    a little quiz.. I'll try and remember the answer.
                 
    Does any one know the other fish....that see as well out of water
    as they do in the water....
    
    Bear

    
    
                       I use the STEP & RIP method!! 
     
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
           Ya,STEP on their heads and RIP the hook out of their mouth!!!
                                                                
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
                   
              Been sliced before and got me a pair of hook removers.
              They are about a foot long with pistol grip handle and
              a set of jaws on the other end.Work great!
    
    
    
    
                                          The Keg

    When fishing for blues I remove the treble hooks from the lure that I'm
    using, and replace then with a single hook in the tail end of the lure.
    I also either squash the barb flat, or file it off. With this setup I
    usually end up with clean hookups, and providing I pay attention and
    don't give em a lot of slack I rarely lose them. When I get them to the
    boat, I grab the line by the leader ( I use 3' steel leaders), and give
    the hook a twist with a pair of pliers. I never even bother to bring
    them into the boat. This proceedure has been working well for me for
    the last 5 years, and hundreds of blues. 
    
    Wayne

    RE.-?
    
    Since you asked for bluefish stories, here's mine.
    
    During a blitz last December at IBSP, I had a large blue follow
    the one I had on the hook right up to my knees.  When the fish brushed
    up against my waders he turned and proceded to take a small bite
    out of my waders, leaving me with a minor cut.  About 15 min later
    I was releasing another blue, (about 15 lbs.) and he turned and
    bit me in the ankle, this one did not draw any blood.  At that point
    I ran out of patches and called it a day.
    
    Joe D Who_never_forgets_the_Shoe_Goo_anymore
    

    re: .10
    Marty, as mentioned elsewhere, the only problem in using a 'barbless'
    hook is keeping the line tight. Although... when surf fishing and
    planning to release, a bit of slack line when the fish is in the
    wash can easily solve the release 'problem'. On the beaches I fish
    getiing the fish into the wash 'counts' as a catch, since the regulars
    keep very few fish anyway.
    One reccommendation when changing over to a single hook on a lure:
    I use the Mustad Salmon hook (I think the number is 9510XXX). These
    hooks can be sharpened easily, the barbs are soft (for bending down),
    and they have a DEEP gap- the point almost reaches the eye. That
    deep gap usually ensures that a tight line will keep you hooked
    up.
    
    
    Now, about my scars.....
    	I guess the funniest story is the day I kept a few 2-3 pounders.
    Back at the car park, I was talking to someone while removing the
    fish from my stringer. I ignored the 'pin prick' I felt until my
    partner pointed out that my finger was sliced open. I had inadvertantly
    brushed my finger along the blues lower jaw. Not only did I provide
    everyone with a good laugh, but I had the "honor" of being the first
    patient at the first-aid station that season.
    
    Bagel

    	I hit a school of snapper blues in Sandy hook one time while
    out in my 15' center console with two of my brother-in-laws. We
    filled up 3 small (kitchen barrel sized) trash bags. We caught
    them so fast that the ones at the bottom of the bag were still alive
    and managed to bite through the bag. The other 2 bags did the same
    shortly after. We had to ride back to the ramp standing on the seats
    cause the whole deck was wall to wall snappers.
    	Luckily no one got bit but it was close.........RAYJ
    

    
    I am all for catch and release...  and I've heard about how Blues
    grow so fast in such a short period of time...  BUT what is their
    life expectancy?  How long does a blue live (unmolested in open
    water)?
    
    --chas