Why You Should Use Fish Grips (Safer Fish Handling Tips)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Do you know why you should use fish grips???
Do you currently use fish grips or other tools to safely handle fish for catch and release?
This video is all about safe fish handling practices with fish grips as well as some of my favorites I have with me on every trip.
Take a look!
Why You Should Use Fish Grips [VIDEO]
Become A Better Angler While Saving Time & Money
My favorite grips to use is called “The Fish Grip” and they are made using plastic right here in the U.S.A.
The orange color of them is highly visible and the advantage of plastic grips is that they do float if you drop them.
So why should you use fish grips?
Grips VS. Nets
Fish grips are a great alternative to fishing nets.
When using a net to collect your catch, the mesh of the net can rub the protective slime coating off of the fish.
A net with rubber mesh is the better choice if you do choose to use a landing net.
But it can still cause damage to the fins or tail if those appendages get caught in the mesh.
It can actually split the tail which you may see on some of the fish you catch.
That can affect the propulsion of the fish when they try to swim and gain speed to chase down food.
In turn, that has a major influence on the survival rate of that fish.
Plastic Grips VS. Metal
The wide plastic lip on The Fish Grip is much better on you and on the fish than some of those wire or metal grips out there.
The metal grips with very thin ends can poke a hole through the fish’s mouth, especially if the fish is thrashing around.
Now the fish has a large hole in its mouth that can affect how they feed moving forward.
When most fish go to feed, they create a suction with their mouth and gills to pull in water along with their meal.
But if there is a hole in their mouth, it can complicate their approach to feed.
When it comes to conservation, this is definitely something to keep in mind.
Larger Fish
For those larger fish that won’t fit in a net or you can’t get them onto your kayak, this is an excellent way to grab hold of the fish so you can remove the hook and release it safely.
You can keep them in the water alongside your vessel or pull them on board using the fish grips to grab the jaw remembering to support the belly with your other hand as you bring it onboard.
Also, fish grips help if you need to revive a fish after a long fight.
You can lock the fish grips onto the jaw and wrap the tether around your wrist or tie it off to the boat and drag the fish along until it is ready to swim away.
This helps run water through their gills to let the fish catch its breath and swim off safely.
Sharks, Barracuda, or Teethy Critters
For those fish out there with very many or very sharp teeth, fish grips are the safest way to handle these fish.
Because the grips are plastic, it is safe on the fish’s teeth and won’t cause damage.
Metal grips could potentially break fish’s teeth.
When handling fish with lots of teeth, try to grab hold of the bottom jaw with the grips and use your other hand to remove the hook with pliers or a fish dehooker.
While fish grips are the safe route to take when landing fish, they are pretty much useless if you aren’t catching fish.
If you’re struggling to find actively feeding fish in your area and are having a tough time getting on any bite, then you need to join us in the Insider Club.
We will help you move in the right direction and unlock the secrets to finding trends depending on the time of year and species you want to target.
If you have any questions or comments, be sure to drop them down below!!
Finding The Fish Help
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)
These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.
2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)
This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.
3. Community Reports (live feed)
The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Good straight to the point information Tony!
Thanks Danny!
Thanks, Tony.
You’re welcome Donn!
Great report! I know I asked at some point if there was an even better alternative to Fishgrips (which I have) as I am always looking to cause the least amount of stress and damage to the fish. I am glad to know I have the best option available currently. Great work as always.
Thank you for the great feedback Alan!
I try to use
Work great!
They are great, no rust and reasonably priced. Use them all the time
For sure! I do recommend rinsing them off after every trip though.The parts that hold the plastic pieces together are metal I believe.
Thanks for information I use plastic fish 🐟 grips
You’re welcome Bill!
Ty for the info. I am going to pick up a pair.
You’re welcome Ira!
Good info Tony, but there may be a caveat at least when dealing with Speckled Trout. The Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation within the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Tx A&M U. – Corpus Christi did exhaustive research on the survival of released Speckled Trout. One thing they noted was that boga style grips were better for Specks because they can deal with a hole in the skin of their jaw much better than they can with a broken jaw bone. By the way, survival rates of Specks not hooked down in the gullet or in the gills is very high. Tight lines.
Thanks Bill! Good to know! I actually don’t use the grips much at all on trout since they do have very fragile mouths. Seem to be best suited for reds, black drum, snook, stripers, and more of the “heavy duty” fish.
Great fish conservation tip Tony … a best management practice.
Thanks Buddy!
I might mention to keep that lanyard around your wrist when you have a large fish clamped. I once had a large red clamped up that I was reviving after a good battle.
Even though I had a good grip on the Fish Grips, one powerful unexpected head shake and that big red was swimming away with my fish grips and I couldn’t do anything but wish him luck. I hope he was eventually able to dislodge them and get on with his salty life. I felt pretty bad. Always keep the lanyard on my wrist or secured well to the kayak from now on.
Definitely want to keep them secure! It can be best to keep them attached to a lanyard.