To bleed or not to bleed

[4tunate]

Recently returned from a six day trip which we caught limits of schoolie yellowtail and YFT (12 pound average, smaller models). The last day we targeted BFT and larger model YFT and had some good success. The crew on this boat does not spike the fish, nor do they bleed them. Straight into RSW. They do offer to gill and gut the big fish (over 40 pounds) for a nominal fee, but the majority of the catch did not get bled at all. Personally, I would have preferred to treat my catch with the respect it deserves by bleeding it. We were disappointed when we picked up our fish from the processor, the quality of the fish was not what it should have been. We spend a lot of money for these trips, and all sportsmen should take care of the bounty which they hunt and fish.

Is not bleeding the fish a common practice these days, or is this boat a one off?

 

[Errin]

.

Which boat charges for bleeding your fish?

 

[Big_Tuna_]

Definitely gut and gill tuna, it's so easy to do

 

[lowprofile]

At the very least bleed it. Very easy to do with a thumb stuck into the membrane at the back of the gills. It’s not perfect but gets most of it out.

 

[CarterStambelos]

Recently returned from a six day trip which we caught limits of schoolie yellowtail and YFT (12 pound average, smaller models). The last day we targeted BFT and larger model YFT and had some good success. The crew on this boat does not spike the fish, nor do they bleed them. Straight into RSW. They do offer to gill and gut the big fish (over 40 pounds) for a nominal fee, but the majority of the catch did not get bled at all. Personally, I would have preferred to treat my catch with the respect it deserves by bleeding it. We were disappointed when we picked up our fish from the processor, the quality of the fish was not what it should have been. We spend a lot of money for these trips, and all sportsmen should take care of the bounty which they hunt and fish.

Is not bleeding the fish a common practice these days, or is this boat a one off?

lmk the boat so I don't book with them lol

 

[4tunate]

Yes, agreed. The crew should have bled all the fish, but they didn't. They would not allow customers to use spikes or knives on deck. Is this an anomaly on this one boat, or is it common to just toss em into RSW and call it good?

 

[CarterStambelos]

Yes, agreed. The crew should have bled all the fish, but they didn't. They would not allow customers to use spikes or knives on deck. Is this an anomaly on this one boat, or is it common to just toss em into RSW and call it good?

They won't ike jime your fish but they should always spike and bleed them before RSW.

 

[eat'm_raw]

If nothing else, cut the gills (or rip them out) with your dykes. Even rockfish should be bled, makes a huge difference in quality of the meat. But especially the pelagics. Just inexcusable for the boat to not deal with that. Surprised they didn't just leave your catch in gunnysacks on deck while they were at it.

Name the boat, please.

 

[Fish Assassin]

4tunate,

Yes all fish no matter of their size should be bleed and cared for by the crew no matter what or who’s vessel your on.

I think I was on this trip, or at least the same boat.
$10 for bleeding and gutting your larger fish. The RSW system also seemed to not be functioning right as they kept dumping bags of salt in the hole.

My fish after being processed is bloody and pre brined. It’s literally salty. Couldn’t be more disappointed in my tuna adventure this year.

I asked the captain about the lack of bleeding and was told the processing facility I was using would be able to clean it up for me….. what an absolute joke.

I even asked the deckhands about spiking and was told it was considered dangerous, so were assist hooks on knife jigs.

My smaller fish were not bleed, or spiked. Smaller fish went straight to the warm RSW system and my lager fish were beaten to submission with a axe handle and gilled for a $10 fee.

I was shocked with 28 people at a time this boat wouldn’t know what paying clients would be expecting.

Take the best care of your catch, it’s what will be on your plate.

All the best,
Owen

 

[Hismosa]

Pure laziness. But also you don't carry dyke/pliers/knife? Clip them gills yourself

 

[stuman]

If it's full speed tuna biting, I want the crew on deck with the gaffs. I take care of my own fish. Unhook, cut the gill, walk it back to the kill box.

Use you dykes to cut a couple of the gills.

Or like lowprofile said, stick your thumb or duckbills into the membrane under the collar.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Pure laziness. But also you don't carry dyke/pliers/knife? Clip them gills yourself

The boat I was just recently on said NO, as it creates a mess. Slippery conditions, this was for guests and crew safety.

 

[Hismosa]

The boat I was just recently on said NO, as it creates a mess. Slippery conditions, this was for guests and crew safety.

Rofl. Maybe this boat should be a whale watching boat?

 

[lazyfisherman]

The boat I was just recently on said NO, as it creates a mess. Slippery conditions, this was for guests and crew safety.

Excuses for their laziness. Big bluefin get hot inside and need to be gutted so the rsw cold water can cool it down before burning the meat.

 

[MYNomad]

IMO, there is no reason not to bleed fish after caught. On my (private) boat, we bleed them then gut and gill (the anal method), and then put in RSW. It makes all the difference to quality. But, I can imagine there not being time on the deck of a busy sport boat.

 

[Fish Assassin]

I left a small gratuity because I could not walk away leaving nothing and I assume many others did the same as well. I can only hope and pray that this crew on the boat that I was on reflect on this when they open their wallets.

I came to fish, to take home some pristine fish to share with my family and friends.

On my 6 day we fished maybe 48hrs, 4-5hrs was at night. The crew must have been well rested by the end of our trip.

Was a learning event for all of us.

 

[surfgoose]

There are literally dozens of boats fishing multi-day trips, and while the great majority are excellent platforms there are a handful that just want to do things the "good old way" like twenty years ago. Reading reports here on BD can give you a good idea of the boats that you should be booking your trips with.

I don't care that you didn't name the boat. I have my own list of good and never-again boats to ride, and I think that most offshore fishermen do the same. But I also have dykes on my belt and as was mentioned, it only takes a moment to cut the gills. I never assume that the crew should do it. And most of the boats now put the fish into big bleed tubs when they are tagged and only empty the fish from the tub into the RSW hold after the frenzy slows down. And the tub then gets rinsed.

 

[Hismosa]

Plenty of boats have bleed boxes if that was truly a concern.

Gaff shots didn't get any blood on the deck? Impressive. Hopefully they didn't let the fish hit the deck either, someone could slip on that slime and hurt themselves.

 

[davidsk]

Always bleed the fish, no matter if it’s rockfish, yellowtail or tuna. I carry my own clippers to snip gills. During a hot bite the crew might not have the time. A bled fish will stay fresh longer and taste better

 

[HighWildFree]

I was on a boat couple weeks ago, bled my own fish as the crew was busy. Only problem was I looked like I murdered somebody after!

 

[woolybugger]

Even in the middle of a hot bite it is second nature for me to at the very least rip the gills out with my hands.

 

[bob311]

What boats are doing this? Or should we just list off all the boats that do bleed and spike the fish and do a process of elimination?

 

[Hismosa]

What boats are doing this? Or should we just list off all the boats that do bleed and spike the fish and do a process of elimination?

Look up recent 6 day reports. Can't imagine there is more than 1 or 2 boats that just came in with that schedule

 

[Errin]

Yes, agreed. The crew should have bled all the fish, but they didn't. They would not allow customers to use spikes or knives on deck. Is this an anomaly on this one boat, or is it common to just toss em into RSW and call it good?

Which boat is this?

 

[getaway]

you are right. you pay good money for the trip and you should end up with quality fish. everyone know that you have to bleed the fish these days. bigger tuna must be gilled and gutted. sorry they send you home with cat food....