Post by seajunky on Mar 12, 2009 11:06:52 GMT -12
Taken from an article on the "Rodbenders" site
Mackerel’s skin is very easily damaged, this was discovered during the 1970’s when experiments were carried out after large amounts of mackerel were turning up dead, it was found that these fish had been damaged as a result of the mackerel crashing into each other whilst being trapped in nets.
When mackerel are touched by human hands there is some kind of microscopic damage caused to their skin which prevents them from maintaining an osmotic balance, or in layman’s terms they can’t keep everything that supposed to stay inside, inside and vice versa for the outside. It can take them up to 48 hours to die following human touch, and are often found with the remnants of a human handprint embedded in their skin. Now, I know fish can’t talk and they can’t tell us when it hurts, but I’m sure that can’t be a pleasant experience.
So what can we do about this? Well, for starters, only specifically fish for mackerel until you have caught enough for your purposes (eating or bait). When you have caught enough change your tactics (no feathers, use bigger hooks) so you minimise your chances of catching them. Should you catch a mackerel you do plan on returning, either drop the fish straight off of the hook into the water without touching it (barb less hooks will facilitate this), or use wetted neoprene gloves.
Mackerel’s skin is very easily damaged, this was discovered during the 1970’s when experiments were carried out after large amounts of mackerel were turning up dead, it was found that these fish had been damaged as a result of the mackerel crashing into each other whilst being trapped in nets.
When mackerel are touched by human hands there is some kind of microscopic damage caused to their skin which prevents them from maintaining an osmotic balance, or in layman’s terms they can’t keep everything that supposed to stay inside, inside and vice versa for the outside. It can take them up to 48 hours to die following human touch, and are often found with the remnants of a human handprint embedded in their skin. Now, I know fish can’t talk and they can’t tell us when it hurts, but I’m sure that can’t be a pleasant experience.
So what can we do about this? Well, for starters, only specifically fish for mackerel until you have caught enough for your purposes (eating or bait). When you have caught enough change your tactics (no feathers, use bigger hooks) so you minimise your chances of catching them. Should you catch a mackerel you do plan on returning, either drop the fish straight off of the hook into the water without touching it (barb less hooks will facilitate this), or use wetted neoprene gloves.
