Perch Disaster

[Radnine]

Originally Posted by Huntindave

I have a Creastliner also and my livewell plug was the same way. I say was because there is an easy fix. What I found is that the female fitting had a mold seam which was protruding and causing the excessive tightness of the male plug. I took a sharp knife and carefully trimmed the excess plastic from the ID of the fitting.
The plug is still a bit snug for my liking but far better than it was before. A bit of silicone lube on the orings also helps a lot .

Great advice! Thanks, I will look into that.

Originally Posted by tugger

Jim

I'm a little baffled on this one, can you explain how you planned to kill them? Also, It's hard to believe you didn't hear them flopping around in the dry live well.

The last thing I did before covering the boat to take it home was look in the live well. The fish looked to be swimming like champs and were looking forward to the car ride home. When the water drained out, I was in the van listening to death metal rap with my ten year old boy. So I could not hear anything.
I typically kill them by bonking them on the noggin with a fish bonking stick before they go under the knife. How do you kill them?
I have a brother in law that fillets them while they are still kicking and that just creeps me out.

Originally Posted by Hawker

Dontcha just love it when you ask a simple question and get raked over the coals for doing this, not doing that etc???
Good luck fishing, glad ya had a good time with your son!
Tight Lines!!

Thanks for the great response. Yes, I was after a straight "They will be fine" or an "I wouldn't touch them" but have had some fun with the replies. We had a great day my son and I. For the 13 we took home we caught 50 more that got thrown back. Perch is a real delicacy around here and the non-stop action keeps Will wanting to come back for more.
Thanks again to all!
Jim

[Shellback]

You think a couple hour ride with no water in the livewell was bad? I found one 5 days later that was hidden behind the bait bucket! Half gone by maggots, still trying to figure out how the flies laid eggs in there when it had been closed up.

[tugger]

Originally Posted by Radnine

Great advice! Thanks, I will look into that.



The last thing I did before covering the boat to take it home was look in the live well. The fish looked to be swimming like champs and were looking forward to the car ride home. When the water drained out, I was in the van listening to death metal rap with my ten year old boy. So I could not hear anything.
I typically kill them by bonking them on the noggin with a fish bonking stick before they go under the knife. How do you kill them?
I have a brother in law that fillets them while they are still kicking and that just creeps me out.



Thanks for the great response. Yes, I was after a straight "They will be fine" or an "I wouldn't touch them" but have had some fun with the replies. We had a great day my son and I. For the 13 we took home we caught 50 more that got thrown back. Perch is a real delicacy around here and the non-stop action keeps Will wanting to come back for more.
Thanks again to all!
Jim

Jim

Understood! If you are in Ontario and from what REW posted, It appears that you are not suposed to travel with any water in live wells anyways. Kill and put on ice, this could solve your problem for next time.


• Being transported overland.
Do not transport live fish overland in a livewell filled with water. Fish must be dead and should be transported on ice.
In addition, when packaging fish you must ensure that a conservation officer can easily determine:
• The number of fish in your possession
• The species of fish in your possession. This may require leaving a large patch of skin, the head, or some other identifying feature depending on the species of fish (e.g. lake whitefish vs. lake herring).

[Radnine]

Originally Posted by Shellback

You think a couple hour ride with no water in the livewell was bad? I found one 5 days later that was hidden behind the bait bucket! Half gone by maggots, still trying to figure out how the flies laid eggs in there when it had been closed up.

So......how did it taste?
Jim

[Shellback]

The maggots seemed to be enjoying it!

[Radnine]

Okay....to put this to bed:
First of all thanks to all for the clarification on the transporting fish in the live well thing, clearly I did not know that (and I have actually read the regs. Well all the ones that I thought mattered and will make modifications to my future travel home plans. I guess that a few slightly punky perch, and an INTERNET *** handing are better than the MNR handing me god only knows what size of ticket.Yet another thing to organize before a fishing trip (the cooler and ice, do I buy the ice first? Do I kill the fish then hope they don't spoil between me and the convenience store, etc).
Thanks again to all.
Jim

[1750 FH]

In doubt throw it out!

[Papascott]

When unsure about fish or food in general, smell it. Old saying is "the nose knows!"

If the fillets smell spoiled at all, toss them out. Smell normal, fry them up.

[rps]

From the land of 105 degree days: After May 15, use the live well for empty soda cans and such. Have a fish cooler with two bags of ice in the boat. Keep your worms in there and when you catch a fish make the keep or not decision. If it's keep, put it in the fish chest.

One, it is a humane way to kill the fish. Two, it insures the flesh will be very firm when you fillet. Three, for some reason it minimizes (not eliminates) the blood mess.

[oilguy]

After working at a lake and seeing aluminum boats come back with dried up Pike and Perch laying on the floor in the blazing sun for hours upon hours, I'd bet my fishing rights for a year that your perch were firm, fine and healthy when you filleted them....dead, sure, but healthy to eat.

I never saw a single ambulance race away from the cabins/campsites carrying someone who ate spoiled fish. You had nothing to worry about. You were probably only an hour from home before the perch actually died anyway.