PIKE TAGGING

[.Russell]

Hello all,

just looking for a bit of advice.....

I have recently started fishing for pike in the grand western canal in devon. Yesterday I hooked and landed a pike (huge by my standards!((around 10lb!!))). The issue is that it had a blue cable tie through its back just in front of the rear dorsal fin. No knowing what to do is reaeased it back into the water with the tag still in place. When I got home I did a little research and found an article on this website detailing an illegal tagging programme on this canal. My Question is this; What do I do if I catch another one?? Do I remove the tag and leave an open wound on the fish or do I simply release it back into the water?

My gut instinct of course would be to remove the tag but yesterday unsure of weather or not this practice was oficial I simply didn't know what to do.

Thanks for any advice,

Russell

[Elton]

I remember that article.

 

Was it an actual tie, with no serial numbers on and forming a loop?

 

I'll await comment from more experienced anglers, but I'd have removed it if it was. Tags generally are single strand (not a loop) so that they don't get the fish tethered on things.

 

EDIT: Just found the original article:

 

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/illegal_pike_tagging.html

[Ken L]

That's just so wrong.

[.Russell]

I remember that article.

 

Was it an actual tie, with no serial numbers on and forming a loop?

 

I'll await comment from more experienced anglers, but I'd have removed it if it was. Tags generally are single strand (not a loop) so that they don't get the fish tethered on things.

 

EDIT: Just found the original article:

 

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/illegal_pike_tagging.html

Yes it was an actual cable tie, just like the one in the article except blue. I think maybe in future I will cut the loop so it cannot become snagged trapping the fish. This means that the fish won't be left with an open wound, liable to infection etc and with the tie cut it will be able to work its way out without further damaging the fish.....Good idea????

[Peter Waller]

I would remove it. I suspect that if having it inserted caused no problem then neither should its removal. Bit like removing body piercing!

[Dan Dan]

Fish with superficial wounds like this (although very stupid and dangerous in my opinion) recover extremely quickly. There shouldn't be any problem removing the tie itself.

[Dick Dastardly]

Yes Im with Pete just snip the loop and remove. Cant remember the article so just going to read it.

[Dick Dastardly]

I dont remeber reading /hearing about that particular incident. Not really fair either on the fish or other anglers.Ive been involved in a Pike tagging operation on a water that had extremely limited acsess and must admit allthough the info gained was very interesting catching tagged fish did detract a bit from catching them.At least I was getting the benifit of the info and the tagging was being carried out correctly.Not the case for this situation and most if not all other "illegal" schemes.

 

Ah well not quite as bad as that awfull trend that was being carried out by carp "anglers" on some French waters of fin clipping.