I was planning on taking my limit because I was supposed to be attending a big family BBQ tonight and wanted to turn up with plenty of fresh snapper - but that wasn't to be... While stabbing the 50cm one in the head, the blade of the small razor sharp paring knife got stuck in it's skull. I was holding the fish down with my left hand and trying to pull the knife out - and as the knife came out the snapper gave an almighty kick, resulting in a deep gash between the thumb and forefinger of my left hand. Blood spraying everywhere, I had to think quick - chucked the snapper in the chilly bin, took my shirt off and wrapped my injured hand up nice and tight - started up the mighty 30hp yamaha and put the hammer down, racing back to the ramp (sorry for any fishos I may have buzzed too close - emergency). When I got the the ramp, there were some people working on a trailer sailer, and one of them (Pete?) was kind enough to go get my car and retrieve my boat for me.

 

Then luckily the coastguard were at the ramp, and the good buggers patched me up, then stropped the boat down, fitted the lightboard, put my rods and chilly bin in the car etc. Great bunch of guys - appreciated! Then it was home to drop the boat off, and my long suffering 7.5 months pregnant wife took me to the A & E - 2 hours later I have 4 stitches in my hand and a course of antibiotics - no boating for me for a couple of weeks :(

 

A couple of mates were good enough to pop round and fillet my catch for me after I managed to flush the motor and wash all the blood off the boat single handed (literally). Exhausting day, but I feel lucky to have met a few good samaritans - hope I can help someone out to recharge the karma account!

Pm your address & I will mail you a SS iki stick ... a bit late

now admittedly but may prevent a repeat.         

 

Get yourself a barrier glove, the medical jobbies and put that over your wound and get back out there!

 

Thanks for that Grant .... but not quite so sure about the horizontal pierce.

 

I pierce from the top down with a slight inward angle which helps keep

the fish still moreso than lying it flat to spike. Another reason is that if the

exact spot is missed a small amount of twisting invariably finds it within a

second or two & will know by the "feel" as minimal resistance when piercing

the membrane.

 

Nevertheless will give the method described a go to see if it has any advantages.

 

As an aside watched a com fisho tied up at the wharf at Hohoura busily spiking

fish that were already dead & tossing them in another bin. Was intrigued by this

so asked "Why are you spiking them if they are already dead?" & he merely

grunted "The Japs won't know tho will they?"

 

Having been to the fish markets in Japan & came to the conclusion there is little

therest of the would can teach Japs about fish or fishing that they most likely will

be able to tell the difference & NZ's  fishing reputation will suffer as a result.