Weighing fish safely?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Heavy Metal - Jig fishing
Forum Description: Anything related to jig fishing here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25408
Printed Date: 26 Jan 2026 at 6:20am
Topic: Weighing fish safely?
Posted By: Fissure
Subject: Weighing fish safely?
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 1:07pm
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I was wondering what people do? What's the safest meathod of weighing a decent King for release? Or do you measure and estimate from that? Any thoughts on the best scales? Same for Puka, or the fact that sometimes they don't survive the ascent anyway? (good tucker). Specifically, I would like to know how to do this in order to return the Kingfish uninjured and have a good weight record...
Any thoughts?
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Replies:
Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 4:59pm
| I use Shimano scales that weigh upto 50kg ,do this really quickly try too carm the fish down, put the little hook thing in there gob lift weigh and release.There is more than likely a better way maybe someone will post it. |
Posted By: cookie monster
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 8:37pm
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Weighing a big kingi is hard work on a small boat, particulary on the fish. Even getting a pic can be hard enough on the fish.
I just estimate the weight, but have a good idea now that i have weighed a few. Anyone who has held a dead 25 - 30 kg kingi up on a scale will tell you how hard this is, let alone alive on a rocking boat while trying not to hurt the fish. Im keen to hear others idea but im yet to get it right. Im just happy with an estimate, its only you who really knows anyway ;-) |
Posted By: murf007
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 8:51pm
| I guess the best way is to use a dial scale with the hook set as normal, make a sling into which the fish is placed lift the scales up and bobs your uncle one fish weighed and ready to go back into the big blue. Practical???????????? |
Posted By: Fissure
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 9:54pm
Thanks for the replies. Dealing with a large fish on a smallish craft is indeed a mission sometimes especially coupled with a sloppy sea, even on a stabi,-but a lot of us do it! . The sling sounds a good idea. Like anything I guess it is practice and experience and getting a system on board sorted. Will have to shop around for the scales... get the missus to use the sawing machine for the sling... lol.
cheers!
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Posted By: of2fsh
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 9:58pm
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All that dicking around will kill them,if you lift a 30kg kingi up by its lip and hang on the scales it will not feed again and die.The weight of the fish will do a huge amount of damage.Fish to be released are hard to weigh.The best ive seen was a environet that the bloke netted the kingi then put the hook of the scales thru the ring of the net and lifted it out of the water by the net..he then deducted the weight of the wet net off the total and tipped the king out of the net unharmed.Another way is to measure by laying it on a wet towel and covering its eyes to calm it down.Personally i dont bother,on the charter boat i use alot they lift the fish out by its bottom jaw and lay it on a wet measure board ,tag and measure them release.In the ruff its hard to weigh a moving fish.. ------------- 2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition |
Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 10:07pm
| Well said of2fish ,if its big its big. |
Posted By: Uhunter
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2007 at 10:09pm
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We use 100kg dial scales. Hang them from the boat hardtop. Used to weigh them through the bottom of the gills, didn't seem to hurt them. Now we use a tail rope, put it on the fish them hang it on the scale. We have a set of 30kg lip grip scales but you have to be Arnie to get an accurate reading especially if the fish gives a kick. If you don't have a roof then dial scales can be hung on a stick/rod. We don't weigh all our fish usually just the heaviest ones for each angler, once you've weighed a few you get an idea of fish weights and can estimate them quite easily. Weighing the odd one in competitions on proper scales also helps to get an idea of weight and also check your scales are reading properly. |
Posted By: Fissure
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2007 at 10:20am
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Good comments there, I suspected that it would be dodgey to hang a large king from its mouth completely out of the water. i also imagined that the tail would't be a good idea as the backbone could be damaged? Like someone mentioned, after a while you don't bother weighing? My boat doesn't have a hard top or ski/rod rack I could hang it off. My first job is to ACTUALLY catch one of these beasts. My new plotter/finder is being fitted as I type. Next weekend will be Hunters Bank. I thought to ask this question as i see weights of fish all over this site, (also estimates+fish not weighed). So thanks again. I suppose in those comps such as kings of the corromandel they have to bring back their biggest catch to be weighed anyway? That must be a lot of fish...?
Dial scales, strong wet sling and tape measure..lip gaff over the side?transom? or heave over by trace?
cheers guys,
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Posted By: mozz
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2007 at 10:29am
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Tape measure the ones for release and weigh the ones you keep.
There is a weight table for kingies floating around here somewhere that will give you pretty accurate weights.
After a while you get used to the size of them and can just guess the weight, normally pretty accurate
At the end of the day Kings are pretty hardy fish and if they can survive sharks and spearos then I am sure 1min being hung verticle wont do too much damage
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Posted By: Fissure
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2007 at 10:37am
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cheers for input Mozz. Will check out the tables. All sorts of opinions here. Good stuff.
Stab-jigger.
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Posted By: Elpescador
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2007 at 5:23pm
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Mozz is on to it if you intend to release a big king then measure it !!! Remember its just been exhausted and dicking around with it will stave it of oxygen it is already low on.Try running around a rugby field and then holding your breath straight away. No chance and not much chance for the kingi after being caught!!! MEASURE AND RELEASE !! |
Posted By: stellajigger
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2007 at 5:49pm
| Ive seen in Perth on the samson fish the put a deck wash hose down there gob to revive the fish while they dick around to get a photo or whatever. |
Posted By: ginga
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2007 at 8:20pm
| Hanging a big fish by its mouth will no doubt do it some harm, i imagine it is going to stretch its vertabrate and do other damage as well. One idea i had but i am yet to try is hold the fish up in your arms as you would for a nice picture, once youve taken the pic step on a set of bathroom scales, release the fish then weigh yourself and deduct the weight. Not sure how the scales would work on a moving boat. |
Posted By: Fissure
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2007 at 9:17pm
Thats a very interesting idea. No reason why it wouldn't work! Cheaper too!
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Posted By: Badfish
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2007 at 9:22pm
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I've got a mate that I go rock fishing with that tried the bathroom scales thing but says if the scales aren't level they dont give a good reading. BUT he did say if you can keep it at the same pitch for BOTH readings, ie with and without the fish, you can usually still get a good idea.
Probably be hard on a boat on all but the calmest days but I guess if you've got them then why not give it a go. ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: sooshee
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2007 at 9:28pm
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I've read that holding a big fish by either ends will cause internal organs to tear off. Is this why some fish weighed at the docks have their mouths taped shut?
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Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2007 at 10:50pm
I've seen that with sharks in particular. As for taped mouths, could be a reason to keep the spikey bits away from human flesh.
It has often been said - don't hold any fish up by its tail. Something to do with the flesh tearing off the frame? A butcher friend said that this becomes obvious when you start filleting fish that have been inverted, the flesh seems to be torn off the frame and backbone. ------------- give it death! |
sooshee wrote:Posted By: JTF
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2007 at 12:03am
| This is sparta |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2007 at 6:54am
with marlin it is to stop there guts coming out of their mouth.(looks bad in photos etc) -------------  www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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