Gilling a fish?

Question

Is it ok like after you catch a fish suck as a walleye you go right under the head and hold him by the gill not by the side gill but right under the head holding it by there? just like how this guy is holding it http://www.flickr.com/photos/christensen_carl/167980373/ is that ok?

Answer 1

Fish with sharp teeth should always be held by the gills. It's the easiest way to remove the hook without the fish chomping on your fingers.

Answer 2

There are two types of "gilling".

One is holding the fish by inserting one or more fingers in the gill opening to support and control the fish.

Fish with a sharp plate covering the gill, called an operculum, will cut you seriously if you try holding that species through the gill opening.

The other 'gilling' is known as "gutting and gilling"
where the abdominal contents and the gills are removed to extend the useful time the fish can be kept before it goes bad.

Alternate holds are index finger and thumb in eye sockets or full hand cupping the abdomen grasping as far up the sides as possible about one inch behind the gill (and the fins behind the gills if the species has them).

Thumb in mouth grips work for species such as bass, but are not possible in species with sharp teeth.

The rule to save serious cuts is look at the mouth and teeth, and carefully check the sharpness of the gill covering (operculum) before grasping the fish.

Answer 3

Sure but some fish have razor sharp gill plates such as red fish will leave you with a nice cut.I am allergic to seafood so I catch and release most of my fish but haven't been fishing in a while.Thak ya JD years of fishing and tore up hands life lessons.

Answer 4

Exoilfieldtrash's answer is dead on and correct.Some gamefish have teeth and use them given the chance