Slime on the Body of a Fish

The slime on the body of a fish plays an important role in keeping the fish healthy.

Without the layer of slime, the fish would probably die.

That protective layer of slime is the first defense in the fish’s efforts to maintain good health.

It keeps such things as bacteria, parasites, and infections away from the fish’s sensitive body.

Several techniques need to be incorporated into your fishing habits to protect the fish, especially if you are practicing catching and releasing.

First off, at all times make sure your hands are wet before you handle a fish.

This is the first step you can take to protect that layer of slime on the fish’s skin.

Simply keep your hands wet when you are handling a fish that you have caught.

Keep the fish in the water as much as possible.

Bass can only hold their breath for about as long as you probably can.

The weather and harsh winds can damage the skin of a fish, also.

It is very important to wet your hands before handling the fish.

You must be careful not to remove the slime coat that protects the fish’s skin.

Don’t handle the fish any longer than you have to, and be gentle, don’t drop the fish if you can keep from it.

Any abrasive surface the fish touches will remove that layer of slime from its skin.

Avoid handling the fish for extended periods.

Try your best not to drag the fish through the dirt or on the carpet of your boat.

This will destroy the protective cover of slime over the fish’s skin.

Without that protective cover, the fish is extremely susceptible to the bacteria, parasites, and germs in the water.

Bass and Crappie are sensitive creatures that can be injured much more easily than people think.

Since we are talking about the care of fish, let’s discuss the proper handling procedures.

Never grab the fish by the gills and hang on.

The gills of a fish are very sensitive and can be destroyed easily.

That would be like somebody giving you a huge bear hug and squeezing all of your air out.

If you damage the gills of a fish, there is a 75% or better chance that the fish will go into shock and die sometime after that event.

Always try to use the method called lip-ling, which is holding the fish by the lip.

This way you avoid touching the skin and the protective layer of slime on it.

Never bend the jaw back too far because you can break the jaw.

Try to land your catches as soon as you can. The fish exerts a tremendous amount of energy fighting to be caught.

If you are going to release the fish after you have caught it, then you are hurting it and lessening any chance of survival by wearing the fish out.

Please don’t rip or tear the hooks out in a fish’s mouth.

Simply, and very gently, back off the barb of the hook or use needle-nose pliers to aid you.

Take care with the fish’s jaw and remember they can break.

If the hook is deeply embedded in the throat of the fish, just cut the hook loose and release the fish.

Fish have strong stomach acid and the hook will eventually dissolve or come out.

There are tools you can use to remove those deeply embedded hooks, and it is not really hard to do this.

Not all the hooks that are deeply embedded in the throat of a fish are going to come out.

If two or three of the barbs are snagged in the throat, you better keep that fish and plan on eating it for dinner.

If you are going fishing somewhere and planning on catching a lot of fish, say Crappie or panfish, take an ice chest full of ice to keep your catch fresh.

Yes, boats have live wells, but if you pack them wall to wall in the live well, you have too many in there. They will start to die.

If you are taking these fish home to clean and eat, then get them on ice. Keep their body temperature cold to avoid spoilage.

If you are harvesting fish to eat, set your size limits before you start that day of fishing and avoid taking any undersized fish.

Give those little guys a chance to grow, good luck!