{"id":3835,"date":"2025-05-27T11:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T16:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mickeylieberman.com\/fishing\/?p=3835"},"modified":"2025-03-08T13:43:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T18:43:50","slug":"what-is-the-purpose-of-slime-on-the-body-of-a-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mickeylieberman.com\/fishing\/what-is-the-purpose-of-slime-on-the-body-of-a-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Purpose of Slime on the Body of a Fish?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slime on the Body of a Fish<\/span><\/p>\n

The slime on the body of a fish plays an important role in keeping the fish healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without the layer of slime, the fish would probably die.<\/span><\/p>\n

That protective layer of slime is the first defense in the fish’s efforts to maintain good health.<\/span><\/p>\n

It keeps such things as bacteria, parasites, and infections away from the fish’s sensitive body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Several techniques need to be incorporated into your fishing habits to protect the fish, especially if you are practicing catching and releasing.<\/span><\/p>\n

First off, at all times make sure your hands are wet before you handle a fish.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the first step you can take to protect that layer of slime on the fish’s skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Simply keep your hands wet when you are handling a fish that you have caught.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep the fish in the water as much as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bass can only hold their breath for about as long as you probably can.<\/span><\/p>\n

The weather and harsh winds can damage the skin of a fish, also.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is very important to wet your hands before handling the fish.<\/span><\/p>\n

You must be careful not to remove the slime coat that protects the fish’s skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Any abrasive surface the fish touches will remove that layer of slime from its skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Avoid handling the fish for extended periods.<\/span><\/p>\n

Try your best not to drag the fish through the dirt or on the carpet of your boat.<\/span><\/p>\n

This will destroy the protective cover of slime over the fish’s skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without that protective cover, the fish is extremely susceptible to the bacteria, parasites, and germs in the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bass and Crappie are sensitive creatures that can be injured much more easily than people think.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since we are talking about the care of fish, let’s discuss the proper handling procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Never grab the fish by the gills and hang on.<\/span><\/p>\n

The gills of a fish are very sensitive and can be destroyed easily.<\/span><\/p>\n

That would be like somebody giving you a huge bear hug and squeezing all of your air out.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Always try to use the method called lip-ling, which is holding the fish by the lip.<\/span><\/p>\n

This way you avoid touching the skin and the protective layer of slime on it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Never bend the jaw back too far because you can break the jaw.<\/span><\/p>\n

Try to land your catches as soon as you can. The fish exerts a tremendous amount of energy fighting to be caught.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please don’t rip or tear the hooks out in a fish’s mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Simply, and very gently, back off the barb of the hook or use needle-nose pliers to aid you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take care with the fish’s jaw and remember they can break.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the hook is deeply embedded in the throat of the fish, just cut the hook loose and release the fish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fish have strong stomach acid and the hook will eventually dissolve or come out.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are tools you can use to remove those deeply embedded hooks, and it is not really hard to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not all the hooks that are deeply embedded in the throat of a fish are going to come out.<\/span><\/p>\n

If two or three of the barbs are snagged in the throat, you better keep that fish and plan on eating it for dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are taking these fish home to clean and eat, then get them on ice. Keep their body temperature cold to avoid spoilage.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are harvesting fish to eat, set your size limits before you start that day of fishing and avoid taking any undersized fish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Give those little guys a chance to grow, good luck!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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