Basically you use it to spike the fish in the brain, killing it instantly. I have seen through our own hit and miss attempts really mess this up and miss the brain, only having to repeat the task over and over again until you see the fish suddenly stop moving. I am a huge fan of Killing a fish as quite as possible, in fact if I intend on keeping the fish I will kill it before any high fives or photos – this is just a mark of respect I have for fish. Due to vague write ups and “general” descriptions on how to kill a Snapper affectively, I have decided to do my own research and dissect a Snapper Head. To show exactly where the brain is located and what the size is. It wasn’t till I opened up the head that I relised just how off I was and also it gave me a very good precise area for the brain – dispelling a lot of what others had said.

Let’s get into it.

Below are photos I took of a Snapper I chopped open to show where its brain really is. I don’t apologies for the graphic nature of these photos as I know gutting and killing a fish is not a clean process and if you are only use to finished clean fillets – killing and eating your own fish is not for you. Please also note this fish is well dead before I attempted to chop it up and was killed very quickly, it did not suffer. This is a Smaller Pan size Snapper and the reason I chose this is that it is often the size people catch and keep (best eating in my opinion and they aren’t breeding stock).

Snapper Before Dissection

Cross Section Snapper Head Brain

Iki going straight through brain

Snapper – exact iki spot to hit brain

So from these pictures you should get a good idea of where the brain is located and how to hit the brain when you are faced with a Snapper. There is no need to put any angle on the iki spike as this may lead to you missing the brain and not killing the Snapper. If you don’t hit the brain there is a good chance the Snapper will take 20 – 30 mins to suffocate to death. This has issues other than the basic disrespect you have for what you eat. Leaving a fish to die this way causes the meat to degrade in a huge way. A build up of lactic acid and other chemicals the fish’s body releases in an effort to combat the effects of suffocation result in bad tasting fish, come meal time. This is the same for any fish. The best practice is to kill the fish as soon as you have decided you will keep it.

The best way to know if you have hit the brain is that the fish will stop moving straight away and may start to have tiny spasms. You will also see that its gills aren’t moving anymore, if there is still gill movement or it is still flapping then the Snapper is still alive and you need to spike it again till it stops. Sometimes after killing a Snapper they may still flap the odd time, this is just nerve activity.

If you catch a Kahawai you will want to bleed it fairly quickly otherwise the meat will spoil or you might end up with that fishy taste. The best way to bleed a Kahawai is to cut up through the gill latch just past the gills (with a sharp knife) then up through until you reach where the spin and head met. This will cut through first the Ventral Artery, and then through the Dorsal Artery and Vein (found just under the vertebrate).

Next pull the top of the head back towards the spin and blood should start to squirt out. You can also cut up from the bottom of the tail through to the vertebrate (this cuts through the lower Dorsal Vein and Artery). If you are on a boat do this over the side since it can get messy. It’s a good opportunity as well to gut the fish and clean out any excess blood using the sea water. To keep the meat in its best form you should then put the Kahawai on ice.

Bleeding Kahawai is a good idea and the sooner you do it the better the result in terms of meat quality. A common mistake is that people don’t bleed Kahawai soon enough and the result is horrible tasting meat which might put them off eating Kahawai ever again. This is a common mistake with many newer fisherman and as a result Kahawai often get labelled as a second class fish for eating. If you bleed Kahawai and preserve them well then this is a great source of fish for dinner and since it’s a very easy fish to catch your dinner plate shouldn’t get empty.

For more information on the Fish Blood Circulatory System VISIT THIS LINK

Forum Topic can be found here: Discuss the Moki $1,000 Competition Here.

Moki Fishing Competition in Cape Palliser Organised by the Fielding Surfcasting Club

The Entry fee for this competition is $20 and entry can be obtained by emailing the following details to this email address: bryan@kairangaeggs.co.nz

Feilding Surfcasting Club
ENTRY FORM MOKI $1000 26th November 2011

Name ___________________________________________________

NZACA member Yes / No

Address ______________________________________________________________________

Contact number ____________________________________

Male Female Junior

Number of rods ______ @ $20 per rod
Entry fee attached $ Cheque or
Direct credit to 010625 0147731 00 Feilding Surfcasting Club
Entries to:
Bryan Snaith, President Feilding Surfcasting Club
4 Willhart Court
Feilding 4702
Or email entry to bryan@kairangaeggs.co.nz with direct credit payment details.
Office use: Date received M F J Early entry Yes / No
Entry number Receipt number Rods Confirmed

Bait and Berley will available for pre-order with early bird entries,also we will have a chiller/freezer at the briefing on the day(cash only) as no card access over there this will be a good comp,some of the area being fished has not had a line in the water for roughly 2 years so there will fish to be caught if I can help with info let me know as happy to help – Action Bait and Tackle

Fish Blood Circulatory System.

Like in humans the reason for the blood circulatory system is to move blood around the body to keep the different organs and functions working. The system which moves the blood around is made up of arteries and veins. Simply put Arteries move oxygenated blood while veins move deoxygenated blood. In human’s blood is moved around the body using the heart, deoxygenated blood travels through veins to the lungs where it gets oxygenated and leaves through the arteries. It is similar with fish however the deoxygenated blood travels through veins to the gills where it gets oxygenated and leaves through the arteries. The main Arteries in a fish are the Dorsal Artery and the Ventral Artery. The Dorsal Artery runs underneath the vertebrate from the tail of the fish through into its head. The Ventral Artery connects the heart to the gills which is found underneath the gills back through the gill latch. The Dorsal Vein runs a similar line to the Dorsal Artery.

Diagram showing the Dorsal Artery and Vein and also the Ventral Artery

How to Bleed a Fish

First kill the fish, whether this is with a donger or iki spike. The heart will beat for several minutes after the fish has died, so there is no worry about the blood not coming out. If you catch a fish like a Kahawai you will want to bleed it fairly quickly otherwise the meat will spoil or you might end up with that fishy taste. The best way to bleed a Kahawai or other fish is to cut up through the gill latch just past the gills (with a sharp knife) then up through until you reach where the spin and head met. This will cut through first the Ventral Artery, and then through the Dorsal Artery and Vein (found just under the vertebrate). Next pull the top of the head back towards the spin and blood should start to squirt out. You can also cut up from the bottom of the tail through to the vertebrate (this cuts through the lower Dorsal Vein and Artery). If you are on a boat do this over the side since it can get messy. It’s a good opportunity as well to gut the fish and clean out any excess blood using the sea water. To keep the meat in its best form you should then put the Kahawai on ice. Bleeding all fish is a good idea and the sooner you do it the better the result in terms of meat quality.

Diagram showing the cuts made to bleed a fish

Civil Defence says the first wave was recorded by a coastal gauge at 7:10am after a wave arrived at Raoul Island in the Kermadecs at 6:35am.

Initial waves are in the order of 15 centimetres. See local advice here .

David Coetzee of Civil Defence told ONE News: It’s rather insignificant though at this stage and will be barely visible to the naked eye.”

However he emphasised the first arrival is seldom the largest and Civil Defence modelling points to the most significant activity to be one to two hours onwards.

The first wave to arrive in New Zealand had been calculated to be in the area around North Cape at approximately 6:23am.

Waves of 20 centimetres were observed in Nauru around 4:30am.

The New Zealand Tsunami Expert Panel assessment is that the tsunami is a marine threat and a minor land threat in some areas. A marine threat means strong and unusual currents are possible in the sea, rivers and estuaries.

At 2am Civil Defence said that a minor land threat (1-3 metre wave heights) now exists in Northland between Ahipara and the Karikari Peninsula as well as in the Bay of Islands and the Chatham Islands. CD describes a minor land threat “a small potential for impacts on beaches in these areas”.

Earlier it has assessed the risk as marine only.

People have been warned to stay away from beaches, as the tsunami is expected to bring strong currents to the top of the North Island.

Damage to boats is possible and people are encouraged to secure them if possible.

CD says pre-calculated tsunami models indicate that the largest impact is expected along the coasts of the central and northern North Island, from East Cape northwards and from Kaipara northwards.

It said the wave is expected to coincide with a low tide, but waves may continue for several hours.

Coetzee said hourly advice was being received on the tsunami threat.

He said people should not “go sightseeing”. The advice to stay out of the water included estuaries.

The warning of a potential tsunami will remain in effect until it is upgraded to a national warning or cancelled by the Ministry of Civil Defence. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre lifted the tsunami warning it had issued earlier for New Zealand.

Tsunami Video

0751, 12 March, 2011
A tsunami marine and minor land threat warning is in effect for New Zealand:
The tsunami warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued by MCDEM.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a Tsunami Warning for New Zealand in response to the above earthquake. Confirmation has been received that a tsunami was generated. Wave heights of up to 4 metres have been measured in coastal Japan. Wave heights of 0.2 m have been observed in Nauru and Honiara.

2000, 11 March, 2011
A tsunami potential threat advisory is in effect for New Zealand:
The advisory will remain in effect until it is upgraded to a national warning or a cancellation message is issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).

An earthquake of magnitude 8.8 has occured in Japan causing signifcant local damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a Tsunami Watch – in response to the above earthquake.

Only messages issued by MCDEM represent the official warning status for New Zealand. Local civil defence authorities may supplement these messages by applying local threat assessments.

A tsunami is possible. MCDEM and scientific advisors are assessing the severity of the threat to New Zealand.

People in coastal areas should:

1. Stay off beaches
2. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
3. Do not go sightseeing
4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
6. Follow instructions of your local Civil Defence authorities.

MCDEM and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation to determine whether a tsunami has been generated and to assess the severity of the threat to New Zealand. More information about this event will follow.
Tsunami Video

Baited Crab on hooks - Click for larger image - Thanks Carl for the image

Technique

- Pull off the limbs and shell and cut it in half down the length of it.

- Put 6/0-8/0 hook though leg socket in middle and angle it towards the back of the crab slightly and push it out through the underside of the crab.

- Wrap in bait elastic (what is bait elastic? Like cotton however it’s elastic so its very stretchy, it’s found at most fishing stores (even the Warehouse) and is used to wrap bait onto the hook so that it stays there. Essential if using fresh softbait like mussels or crab. )

notes: use frozen crabs as it is much cleaner and easier to do. Also with frozen crabs, when you make the cut, the white crab meat will separate from the guts and crap in the front of the crab leaving you with just meat (better with larger crabs).

Alternative Additions (Thanks Carl):
A couple of ways I like to rig up paddle crab baits, prepare as dj says above by removing the shell and legs.
- For half a crab bait I like to used a single 4/0 or 5/0 Gammy circle hook.
- Ensure your hook isn’t too buried in the bait otherwise you can drop fish.
- For small crabs I like to use two 2/0 Gammy circle hooks.

-Penn slammer 560L and penn powerstick combo, spooled with 30lb yellow powerpro braid, had just been brought and never used.

-tackle box with probably around a k of tackle in it (leatherman, fillet and bait knife, scales, braid scissors, various lures, various terminal tackle, various lines (braid, mono, supple and tough trace)

this was all stolen from my mothers rav4 parked on my property in pukerua bay, wellington while i was working graveyard on thursday night. Could anyone please let me know if they hear or SEE anything. The last two are just neiusence value but that surfcaster belonged to my late father, he taught me to cast with it and to me its not really replaceable.

thanks

Geoff

Several NASA satellites have been monitoring the growth of powerful and massive Cyclone Yasi and providing data on clouds, rainfall and intensity to forecasters as it nears Queensland, Australia. NASA data shows where the heaviest rainfall is occurring, frigid temperatures at the top of its thunderstorms and the size of Yasi’s eye.

Tropical cyclone Yasi became much more powerful and was upgraded to a dangerous category fpur tropical cyclone on the Saffir Simpson scale on February 1, 2011.

A Cyclone Warning is now in effect for Queensland, Australia for coastal areas from Cape Melville to Sarina, extending inland to east of Croydon to Hughenden. A Cyclone Watch is in effect for coastal areas from Lockhart River to Cape Melville, and in the tropical interior north of Winton to Sarina.

Yasi was seen by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite when it passed over on Febuary 1, 2011 at 0356 UTC (Jan. 31 at 10:56 p.m. EST/1:56 p.m. Australia/Brisbane local time). TRMM precipitation data collected with that pass revealed that intensifying Yasi had a small eye surrounded by powerful thunderstorms. The heaviest rainfall was falling mostly on the south and eastern sides of the storm at a rate of about 2 inches (50 mm) per hour. Most of the rainfall in the rest of the storm was moderate, falling at a rate between .78 to 1.57 inches (20-40 mm) per hour.

View full article here

Fishing for Moki this Friday – 4th Feb 2011 – Meet at Owhiro Quarry

Here are some details:
Type of Fishing:Land Based
Target: Moki
Moki Size limit: min Size 40cm
Where to meet:Meet at the car park by the old owhiro quarry @ 6.30pm . 7.00pm will head around to long beach and fish till 10.30pm 11.00pm.
The drive around is by 4wd only, there maybe extra seats in people’s cars.
Gear:Gear wise just the normal kit needed: surf casters, headlight or a good torch, warm jacket / clothes, food/drink, something to put the fish in, standard tackle–hooks,sinkers trace(30-50 pound), GUMBOOTS (you don’t want wet feet),rod holders are a must, mussels, crab and cray would be the baits of choice – at least 1 doz mussels. Make sure you guys have sand grip sinkers—- either up side down pyramids or break-a-way sinkers 4 oz will do, RockFisher (Forum Admin) can supply if needed.
Notes:If its wet devils gate can be a right pain to get over as its a @35 degree rock face, so this will be a factor. If you want to come please leave a message on the Moki Fishing Forum Discussion.
Read latest Discussion on this here: Moki Fish Wellington, Kapiti Fishing Forum Discussion