First Gate - 24/09/09

[Sigsy]

Me and Phil fished the first gate last night, wind was straight in our faces but happily died off later on in the night,

Not much to report, only 3 tiddlers caught, plenty of knocks though just nothing produced.

There was one suprise of the night though,
Got a wierd knock which didnt come back, reeled in 15mins later to change bait and there was a little bit weight on.

Now I've never seen one of these let alone caught one, but Phil reckons its a Grannyfish? and that it's an alright size for one.
Turned out to be 28cm's and 3/4 pound in weight.

Anyone passing would have seen two grown men scared to touch it and freaking out like little girls whenever it flipped out, as apparently the spines are 'poisonous'?

 

[5150]

bull head/sea scorpion/granny fish.. butt ugly but not venomous. The only venomous fish in our waters are the two weaverfish species.

 

[BAZACODBASHA]

Yep....definitely a sea scorpion. They sound scary and even look quite imposing, but the previous reply has it spot on, although they are very spiny,(and even the spines are quite blunt) they are NOT venimous. Trust me they are perfectly safe to handle, and do not deserve to be cut off the hook with a knife, then kicked back into the sea like a lot of anglers do. In fact I have heard anglers shouting "don't touch it , it's a weever" God help them when they actualy do catch a weever fish.
If you catch another one, the easiest way is to pick them up by the mouth to remove the hook. If the hook is well down and you are still nervous about picking it up, then handle it with a wet rag. Once the hook is removed the put it back safely. They certainly don't deserve to be killed.

 

[el_sid]

aye its a granny fish/pogge mate, not poisenousbut have spines that will break the skin, looks like a beast av never caught 1 that size.

 

[el_sid]

eh? those two top replys wernt there before!?!

 

[phill_itofish]

If you catch another one, the easiest way is to pick them up by the mouth to remove the hook. If the hook is well down and you are still nervous about picking it up, then handle it with a wet rag. Once the hook is removed the put it back safely. They certainly don't deserve to be killed.

Cheers for the advice mate, the fish was returned safely mate after being unhooked. never seen one that big before does anyone know the local record??

 

[Stores]

I had one about a pound and a half off Whitley Pipe many moons ago. Thing is if they open their mouths it's like a 4lber. Caused considerable mirth from those around.

 

[SnaggedUpLad]

so how many species is that to kick off the season sigs? congrats on your GILF lol sounded like a good night
for all those with a smutty mind Granny I'd Like to Fish lmao

 

[codseeker]

this one was 36cm,s took at eyemouth by mick cave imagine the weight of that one

 

[willywetegg]

I have caught loads of them over the years and most of them just small. One that I caught on Cambois pier, fishing into the rocks years ago, must have been about 2 1/2 lb. As David says, when they have their mouth open they seem to be a hell of a lot bigger lol. I struggled to bring it up out of the water and up the pier wall. I could'nt see what it was but could feel it kicking on my line and thought it was a good Codling. My mate was laughing when it was nearly up and I felt quite dissapointed when it came over the top of the pier.

As Baza says, just hold it with a wet cloth and remove the hook, it's looks are worse than it's bite lol.

Jim.

 

[willywetegg]

Aye, that looks a cannyun Coddy. I bet that one felt heavy in the water lol.

Jim.

 

[doj]

Yep....definitely a sea scorpion. They sound scary and even look quite imposing, but the previous reply has it spot on, although they are very spiny,(and even the spines are quite blunt) they are NOT venimous. Trust me they are perfectly safe to handle, and do not deserve to be cut off the hook with a knife, then kicked back into the sea like a lot of anglers do. In fact I have heard anglers shouting "don't touch it , it's a weever" God help them when they actualy do catch a weever fish.
If you catch another one, the easiest way is to pick them up by the mouth to remove the hook. If the hook is well down and you are still nervous about picking it up, then handle it with a wet rag. Once the hook is removed the put it back safely. They certainly don't deserve to be killed.

Excellent advice. See so many morons picking away at these fish as if they are explosive devices. Utterly pathetic, uneducated behaviour. Anyone who fishes and who hasn't taken the time to read about and thus recognise most common and visitor species to our waters is a fool in my view. I saw a similar example in a club match on Tynemouth Pier (not sure the club) when I was out for a walk one Sunday afternoon. Learned match anglers terrified about a "weaver". I pointed out their error but they would not heed. Disgusting to see one of them punt it back into the water in full view of people.

 

[phill_itofish]

Excellent advice. See so many morons picking away at these fish as if they are explosive devices. Utterly pathetic, uneducated behaviour. Anyone who fishes and who hasn't taken the time to recognise most common and visitor species to our waters is a fool in my view.

Guess were fools then Sigsy, personally i use the 'better safe than sorry' method and use a towel if i'm unsure about touching anything, to any less expirenced anglers out there i'd say its better to be safe than sorry then fool hearted, i'd rather be i pathetic, uneducated fool than a guy with a sore hand any day.

 

[Sigsy]

Excellent advice. See so many morons picking away at these fish as if they are explosive devices. Utterly pathetic, uneducated behaviour. Anyone who fishes and who hasn't taken the time to read about and thus recognise most common and visitor species to our waters is a fool in my view. I saw a similar example in a club match on Tynemouth Pier (not sure the club) when I was out for a walk one Sunday afternoon. Learned match anglers terrified about a "weaver". I pointed out their error but they would not heed. Disgusting to see one of them punt it back into the water in full view of people.

Well I might be a 'fool' for not knowing what it is,
But be rest assured that although we were a tad jittery, we did treat the fish with the utmost respect and it was returned safely like we always endeavor to do.

 

[The Great Wallsendo]

Sounds eventful lads...was with Gregg on t'other side of Tyne as you know and we were kept busy with undersize coalies and crabs

 

[SnaggedUpLad]

lol, both well said... pointing out that someone who hasn't had the experiance to know what it is or just never caught a granny fish should always be safer than sorry, if you don't know the fish take some precations... you dont put your hand in a box with a unknown snake.

If a weaver fish can cause 7 days of apparent agony then you got to look at a granny and think "feck this for a laugh, get me the foreceps".

As for the weaver, I understand the reasons behind killing them, but surely if were in there world we shouldnt kill them?.. I seen summit awhile back about them being made infertile by raidiation.. not all but a high percentage to get the population down. Maybe the answer lays between the infertility program and the basic information being sign posted.. i.e "high weaver fish population signs" with a picture and basic info. its utterly pathetic that we have to go fecking around with a species because it can cause high levels of pain... and sometime death... so does smoking, only it can last for years

Bugger trying to proof read that lol

 

[doj]

I wasn't sure snakes lived in boxes.

Although I am sure fish live in the sea.

There is enough mistreatment of commonly sought after species as it is to make further mistreatment of less-desirable species all the more reprehensible on the grounds that you can't weigh it in or you have a superstitious fear you may get a sore hand for 7 days.

Better to arm yourself with a little bit of knowledge first about the species you may catch:

Books on British Sea Fish. Sea Fishes Books

Whether it's whiting, granny fish or scorpions - treat them with respect.

 

[SnaggedUpLad]

I wasn't sure snakes lived in boxes.

They don't but then again a weaver or granny doesnt live on the end of a line.... i.e captive.. which is what the box suggests.

There is enough mistreatment of commonly sought after species as it is to make further mistreatment of less-desirable species all the more reprehensible on the grounds that you can't weigh it in or you have a superstitious fear you may get a sore hand for 7 days.

I don't see how handling a fish with care and a towel is mistreatment in anyway shape or form?? ask anybody here, sig's and phill are responsible anglers and take the utmost care of ANY fish caught known or unknown

Whether it's whiting, granny fish or scorpions - treat them with respect.

Treat them with respect, you just said you were disgusted that someone threw back a weaver. How would you dispose of such a fish?, quick kill through the top of the head or on a pier floor?

 

[phill_itofish]

There is enough mistreatment of commonly sought after species as it is to make further mistreatment of less-desirable species all the more reprehensible on the grounds that you can't weigh it in or you have a superstitious fear you may get a sore hand for 7 days.

I think your getting the wrong end of the stick here mate, this fish was not mistreated, myself and simon were careful and handled it with a towel because i mistakenly thought this fish could sting me, it was measured weighed and returned.

 

[doj]

They don't but then again a weaver or granny doesnt live on the end of a line.... i.e captive.. which is what the box suggests.


I don't see how handling a fish with care and a towel is mistreatment in anyway shape or form?? ask anybody here, sig's and phill are responsible anglers and take the utmost care of ANY fish caught known or unknown


Treat them with respect, you just said you were disgusted that someone threw back a weaver. How would you dispose of such a fish?, quick kill through the top of the head or on a pier floor?

I think you need to re-read my post. Then chat about it with someone to double check your comprehension is at 100%.

My comments were general and broad-based and I did not direct them explicitly or implicitly against your particular example. I also stated that the anglers on the pier were of the opinion they caught a weever (parenthesis added in original post to show their error) when in fact it was a scorpion. Had they spent a little time educating themselves they would have recognised this. They behaviour following the catch was embarrassing and their treatment of the animal was contemptible.