Over the course of the weekends fishing in Killybegs, on numerous occasions I witnessed fish caught on 2 hooks, both on a single trace and on a neighbours also. Managed to see 2 fish caught also with hooks in place after being lost initially to the reef. These fish had been caught only a matter of minutes beforehand and seconds I suppose in the cases of them swallowing 2 hooks at once. If it was causing undue pain and suffering, surely to god it would have put them off their grub? Seen doggies in particular caught at a local beach with the remains of hooks in their mouths, fit and well and hungry. On a recent trip to Kerry, several of us provided Dingle Aquarium with 4 bass which were alive and well and unbothered by their experience later that weekend.
It shows that fish when properly handled seem not only to be able to survive the whole catch and release episode but that they arent unduly bothered by it either. I was told recently of a boat competition being won by a fella who managed to catch the same Conger 3 times in a row on one session on a particular mark (foolish conger granted.....
), recognisable as it had the remains of a trace protruding. Something to think about I suppose.....
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