You hook a fish, fight it, bring it to the boat, then you gaff it to get it over the rail, you gill it to get a sure grip, then you snap a couple photos, weigh it, and throw it back over the rail. Rinse and repeat with the next trophies that come to the boat.

Sounds like a great day on the water. What could be wrong with this picture?

Literally everything. How you handle a fish in the moments immediately before and after swinging it over the rail is one of the most important factors in bycatch mortality. If you are not conscientious in how you handle a fish, there is a very high likelihood that it will die.

If you’re fishing for meat, it doesn’t matter all that much. But catch and release anglers really need to rethink how they handle fish. This is why a fish gripper scale actually is an indispensable fishing tool, especially if you want to get a good weight reading before release.

First, never gaff a fish that’s going back in the drink, period. Never use a towel to handle a fish because doing so removes some of the fish’s slime coat, which is central to the fish’s immune system and protects the fish against infection.

Keep your hands away from the fish’s gills. Never under any circumstances grab a fish by the gills if you intend to release it. Some fish, like snook, have sharp gill plates that can cause serious lacerations anyway.

Lip the fish if you can; if you can’t there’s a fishing tool for that. It’s called a fish gripper (which in this case also contains a built-in scale).

Fish grippers grip the fish by the mouth without causing a puncture wound yet hold the fish securely enough to get a good weight reading or pose for pictures with the fish before release.

But, more importantly, a fish gripper doesn’t puncture the fish, keeps the angler’s hands away from its gills, and doesn’t interfere with the fish’s slime coat, all of which are vital to reducing bycatch mortality.

And, as an added bonus, a fish gripper will also keep an angler’s hands from getting too close to the fish’s mouth. Lipping a fish, while more responsible than gilling, can put the angler at risk if the fish is thrashing and there’s a heavy jig with assist hooks hanging from its mouth and swinging around.

So, ultimately, a fish gripper is just as valuable a fishing tool for you as it is for the fish, as it will reduce stress and the risk of injury for the both of you - crucial if you’re practicing catch and release.

Take this one step further, be conscientious about the purchase, and get a fish gripper with a scale, and you’ve just knocked off two items. Now instead of telling a “fish tale” with your picture, you can get an accurate weight reading to substantiate it.

Where to Get a Fish Gripper to Add to Your Tackle Bag

There’s only room for so many fishing tools in any tackle bag, but some are indispensable. A knife, pliers, a line cutter and knot puller, these are some of them. Hopefully now you see a fish gripper scale is one as well.

If you’re going to add one to your pack before your next outing on the water, get it at Johnny Jigs. They carry a wide range of fishing tools and tackle and are the leader in slow pitch jigging; stock up on jigs and tools in their shop and if you need some tips or tricks before you shove off, they’d be happy to help.

For more information about Daiwa Saltiga and Electric Reel Please visit: Johnny Jigs