How to Get a Catfish in a Boat: Tactics, Safety and Equipment

Getting a trophy catfish into a boat is the culmination of hours of fishing that requires not only physical strength but also iron discipline. A mistake at this point can cost you not only the desired trophy, but the integrity of the craft, and at worst, lead to injury to a fisherman or a boat tipping over. The catfish is not just a fish, it is a multi-ton truck that often falls into a stupor when you reach the surface, but its instinct for self-preservation can work at the last second.

The challenge is that the fish weighs much more in the air than in the water, and the slippery mucus on the catfish's body makes it almost elusive. Many newcomers lose prey at the side of the boat trying to grab the giant with their bare hands or pull up a fishing line, which is strictly forbidden. Proper equipment preparation and understanding the physiology of catfish behavior on board the boat are key factors in successful capture.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions, the necessary tools and the typical mistakes that fishermen make during the final stage of catching. sucker So for catfish, it's more of a myth than a reality, and what kind of tool really saves the situation, and we'll also talk about the nuances of working with a outboard motor at a critical moment and how to kill fish directly in the water.

Preparation of equipment before the final jerk

Long before you see the dark back of the catfish, your arsenal should be put on alert, improvisation on the side of the boat is unacceptable, because the fish can behave aggressively or, conversely, sharply break into the depth. taper (special bump or hook on the handle) or elevator system if you plan to catch exclusively on the quok from the boat.

Be sure to check the status rigging-knifeIt should be perfectly sharp and in an easily accessible place, preferably on a belt or on a neck lace, but not in the far corner of the drawer. If the catfish gets entangled in the gear or has to be released urgently due to a security threat, the knife should be removed in a split second.

Special attention should be paid to the organization of space in the cockpit, all unnecessary objects that can catch a fishing line or interfere with movement should be removed. kukhan It should be pre-popped in water and fastened so that it can be quickly passed into the gill slit or lower jaw of the fish. The use of a metal cable for a kukan is preferable, since the catfish can chew the synthetic cord with its bristles.

Behavior of catfish on board the boat

When the catfish approaches the boat, it often stops and hangs in the water column, and this stupor is caused by a sudden change in pressure and light, and the presence of an unfamiliar object, your boat, at which point the fish appears dead, but it is a deceptive impression. Any sudden movement or noise can provoke a sudden change in the pressure and light. last-ditchwhich is often the most powerful.

⚠️ Warning: Never lean over a bot or hang overboard trying to reach a fish with your hands. A sharp jerk of a catfish can flip a lightweight PVC boat or pluck you into the water, where fighting the giant will become deadly.

If you're fishing alone, your task is to stabilize the boat as much as possible. anchor So, if you want to do this, you can try to dive under the boat, which is a risk of entanglement of the line in the engine propeller, in which case you'd better give the fish some freedom, but keep the tension to control its movement.

Experienced catfish know that a large catfish can start rotating around its axis, twisting the line, and it's a defense mechanism that allows it to tangle the gear and cut it against a shell or a snag, and your job is to keep the fishing line from sagging and, if possible, to bring the fish out to clean water away from the bottom relief.

Elevator, Raggor or Handlift?

There are several proven methods of lifting catfish aboard, and the choice depends on the size of the fish and the design of your boat. For trophies weighing 30 kg and above, using hands is almost impossible and dangerous. Here mechanical devices come to the rescue.

Elevator method The elevator is a strong rope with a loop or hook that is thrown over the side or a special rack, the loop is wound under the belly of the fish or behind the lower jaw, after which the catfish rises smoothly from the water, this allows you to distribute the weight and avoid sharp jerks.

Use of use bagger The hook of the bugger clings to the lower jaw or to the area behind the gills (but not to the eyes or gills to tear, so as not to damage the meat if planned release, although for a trophy catfish this is rare).

Below is a comparative table of methods of raising catfish:

Method	Fish weight (kg)	Security	Equipment required
Hands.	10-12	Low.	Gloves, doll.
baghor	10-40	Medium	Steel bumper
lift	20-100+	High.	Winch or block system
Sucker	15	Medium	A huge suction with a hard hoop

Why can't you just pick up the catfish by the line?

The catfish's rise by the line can break the rod, break the cord, or damage the coil. The weight of the fish in the air increases, and the load on the gear becomes critical. You also lose control of the fish, which starts to twitch randomly in the air.

Working with the Cook and Killing the Fish

After the catfish was in the water near the side or partially raised, it must be fixed. Knocking It's the process of squirting a metal cable through the lower jaw or gill slit of a fish, and it's preferable for a catfish to squirt a cucucan through the lower jaw, because it's the strongest part, and the fish can't get free.

Even when pulled on board, it can cause serious injuries by tail blow or bite, so after churning, it is recommended to immediately stun the fish, using a special hammer or a heavy object with a blunt butt.

The impact is done to the area just above the eye line (frontal part), which instantly turns off the fish and makes it safe for further manipulation. If you plan to release the fish (for example, when catching a spawning individual), then you do not need to crow it, you need to carefully release the hook, holding the fish vertically, and let it swim away.

Typical errors and security measures

One of the most common mistakes is to jump into a boat with a fish, which is a major safety violation, and the boat can flip over, or you can get tangled in gear, and the fish must be in the boat. fishermanless.

Another mistake is neglecting the condition of the gear, and if you feel that the cord is damaged against a shell or a snag during the catch, the risk of a cliff at the side increases many times, and in such cases, experienced anglers sometimes take risks and take the catfish with their hands in gloves, but this requires tremendous experience.

⚠️ Warning: Never wind a line or cord on your finger or hand when catching a large catfish, and when pulling a fish, the cord may cut the phalanx of your finger or even the bone, leading to severe injury.

It's also dangerous to leave the catfish lying on the bottom of the boat without fixing, and in agony, it can knock out a paddle, damage a PVC canister, or knock out a transom, and immediately after lifting, the fish must either be stunned or fixed securely.

Specificity of fishing with a outboard motor

Using a motor to catch catfish is a controversal theme. On the one hand, the motor allows you to get the fish to shore faster or to clean water. On the other hand, a rotor working next to the fishing line is a time bomb.

If the catfish gets tangled and you have to work with the engine, do it at minimum speeds and only in a neutral position or at the quietest speed, constantly controlling the tension of the cord. electric motor It is also used for maneuvering, as it is quieter and allows you to control speed more accurately.

Ideally, when a large fish approaches the boat, the motor should be silenced or lifted out of the water to prevent the fishing line from catching the screw. If the fishing line does hit the screw, the engine will immediately jam, and you can lose the fish, as well as damage the lower unit.

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The main rule of safety: catfish should be lifted into the boat mechanically (lift, bumper), and not manually, especially if its weight exceeds 15-20 kg.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I get a catfish into a boat without an assistant?

Yes, it is possible, but only for fish weighing up to 20-25 kg and with special equipment, such as an elevator or a powerful crimson. For trophies larger than 30-40 kg, fishing with a partner is highly recommended, since it is almost impossible and dangerous to cope with the resistance of such fish alone at the board.

What if the catfish went under the boat and confused the line?

Don't try to pull the gear abruptly. Try to slowly pull the line so that the catfish gets out of the boat. If entanglement occurs around the motor or anchor shaft, sometimes you have to dive (in warm water and in the absence of threat from the fish), but it is better to try to carefully untangle the line with a long stick or a bugre.

Do I need to stun the catfish immediately after rising?

Yes, unless you plan to let go of the fish, the catfish is very powerful and can injure you or damage the boat, and stunning is a humane and safe way to kill the fish before crowing or butchering.

Which cookie is best used for catfish?

The best use is a kukan with a metal cable and a reliable carbine lock. The cable should be long enough to lower the fish deep into the water where it will dart less. The kukan's attachment to the boat should be very reliable, preferably to a special ruffled bolt or a durable leer stand.