how to subdue a snoek

Johan

Senior Member
Whats the best way for someone without an oilskin to break a snoek's nek? I was thinking of putting a thick piece of plastic (seil) on the deck and dropping it in there, folding it over each time to grip it and then break the head backwards.

Is it possible to kill and bleed it by stabbing it?
 

Patrick

Sealiner
Something i'm considering is keeping a meat cleaver and a board on board. Wondering if kapping the head off will be easier, more humane? May let it bleed out better too.
 

carcharias

Sealiner
Guys be careful! You need to subdue the snoek immidiately. You will see that guys who catch couta(same family)and snoek use a club to hit the snoek on the head. I have seen couta go beserk and bite fuel lines etc on a ski boat- not funny.
Swinging a meat cleaver in rough seas will not be ideal.
You dont need to bleed snoek like bleeding tuna.
 

will101

Senior Member
Look you're going to get blood all over yourself no matter what. Make sure it's fish blood and not your own. Swing it under your arm, clamp it tight and break its neck. That's it.
 
Easiest I think is just to put it between your legs, finger around the head just behind the eyes and then wrestle with the head until you hear the back go snap.
Just watch your nads!
 

MichaelK

Sealiner
Even easier, stick your index finger up its poepal.

When it gets that what the F#@K look in its eyes, moer die blim sem doed.
 

Patrick

Sealiner
Michael, i think i'll leave the cavity searches to you LOL!
All this wrestling between the legs is beginning to sound like picking up chicks after a few beeros. Great stuff!
 

Dorado75

Sealiner
I have caught 100's of thousand snoek and have had stitches on a few occasions because of them..... i have some scars on my chin from getting too close to a snoek.

The best way to handle a snoek is under your arm, but beware of doing this without a "oortrek" (a tee shirt or old rugby jersey) over the top as this stops the fish from sliding around under your arm, or you can throw the fish between your legs, this works just as well but not as quick when the fish are biting. You aklso have to be careful when breaking necks, especially the smaller fish, at times the bottom jaw will split open and your fingers will then be raked across the teeth, i have seen and experienced some nasty wounds when this happens!

You HAVE to break their necks!! If you dont you WILL wind up with a pap fish, which must be the most disgusting fish to eat, whereas a fresh snoek must be one of the best.
Snoek have a enzyme in their flesh that causes them to go pap. They catch exactly the same species of snoek (Thyrisites Atun) in New Zealand but this fish does not have the same enzyme so they dont go pap. That is why most of the big smokeries rather use the imported stuff from NZ than the local caught ones!

Sorry if i deviated a bit off the topic.........
 
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