Terry Simner
Senior Member & Supporter
I agree with all that Graham...and I think there's a long answer and a short answer.
The former answer involves several variables (species/condition[of specimen]/air temp/water temp[=fish temp]/humidity etc.) plus whether the fish is placed in direct sunlight, kept wet by having water poured over it etc.
The latter is, keep (any) fish out of water for as short a time as possible. I'd say over 50% of mine aren't removed from the water at all : I use barbless hooks that are more often than not (>50%) 'thrown' by the fish in the landing net. If I wish to weigh the fish then I 'snap off' the landing net head and weigh the fish in that (=/<10 secs). On the very rare occasion I want a picture (~1-50), I put my camera into 'movie mode', take a 10-15 second video, then 'frame grab from that later. Maximum time out of water in that case would be 30 secs.
I see it as a 'how long is a piece of string' thing...where the only answer is, remove the barbel in its natural environment for as short a time as possible.. and preferably not at all.
The former answer involves several variables (species/condition[of specimen]/air temp/water temp[=fish temp]/humidity etc.) plus whether the fish is placed in direct sunlight, kept wet by having water poured over it etc.
The latter is, keep (any) fish out of water for as short a time as possible. I'd say over 50% of mine aren't removed from the water at all : I use barbless hooks that are more often than not (>50%) 'thrown' by the fish in the landing net. If I wish to weigh the fish then I 'snap off' the landing net head and weigh the fish in that (=/<10 secs). On the very rare occasion I want a picture (~1-50), I put my camera into 'movie mode', take a 10-15 second video, then 'frame grab from that later. Maximum time out of water in that case would be 30 secs.
I see it as a 'how long is a piece of string' thing...where the only answer is, remove the barbel in its natural environment for as short a time as possible.. and preferably not at all.