BLEEDING A GIANT

[#1Gaffman]

OKAY GUYS.

Question here. Seems everyone is all fired up about the Giant Season this year. With the reports trickling in how cant you be. Seems there has been a pretty decent bite in MHC.

Well, Im pleased to say that my semester ends in a couple days

So ill be heading down to MHC for a couple weeks to spend some time killing these freight trains.........

Question is, How do you properly bleed, gut, pack, your before heading to market. Also, how do you handle it boatside, do you just stick with the poon? or perhaps get some gaffs in it and get the slob on board? or maybe you even leave it in the water to swim it?????

Id like to here all opinions on how its done, with all the guys that target these things we should see a wide variety of responses. Id like to here diffrent methods and details. Ive seen it done but dont have a huge amount of experience with doing it.

Also pictures would be cool.

[Offshore Bob]

Most buyers will tell you to swim the fish beside the boat until it cools down then while it is still in the water cut the lateral vein about 3 inches behind the pec fin and then make a small cut at the base of the tail . Let it bleed then gently bring it on board . There is some good info at this site . Good luck

http://www.ncseagrant.org/files/bluefin_slideshow.swf

[merry marlin]

Thanks Offshore Bob for that info. By the way your swimming gaff is a great weapon. Tried it for the first time on a short fish and it works awsome. That fish seemed very happy to spend some time with us!!!