how to kill quickly a speared Northern Pike?

sancudo

Member

May 19, 2015

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3

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• May 19, 2015

• #1

Yellow people.

I live in Tampere, Finland which it is known as the land of the "thousand lakes" and in those lakes is alot of fish (if you dare for low visibility and cold waters).
I am new in spearfishing and I just counting the days when water gets a bit warmer.
I have buy a basic 60 cm spear gun, 3mm wetsuit, fins,Flash light and a good knife.
I aiming for Northen Pikes (for practical reasons concern to their size and due to regulations) and I know some very good places but I know as well that the have big mouths,strong skulls and also a history for been agresive predators.
So with no more going arround my question is:
How to secure and kill quickly and safety a speared Northern Pike?

Thanks in advance

BR
Sancudo

 

John B Griffith Jr

Genghis Khan

Mar 17, 2015

194

38

58

• May 20, 2015

• #2

Esox lucius is a tough hombre! I would think a spike in eye socket...not going to get a lot of likes from non-spearos, but Pike skull structure is indeed very tough...so that is a quick way...or severing the spinal cord, but you want to get behind the opercular (bony plates) protecting the gills, that join to form the back end of the skull.

 

japppo

Well-Known Member

Jan 3, 2015

111

42

68

• May 20, 2015

• #3

This is how I try to do it:
1. If you have a gun strong enough to penetrate bone, shoot on the head behind the eye. Otherwise make sure to hit the spine or above it. If the shot goes below the spine, a large pike will rip the shaft and its own guts out... This will kill the fish soon, but you'll have some searching to do.
2. Carefully place tip of the knife behind eyes, between the two bone plates. Then slowly press the blade in and move the tip forward and back inside the head. With a small knife this is easier. With a big knife I pin the fish on the bottom to avoid stabbing myself...
3. Cut the "throat" by putting the knife inside the gill plate and saw down until the head is only held by the spine. This will drain out the blood.

Here are two examples of this technique:

 

sancudo

Member

May 19, 2015

11

3

18

41

• May 20, 2015

• #4

Thanks for the fast replay Jhon B Griffith Jr it was very claryfing commment specially with the "Esox lucius" eskeleton (gives a perspective of the estructure its possition and the suitable areas to stab the fish).
To Jarppo´s First I have to say: "Kiitos palautteestasi" your contribution is enormous with the step by step procedure and the videos that help to put the theory in prctice.
Me happy...

Hey one more thing, any suggestions in how to secure the fish in order to avoid unwanted bites?
The Esox lucius or Northern Pike have a big mouth with a nice and sharp set of teeths


BR
Sancudo

 

Reactions: John B Griffith Jr

japppo

Well-Known Member

Jan 3, 2015

111

42

68

• May 20, 2015

• #5

I've never had problems with biting, but they are very slimy and slippery.

Always use gloves, because the gills are sharp and they will cut you. If the fish fits my hand I will hold it very tight, keeping the gill plates shut, as you can see in the videos. For a bigger one I will put all four fingers inside the gill plate and thumb in from the opposite side.

 

Reactions: John B Griffith Jr

japppo

Well-Known Member

Jan 3, 2015

111

42

68

• Nov 15, 2015

• #6

Here's another video from my last pike hunt. I have always found it thrilling to come across a big pike in murky water. After all I think of it as the largest apex predator in a lake.


However just couple weeks ago I encountered another apex predator in Florida... I don't think my pike hunting will be as exciting anymore.


That was scary and it bites like neverbefore.