BigBendFishing.Net

I saw a picture of a large speck and thought it might be closely related to a vampire. Just an observation.
What is the best method of landing them once you have them to the boat or shore? I need the same suggestions for other toothy fish that can be caught inshore or from the surf. Span Macks, Blues ect. I want to handle them with as little damage to the fish and myself as possible.
Will the Spanish Macks be in the St Marks/Ochlocknee area when I arrive the end of this month, and if so what are some of the better methods for hooking them?

thanks for all the help

I guess a net.

Let me know who makes that net that takes the hook out of the ones under the size limit,
Do you grab them by the gills? I know handling the skin on rainbows removes valuable slim from the fish and increases the mortality rate of released fish. is this the same with specks?

Slot limits complicate the issue. Instead of using my hands I use a towel to hold them and measure. I'am sure it removes some of the slime, but when you have to measure what is there to do.

I can't think of the guys name but somebody on TV has a rubber glove velcroed to the waist band of his shorts. The glove fits loose enough that he can easily slip his hand in it and pull it off the velcro. After he unhooks the fish he sticks the glove back on the velcro. Looked like a handy idea to me.

If you wet your hands, you can safely handle most fish.
I am not suggesting that wet hands protect you from spines, teeth etc.
Just that it shouldn,t remove too much "slime".

Boga grip. I don't have one but I would think that's the best way to NOT remove the slime.

If a trout or other fish looks small, or I am clearly not going to keep it (read, lady fish) I do not bring it into the boat (or on the beach). Instead, I have a hookout device that allows me to unhook the fish without touching it with my hands, and just let it drop into the water. Sometimes, I leave the fish partially in the water and do it. Works very well, except with the more difficult species like sting rays or cats. Even those will work, sometimes, if you are very careful.

For keeper trout, macks, blues, I use a net. For big ole macks, kings, cobia, big grouper, etc, a gaff.

EJ

thank you everyone