FS Digest

I'm new to fishing and I'm here with a group who are self taught but have been doing it for years. The fish are predominently new Zealand snapper. The first thing we do after catching a fish is take a knife and stab it behind the eye. It tenses up as expected, but half the time it doesn't go completely limp afterwards. In some cases the fish is still trying to breathe 10 minutes after being "killed". In one instance the fish was still trying to get away when we started filleting!

I've read up and can't see anything definitive either way. I've seen posts about headless fish moving around but that always seems to be when salt gets on exposed muscle (not the case here).

My friends are adamant they're dead even when they're still trying to breath, but I don't trust their expertise enough to ease my conscience.

Tl;dr Can anyone say definitively whether fish might still move after being properly killed, but not cut up?

Ideally I'd like a source to help convince my friends

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by Adamcsyou

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Maybe you missed the brain. Try sticking it from the top just between the eyes. Have a better shot at hitting the brain.

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

I agree👍

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

Some fish (and other dead animals) will have muscle spasms, long after "Time Of Death"...

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

If and when I've got a right lively fish on deck, that BELONGS ON ICE; I will typically give it a good hard swat in the head, just aft of the eyeball with a 32oz. ball-peen hammer. Sure seems to "take the fight out of 'em"!

Salvavita Loc: Lake Lanier

Attempts at breathing after death are called agonal respirations. We see them in all animals, even humans. Respiratory drive is the autonomic function of the brain stem. Likewise, post mortem muscle contractions can and do occur. But, if you are seeing any of this activity more than "once in a blue moon", it is probably due to the angle of the cut. As Flytier and Whitey have said, top down is really the preferred method. Or, better yet, Immediately cut through the gills and allow the fish to bleed out. Many insist that actually improves the taste.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

I gill all my fish that I keep to eat - old habit from my days fishing Alaska. Most are C P R.