Using a Hawg Trough

[Justin]

So this season will be my first time using a Hawg Trough to measure fish.  I usually just let fish go with a guess at the length or kill the fish and measure after.  Since I'll be looking for some AOTY points I'll be trying to wrangle live fish onto a little plastic board.

What tips and tricks do you all have to help me from hurting all of the fish (99.9%) that I'll be releasing?

How do you keep the flopping fish still for a photo?

Thanks in advance.

[IslandHoppa]

Great question. Yesterday on an exploratory trip SteveHawk landed a 35" sturgeon and it took both of us to hold it steady on my 48" metal ruler while I videoed the event. In general I wonder how one is supposed to properly handle a sturgeon to determine if it's legal without removing it from the water, especially single handedly ("without assistance" per AOTY Rules).


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[pelagic paddler]

Aren't you guys using the "retention Straps" that come with the Hawg Troughs?  I like the clear ones best as you can still read the numbers...

[IslandHoppa]

Guess I need to order one. What do you do for fish over 30"?


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[demonick]

Guess I need to order one. What do you do for fish over 30"?

Mark the side of your boat with paint or nail polish.  I've used black felt tip marker, but it wears off.

[IslandHoppa]

Does that count as a legal measurement for AOTY or Kayak Wars? What about DFW?


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[coosbayyaker]

Just ask them nicely to lay there for a glory shot..

It's difficult especially for larger fish. if you want to get good pics for AOTY you might just have to eat more fish!

Guess I need to order one. What do you do for fish over 30"?


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You eat 'em..   

well i made a small piece of rope that had marks at 38 and 54 that i could hold up to the fish quickly to determine if it was in the slot. some people put marks on the side of there yak or on their paddle

[Abking]

I hand out extensions at my tournament.

As for handling fish that are to be released, you are in for a long and enlightening journey.   

My advice:  use your conscience and be prepared to make changes to your M.O. based on the feedback you'll receive - especially if you catch big fish.   

[IslandHoppa]

Thanks for the feedback. Bought some trendy "Goth black" nail polish and marked 38" & 54" on both Amas, fore & aft port gunnels and starboard aft gunnel. Turns out the spacing between Akas on a TI is 54".

Should be able to safely slot a Dino with minimal effort if I can just speak in a soothing tone to a 100 lb prehistoric creature. Nice fishy, relax, you are feeling very sleeeeeepy...


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[demonick]

Does that count as a legal measurement for AOTY or Kayak Wars? What about DFW?

Of course not, but if they are keepers then you can measure them officially after they stop moving.

As for C&R, do the best you can.

[craig]

Also, if the drip rings are spaced out as close to the paddle blade as possible on the shaft, the distance between is 54 inches. That is, of course, on the stock Hobie 220 cm paddle that came with my Outback. At least, it is on mine and Ndogg's paddles.  Ndogg pointed that out to me. 

If it fits between those two points, I will lift it out and photograph it, or bonk it if I intend to keep it.  If you have difficulty getting a good measurement, you could go to shore with the fish and measure it in the shallows (please be gentle) if it won't cooperate on the yak. If it is just a CNR + photo I will get the assistance of a fellow yakker. If I am out there with you, I will gladly help you measure and photograph it.

[bsteves]

Marking the side of your kayak is a great way to measure sturgeon to insure that they are within the slot (for AOTY and DFW compliance).  If you are keeping the fish, just measure it when it's nice and um... "cooperative" onshore.  If you're releasing the fish, it's best to try and get a photo of the fish in the water next to your marks and then another photo of something like a measuring tape "ground-truthing" your marks.  You can even use this second photo to measure the approximate location of where the fish fell within the slot.  Of if you really want to be fancy and more exacting with your approximation do a bit of image analysis with something like ImageJ (free http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/).  Or bribe me with lofty promises of a beer or something and I'll do the image analysis for you.

[Zee]

Marking the side of your kayak is a great way to measure sturgeon to insure that they are within the slot (for AOTY and DFW compliance).  If you are keeping the fish, just measure it when it's nice and um... "cooperative" onshore.  If you're releasing the fish, it's best to try and get a photo of the fish in the water next to your marks and then another photo of something like a measuring tape "ground-truthing" your marks.  You can even use this second photo to measure the approximate location of where the fish fell within the slot.  Of if you really want to be fancy and more exacting with your approximation do a bit of image analysis with something like ImageJ (free http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/).  Or bribe me with lofty promises of a beer or something and I'll do the image analysis for you.

What about the new rule B? "There is no longer an exception for sturgeon. Clear photographic evidence against a measuring device is required for sturgeon now. "

[bsteves]

What about the new rule B? "There is no longer an exception for sturgeon. Clear photographic evidence against a measuring device is required for sturgeon now. "

My bad, that does seem to be the new rule.  I don't particularly agree with it, but yes it is indeed on the rule page.

[DTS]

One thing that I thought about doing in the Hobie is laying the trough down towards the bow just to the side of the mirage drive.  There is a slight dip there. So the fish should slide to the end leaving the measurement side closer to the camera, but still giving a good view that the fish nose is at the end of the trough.   At this point attempt to take a picture in between flops.   Just an idea.  I have yet to see this in action as I have not caught one big enough to try this.