FISH HOLDING DISCLAIMER

I’m going to try to get in front of the comments this time.

To hold a fish like this, curl your 4 fingers back towards your face at the 2nd knuckle. Break your wrist away from your face so that your palm faces the sky. (Reference the 3rd photo) Fish sits ON TOP of the fingers. Thumb sticks straight up and props the fish up. Fish is balancing on the open palm of your hand and curled fingertips. There is NO pressure applied to the fish. The only reason this works is there CANNOT be any pressure on the fish. They hate being squeezed, it triggers the flop. This method of handling the fish is very gentle, the fish never feels anything except his own weight on your hand. If done correctly, they only spends a few seconds out of the water. This works really well for fish up to 20" or so. Much bigger, and you'll have to 2 hand them. However, that hand position still works for a two handed hold, just grip the tail bone with the off hand.

Step 1: Have the camera man set up the shot and get positioned, while you keep the fish wet.

Step 2: Pre position your hand in the net the fish still in the water. Balance the fish, then uit him out of the net/water carefully for the photo

Step 3: BE SURE to follow the fish with your net, held in the off hand. If the fish flops or loses balance, he'll fall into the net

Step 4: Don't knock it till you try it