Ouch!!

[deltabighat]

I know this is the wrong forum to discuss this as it should probably be over on Fish Sniffers or some such place. But I have a true affection for the folks here and value their opinion. This may be a stupid question but here goes. In another thread, I guy devised a board to skin catfish. I too use a similar board and clamp and I love to eat catfish. But before I skin them, I whack em good and hard on the noggin to make sure they are either out cold or dead before I skin them. I do the same for all fish I clean. Do fish feel pain?? I have heard it both ways and have no idea. Have any of you out there heard one way or another?

DBH

 

[manticore999]

Ok - so I'm not the right person to answer this because I'm a vegetarian but I'll respond anyway. Personally, I have no problem with eating meat or fish if they're dispatched humanely. In the wild other creatures don't know any better - we do. Whether or not they feel pain isn't the issue in my mind. I do believe they at least feel fear, even if it's on a primal, instictive level and not the same as the way we feel fear (although, who says it's different?). Knock them out, kill them quickly first, either way it's the humane thing to do.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[Flutterby]

I grew up in a family of fishermen. Mostly trout fishing. I was taught to give them one good whack on the head right after I catch it so that the fish doesn't suffer. Sometimes when trout fishing, one has to carry the catch for several hours prior to getting where it can be cleaned and stored or cooked.

I sure would not want a live catfish flopping around on my boat. I watched a heron catch a live catfish one time. He flew to the dock with the catfish in his mouth. On the dock the proceeded to thoughtly kill the catfish with his beak [for about 5 minutes]. He wanted that fish completely dead so that his gullet wasn't damaged when swallowing it. All the other fish, the heron just swallow it live......