Fish spiking

[dunrootin]

I was wondering if anyone out there could help me with finding some more info on fish spiking,or I think it is called Nikageemie( spelling),where you spike the fish in the brain as quick as possible on capture to stop the adrenalin from racing around the body of the fish so as to avoid the spoiling of the flavour of the fish & then straight into an ice slurry.I use this method all the time after testing the theory out many times on many different species,but I actually know nothing about it other than how to do it & was asked if I could shed some more light on the subject at the next informal offshore fishing meeting at the local Noosa pub.As you can see I dont even know how to spell the word or if it is infact the correct word for the process.Google came back with nothing probably because of the spelling.Any info would be great.Tight lines.

[Fafnir]

Try Googling 'Iki Jimi' that should point you in the right direction.

[NAGG]

I saw the technique ( Iki Jimi) for the first time a couple years ago in NZ ...... I was amazed at how quickly the snapper were killed ..... & how the colour was retained in the fish after spiking!

Nagg

[Dan5]

Spiking is done to stop the lactic acid being released from stressed fish,it acctually target's the spinal cord ending and not the brain.A bait needle is perfect for the job and on large tuna they use a piece of heavy mono.

[Simmo2]

http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/X2590E....htm#TopOfPage

[kitty_cat]

just cut the throught and bleed out , proberly not as good but definatly makes a difference in the taste of the fish, always better tasting bleed try a few bleed and a few unbleed and you can tell the difference strait away

[Little grey men]

Works a treat, I use this method when catching and disosing of tilapia and carp.
Even though they are a noxious fish, I have no interest in seeing them flop around on the bank until they eventually die.
I use the sharp bradle looking piece on my leatherman tool.

[JEWIENEWIE]

Can anyone put up a shot or diagram on how to do this for me. My wife loves coming out in the boat, enjoys fishing as well but doesnt like the sound of a fish slowlyly dying and flaping around in the esky.
Jewie

[Smithy]

Also try Googling Iki Jime. You know when you hit the brain, the fish gives a whole pile of very violent high frequency shakes, the colours all come out then they go pretty peaceful. I then also bleed them but that is not really needed. Once in my bleed out tub they will still kick a bit here and there but that must just be nerves. I have found Cod the hardest to get right and then they seem to kick and carry on for ages even if you have bleed them. I go about 1" behind the eye and 1/2" up on small fish and say on a 6kg Snapper, something like 1 1/2" behind and 3/4" above to hit the brain. It will take some finding till you get used to it. I just use a Supercheap Phillips Head screwdriver. Snapper (Boneheads) sometimes take a quick bash with a set of pliers on the end to get to the right spot.

[Nic]

Can anyone put up a shot or diagram on how to do this for me. My wife loves coming out in the boat, enjoys fishing as well but doesnt like the sound of a fish slowlyly dying and flaping around in the esky.
Jewie

Jewie I have a PowerPoint spreadsheet that might help you; I got it from Strikeback after I got one of their spikes. While there is some info on their website (www.strikebacktackle.com.au/store/TackleAndBoat.asp?cat=3&DocumentID=21) the spreadsheet is better. If you PM me with your email address I'll send it to you.

It's pretty obvious when you hit the right spot with an iki spike -- the fish makes a funny twitchy shudder. Only problem is a lot of blood can sometimes come out of that little spike hole... when holding that nanny in my avatar I was quickly awash with blood, looked like I'd murdered someone!

[Fafnir]

when holding that nanny in my avatar I was quickly awash with blood, looked like I'd murdered someone!

Yeah, fish blood. Just stick to that story Nic, they can't prove anything.

[Nic]

Yeah, fish blood. Just stick to that story Nic, they can't prove anything.

Yes, had to tell everyone on board to avert their eyes so I could take the murder shirt off to rinse in the drink. Those GoSo shirts dry super-fast... usually a good thing but not when you're soaked in blood. It all washed out in the end though.

Incidentally, with the earlier post I wasn't promoting the Strikeback iki spikes per-se -- I'm sure there are other brands that produce good spikes too.

[dunrootin]

Thanks for all the great info returned from the question on Iki Jimi.At least I can spell it now.Cheers

[tigermullet]

It's a great technique but so it should be - the Japanese have a long history of sticking sharp points into all sorts of things, including themselves.