How to Use Fishing Grippers for Safe Fish Handling and Landing

To properly use fishing grippers, you must clamp the tool securely onto the bony part of the fish’s lower jaw while keeping the fish horizontal and fully supporting its body weight with your other hand or a wet landing net. This technique prevents severe jaw dislocation, protects the fish’s protective slime coat, and keeps your hands safe from sharp teeth, thrashing hooks, and spines. Using fishing grippers is a highly effective way to manage your catch, but it requires a careful balance of mechanical control and biological awareness.

Anglers targeting aggressive species like apahap (barramundi), mangagat (mangrove snapper), or dalag (mudfish) in the Philippines often face high-energy fights. In these warm, humid environments, fish exhaust their energy reserves quickly during a struggle, making rapid and safe handling essential for their survival upon release. Mastering the use of fishing grippers ensures that your landing process is smooth, efficient, and safe for both you and the fish.

Preparing Your Grippers and Safety Gear

Before you even cast a line into the water, your landing tools must be in optimal working condition. High humidity, salt spray, and brackish water can quickly degrade metal components, leading to stiff springs or rusted jaws that fail to lock. Inspect your fishing grippers thoroughly before every trip. Test the trigger mechanism to ensure the jaws open smoothly and snap shut with a firm, flush seal. If you notice any resistance, apply a small drop of marine-grade lubricant to the pivot points and wipe away any excess residue to prevent it from contaminating the water.

Personal safety is just as important as tool maintenance. When a fish is thrashing at the side of your boat or kayak, loose hooks can easily swing wild. Always wear protective eyewear to guard against flying hooks, sinkers, or water spray. Additionally, wearing puncture-resistant gloves provides an essential barrier against sharp dorsal spines, gill plates, and teeth. These gloves also improve your grip on slippery fish and wet tools, reducing the likelihood of accidental drops.

A simple but critical preparation step is securing your grippers to your person or vessel. Most high-quality grippers come equipped with a lanyard or wrist strap. Always loop this strap securely around your wrist or clip it to your personal flotation device using a carabiner. In the excitement of landing a prized catch, a sudden head shake can easily knock the tool from your hand. Without a secure lanyard, your grippers—and potentially the fish attached to them—could sink to the bottom of a muddy riverbed or deep coastal reef.

Approaching and Clamping the Fish

The landing process begins long before the fish is lifted out of the water. To minimize physiological stress, keep the fish submerged for as long as possible during the approach. Fish rely on the water to support their body weight and supply oxygen through their gills. Exposing them to the air immediately triggers a stress response, which is compounded by the warm tropical air. Keeping the fish in the water also helps preserve its delicate slime coat, which acts as a natural barrier against parasites and infections.

When you are ready to apply the grippers, guide the fish close to your position using your fishing rod, keeping the line taut but not overly tight. Open the gripper jaws fully by pulling back on the trigger mechanism. Approach the fish’s mouth directly from the front, keeping the tool aligned with the center of the lower jaw. It is absolutely vital to avoid the sensitive areas surrounding the mouth. Never slide the grippers near the gill covers, eyes, or snout, as a misplaced clamp can easily puncture blood vessels or damage sensory organs, leading to severe injury.

Once the lower lip is positioned between the jaws of the tool, release the trigger to clamp down firmly on the bony part of the lower lip. Ensure that the locking mechanism engages completely. You should feel or hear a distinct click or lock, indicating that the jaws are secured. Avoid clamping down on the soft, fleshy tissue inside the mouth or too far back on the tongue. A secure grip on the solid bone of the lower jaw provides maximum leverage and prevents the fish from slipping out when it thrashes.

Supporting the Fish During Landing

One of the most common mistakes anglers make is lifting a fish vertically out of the water using only the grippers. While grippers are excellent for securing the mouth, they are not designed to support the entire weight of a large fish vertically. Hanging a heavy fish by its jaw puts immense, unnatural pressure on its spine, throat, and internal organs. This vertical tension can easily dislocate the jaw, tear delicate connective tissues, or cause internal hemorrhaging that is invisible but ultimately fatal to the fish.

To prevent these injuries, always use your free hand to support the fish’s belly as you lift it. Before touching the fish, submerge your hand in the water to wet it thoroughly. Dry hands can strip away the protective slime coat, leaving the fish vulnerable to fungal and bacterial infections. Slide your wet hand under the midsection of the fish, lifting it horizontally in tandem with the grippers. For exceptionally large or heavy catches, consider using a rubber-coated landing net or a specialized fish cradle to distribute the weight evenly across its body.

Maintaining a horizontal position is crucial for the fish’s survival, especially if you plan to take a quick photograph before release. Keep the fish level with the water and minimize the total time it spends out of its natural environment. A good rule of thumb is to keep the fish out of the water no longer than you can hold your breath. By keeping the landing process quick, controlled, and well-supported, you ensure the fish remains strong enough to swim away vigorously upon release.

Removing Hooks and Releasing the Fish

Once the fish is safely secured and supported, your next priority is removing the hook quickly and safely. A thrashing fish with a hook in its mouth presents a significant hazard to your hands. To maintain a safe distance, always use long-nosed pliers or a dedicated hook-removal tool while keeping the fish stabilized with the grippers. This setup allows you to apply precise leverage to the hook shank without placing your fingers anywhere near the sharp point or the fish’s mouth.

During the extraction, pay close attention to the fish’s anatomy. Keep your hands and fingers clear of the sharp gill plates, teeth, and dorsal spines. Many tropical species possess defensive structures that can easily slice through skin or inject mild toxins, leading to painful infections. Work methodically but quickly, twisting the hook in the opposite direction of its entry path to minimize tearing the flesh.

In some cases, a fish may swallow the hook deeply, lodging it in the throat or stomach. If the hook is not easily accessible, do not attempt to force it out, as pulling on a deeply embedded hook can cause fatal internal bleeding. Instead, use wire cutters to snip the fishing line as close to the hook eye as possible. The fish’s natural digestive processes and water exposure can often break down or shed the hook over time, giving the fish a much higher chance of survival than if you were to tear its internal organs.

Recognizing Limits and Stopping Conditions

While fishing grippers are incredibly versatile, they are not a universal solution for every catch. Every tool has its physical limits, and recognizing when to set the grippers aside is crucial for your safety and the welfare of the fish. Always check the manufacturer’s weight rating for your specific model, whether you are using a budget-friendly ₱500 model or a premium ₱3,000 mechanical scale gripper. If you hook a massive specimen that exceeds this limit, attempting to use the grippers can result in tool failure, bent jaws, or a dropped fish. If a fish is thrashing violently and cannot be calmed, using a landing net is a much safer alternative.

Certain species are also poorly suited for gripper use due to their unique anatomy. Avoid using grippers on fish with highly fragile jaw structures, soft mouths, or very small lips where the metal jaws cannot gain a secure purchase. Clamping down on these species can easily crush their mouthparts, preventing them from feeding after release. Additionally, some species with extremely powerful, crushing teeth can damage the gripper jaws or pose a risk of biting through the tool if it is not positioned correctly.

Finally, always align your handling practices with local fishing regulations and conservation guidelines. Some protected species or specific marine sanctuaries have strict “no-touch” or “net-only” rules to maximize post-release survival rates. Staying informed about these regulations ensures that your angling practices remain ethical, legal, and supportive of local fish populations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do fishing grippers damage the fish's jaw?

When used correctly, fishing grippers do not cause significant damage to a fish’s jaw. The key to safe usage lies in clamping the tool strictly on the bony lower lip and immediately supporting the fish’s body weight horizontally. The bony structure of the lower jaw is resilient enough to withstand the clamping pressure of the tool. However, severe damage occurs when anglers lift heavy fish vertically by the jaw alone. This vertical hanging can dislocate the jaw, tear muscles, and cause internal injuries. For soft-mouthed species or fish with delicate lip structures, grippers should be avoided entirely in favor of wet hands or rubber-coated landing nets.

Can I use fishing grippers for all types of fish?

No, fishing grippers are not suitable for every type of fish. They are designed primarily for species with pronounced, bony lower jaws that can accommodate the clamp securely. Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines to verify the intended use and weight limits of your specific tool. Avoid using grippers on fish with fragile mouths, as the clamping force can easily tear their delicate tissues. Additionally, species with extremely sharp, crushing teeth or those lacking a distinct lower lip structure are poor candidates for grippers, as they can damage the tool or slip out easily, posing a safety risk to the angler.