measuring fish without them flopping all over the place

Something I discovered while documentlng fish size and lure used:
Do not attempt to hold them still either by holding the jig head, bottom lip or on the boat seat when taking a photo. Fish flop around and won't hold still.
Better yet: fish on the bottom of a plastic shoe box seems to sedate them once you lift your hand off their bodies.
Attachment 489138

I ordered a stick-on soft plastic ruler that will make measuring easier than using a hard ruler. I cut a hole that the tail goes through on the right for fish that are larger than 14" . A separate ruler documents total size.

I documented 15 fish that way which included sunfish, perch and crappie and with zero flopping.

Thanks for the tip .
I just talk nicely to them , telling them I’m going to set them free , this usually calms them down while I take a picture. :)

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Originally Posted by gillchaser999

Thanks for the tip .
I just talk nicely to them , telling them I’m going to set them free , this usually calms them down while I take a picture. :)

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I tried that but got a fin spine to my finger that drew blood. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

I tried that but got a fin spine to my finger that drew blood. :(

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Yep, sometimes you run across a rebel especially the shellcrackers .:biggrin

Interesting analysis

I like that Idea

Good idea.

Very nice

Never thought about this much before but it's a great idea. When fishing with Sonny he had a plastic measuring sheet in his boat and you put fish on it they stopped flopping around. He has that fish whisperer vibe where the fish would stop fighting and flopping in his hands so he could take great pictures. I'd try and the fish would be flopping on the deck. Still can't get it right.

The worst thing about dangling a fish hanging down is the curve of the tail away from the camera. No way length can be appreciated and it does it every time I'm getting ready to shoot much less flopping just before a shot is taken.

(Maybe if I had said sardines instead of chesse, it may have calmed down - though I doubt it. If I was hooked in the lip presented with an uncertain future, I doubt anything - except a hammer- would calm me down!)