Gutting at sea?

Total fishing newb here, did my very first trip with a buddy who kitted me out last weekend. Gutting and scaling... Not a big problem for me, but a BIG problem for my poor apartment's pipes and my cohabitant's nostrils.

Is it safe to gut fish out at sea, or does it attract sharks/scare the fish off/etc? Is there gutting etiquette (like "don't gut in the harbor") or anything like that?

I like to gut the fish I catch out on the water. Some people worry about sharks more than I do. As far as etiquette, I think it is just common sense: don’t leave fish remains anywhere that others are going to find them later. Scaling and processing your catch at the harbor or beach can work well especially if you bring the right tools and supplies.

On a calm day it might even be practical to do some filleting out on the water, but this is generally a no-no because the Department of Fish and Wildlife needs to be able to identify and measure what you caught.

That’s an interesting idea and I used to filet on small boats.. never done it on the yak.

I like the idea of returning what you won’t use to the system, but would have to be done carefully to keep it from coming ashore. I also wouldn’t do it in a small cove with still water.

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On a calm day it might even be practical to do some filleting out on the water, but this is generally a no-no because the Department of Fish and Wildlife needs to be able to identify and measure what you caught.

Here is more info on the rule from the previous comment, 27.65. Filleting of Fish on Vessels
See the following- https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Sport-Fishing/General-Ocean-Fishing-Regs

Happy foraging!

When possible, as soon as I catch a fish I like to bleed it by cutting its gills, and I like to gut it.  Then I put it in ice in a cooler I carry in the rear cargo area of my kayak.  This keeps the meat in good condition.  However, I don't process them further.  I prefer to fillet fish at home in clean conditions.

If there are sharks, sea lions, and/or seals in the area, hanging fish in the water while they are bleeding is a bad idea.

When I gut fish, I puncture the air bladder so the guts won't float, but will sink to the bottom.

I like the idea of returning what you won’t use to the system, but would have to be done carefully to keep it from coming ashore.

Yeah I'm really big on the whole "use the whole fish" thing and giving the guts back to the sea for the crabs really appeals instead of plopping them, in plastic, into a dumpster. I would try sea-filleting but based on the page you linked I would be afraid of my crappy amateur fillet job turning a legal fish into an illegal one!

if you're trying to avoid the apartment mess, and worried about sharks, do it when you get back to launch?

Here's my strategy on the saltwater...

After catching a fish that I want to keep, I pedal/paddle over next to some other kayaker to show him my awesome catch. Then I quickly bleed and gut the fish (and put it on ice) before pedaling/paddling away as fast as I can.

Here's my strategy on the saltwater...

After catching a fish that I want to keep, I pedal/paddle over next to some other kayaker to show him my awesome catch. Then I quickly bleed and gut the fish (and put it on ice) before pedaling/paddling away as fast as I can.

Oh, perfect! Thanks! Do I tell them I'm with NCKA right when I come over or can I shout it over my shoulder once I'm on my way out of there?

Oh, perfect! Thanks! Do I tell them I'm with NCKA right when I come over or can I shout it over my shoulder once I'm on my way out of there?

Just toss the guts into their rear well. They'll figure it out pretty quick. 

I bleed my catch immediately but never leave it dangling.  Then on my way back into the launch, I'll stop to gut/gill well outside of the breakers or just outside the harbor.  That way if a pesky sea lion (or landlord) shows up, it's a quick paddle to shore.  Also, it's poor form to do it inside a harbor or on the beach.  You can scale or filet, no problem... but no one wants to walk along a beach and see a gut pile in the surf.

I use kitchen shears instead of a knife. I find it safer than using a knife.

Bleed ASAP, scale and gut before paddle in.

Side note: This last year my diver buddies and I have seen several “crews” leaving piles of filleted Rockfish and Ling fish carcasses right on the beach at several spots....with no apparent attempt to toss back into ocean or discard in any other way.

IMO this gives kayak anglers a bad name and is pretty rude and disrespectful to the area...

But for sure take advantage of being on the water and get those scales and guts and gills out...it’s also a nice end of the day ritual before the final paddle in. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

If you puncture the swim bladder when you gut a fish, the guts will sink to the bottom and be gobbled up by other fish.  I've seen this various times on my fish finder.  An example is shown below.  After I gutted a lake trout, I went back to jigging while the guts descended.  On the left side of each split screen, you can see a couple of fish around my lure.  Then I raised the lure up about eight feet, and the fish followed it up.  Then as the guts reached the bottom, they were swarmed by fish.

Personally, I don't think it's safe to use a sharp tipped knife on the ocean.  I'm too likely to damage myself or at the least, my dry suit.  I do have a diver's knife strapped to my my vest just in case I get fouled in line after flipping, but it's a dulled tip.  I've never bled a fish on the water, just stringer then plop over the side to keep alive.  Except for lings.  They tend to thrash too much, so I bonk them right away and they'll usually bleed out that way on my back deck where they lay in a soaked burlap sack.
I also don't think it's an issue where you gut your fish.  I can't imagine seagulls letting a gut pile sit for longer than a minute or two after you leave.  Just toss them as you clean and they won't even wait for you to leave.  But if there aren't any gulls, it would be best to haul them away.  I always use the fish cleaning station at the launch myself or wait until I get back to my RV where I can bag before tossing.  It would not be cool to leave fillet carcasses though.  Usually they are too big for gulls who only pick the carcass, leaving the bones. 

Here's my strategy on the saltwater...

After catching a fish that I want to keep, I pedal/paddle over next to some other kayaker to show him my awesome catch. Then I quickly bleed and gut the fish (and put it on ice) before pedaling/paddling away as fast as I can.

Oh, perfect! Thanks! Do I tell them I'm with NCKA right when I come over or can I shout it over my shoulder once I'm on my way out of there?

Yes, you should tell them you're with NCKA and that your username is Bushy...

I read somewhere that great whites don't respond as aggressively to fish blood. They prefer mammal blood, in which case bleeding fish shouldn't be a huge worry.

Here's my strategy on the saltwater...

After catching a fish that I want to keep, I pedal/paddle over next to some other kayaker to show him my awesome catch. Then I quickly bleed and gut the fish (and put it on ice) before pedaling/paddling away as fast as I can.

That's kind of like salmon trolling fishing in a boat and a sea lion is following you. The correct practice is to drive as close to the nearest boat and see if you can drop the following sea lion with them.  If so, you have graduated salmon trolling 101.