J.H.'s Fishing Wharf

Muskellunge (often referred to as musky or muskie) grow very slowly and therefore get very old, and because it is a relatively uncommon fish, many states have imposed legal limits on the number of fish you are allowed and the minimum length of each fish. However as a responsible musky fisher, you should take it upon yourself to go even further than required by law in order to ensure that there is something left for future generations to enjoy.

For a female musky to grow to about 29 lbs takes roughly 15 years or more, so you can understand that it takes some time for new muskies to grow to what is considered trophy size – about 44 to 48 inches for a male and 50 inches or more for a female.

Improper handling of a musky can fatally wound the fish and therefore it is important to know how to hold a musky. It is particularly difficult to handle big fish, for obvious reasons, but the slime coat on muskies (and the similar northern pike) make them even more difficult to handle. Also watch out for the sharp teeth.

Here is a step by step guide to handling muskies:

Use artificial bait rather than live bait. This will lessen the chance of permanently injuring the fish. If it is feasible, you should keep the fish under water at all times. In the event that you lift large fish out of the water, make sure you give the body good and balanced support to avoid injury to internal organs. Do not hold a fish by the eye sockets, this will cause severe injury to its eyes and may cause blindness.

When releasing a big musky or northern pike by hand, grab it by its back just behind the gills and hold it, but do not squeeze. Use a pair of pliers when removing the hook while holding only the head over water. It may also be possible to remove a hook with a pair of pliers without actually touching the fish.

If you are using a net, you may remove the hook while the fish is in the water. However, in the event that you have to lift the fish onto the boat, hold the fish behind the head and by the tail while you remove the hook. If you have difficulty restraining larger fish, you may use a towel (or similar) to pin the fish down while you remove the hook. You can also use a tailer, which is a metal or aluminum shaft (up to 4 feet long) with a loop at the end which can be tightened around the tail to help secure the fish while the hook is removed.