How to Kill and Bleed a Fish

If you have just caught a fish, it’s essential to kill and bleed (remove the blood from) the fish as quickly as possible.

Killing or stunning the fish reduces the bruising that can occur as the fish flops around, and makes the fish generally easier to handle. The easiest way to kill or stun a fish is to give it a solid blow to the head with a heavy implement.

Allowing a dead fish’s blood to remain in its body increases the speed at which it will go bad and also can discolor the fish’s flesh and negatively affect its flavor and texture. To bleed a fish, hold it up vertically so that its tail is hanging over the water, then use a knife to do any of the following:

Then let the fish bleed into the water. You should bleed a fish as soon after you catch it as possible, as its heart will keep beating for a little while even after you kill or stun it, which will force the blood from the fish’s body. Once you’ve bled the fish, pack it in ice or some other cool storage place as soon as possible.