How to catch a large fish in a reef tank

[my2rotties]

I need to take my very large rabbitfish out of my reef tank. I have a fish trap but it's POS, and I think the fish is too large to even have a chance of catching her with that method.

I saw people mention barbless hooks (don't want to do it, but have no choice), and I was wondering about the damage it may do to the fish, and the damage the fish will do in the struggle. I don't go fishing, so my knowledge or lack there of is limited... How do I get a venomous fish off a hook without doing damage and would rubber gloves be enough for a large angry fish for protection. I worry about the gloves since I may not feel how hard I might have to grab the fish and hurt her.

I have a 90g tank for her to go into until I find a home (she is free to a good home), or I take her to the LFS. She has doubled in size in four months and is getting too big for my 260g. My husband calls the the tuna. My tangs are also picking on her and due to her peaceful nature I feel it is best for her to go to a new home.

Any advice or insight on what the best way to remove her would be greatly appreciated. I really like this fish but this has to get done.... I am hoping I don't have to rip the tank apart to get her so I am going to try every other option first. I am putting the fish trap out now but have my doubts about it.

What is the best way to use the fish trap successfully as well? The door never wants to close when I do test runs with it, so I don't want to screw up any chances I may have with this method.

[Chaloupa]

When you fish for them......use a very small hook #16 and remove the barb....so it is really really easy to remove it and leaves very little mark or injury. I've done it with a couple of fish now.....works well!

Another method that worked very very well when I had to catch my tangs from my 150g tank was;

Get a large piece of acrylic...very thin, cut it to be 1/2 the length of the tank (or a bit smaller as your tank is MUCH larger than mine!), as tall as the tank and then place it inside the tank about 4" away from the glass.....offer food only in that area...then, when the rabbit swims in to eat....you bend the acrylic so the rabbit cannot escape your area that you created then you net him. I did it....and it worked SOOOOO well! No harm to the fish or you!

[Scavenger]

you can easily remove the hook from the fish without having to touch the fish.
Have needlenose plyers on hand, then pinch hook in plyers and hold fish over collection bucket, turn hook upside down, fish slides right off. I've release uncounted fish this way while fishing and very rarely are they hurt in the least.

[Diana]

I have to agree, taking a barbless hook out is easy with needlenose pliers. I would recommend wearing rubber gloves though incase you subconsciously go to grab the fish :P

[my2rotties]

That is an excellent idea BUT I have this 18" eurobrace right down the middle of the tank on top.

Any suggestions for bait and what if a smaller fish takes the bait. Since this is very new to me, its seems like a disaster in the making... Is a #16 hook really small? This fish is REALLY big, about 13-14". I have seen fishing shows and fish smaller then this put up a bug fight. I am thinking there will be a huge struggle and all my rock will come tumbling down and may hurt or kill this fish and others that are freaking out over the struggle.

Thank goodness for the hardware store in Bragg, I hope they have the hook I need, but everybody goes fly fishing in these parts. Is there a chance the fish can come off the hook before I "reel" her in? I would think it could happen since barbed hooks seem to be the norm. Will just holding the fishing line suffice for a big strong fish?

Sorry about the questions but this is something I did not research when I got into the hobby...

Originally Posted by Chaloupa

When you fish for them......use a very small hook #16 and remove the barb....so it is really really easy to remove it and leaves very little mark or injury. I've done it with a couple of fish now.....works well!

Another method that worked very very well when I had to catch my tangs from my 150g tank was;

Get a large piece of acrylic...very thin, cut it to be 1/2 the length of the tank (or a bit smaller as your tank is MUCH larger than mine!), as tall as the tank and then place it inside the tank about 4" away from the glass.....offer food only in that area...then, when the rabbit swims in to eat....you bend the acrylic so the rabbit cannot escape your area that you created then you net him. I did it....and it worked SOOOOO well! No harm to the fish or you!

[Chaloupa]

I have a center brace too....so we cut a piece about 1/3 of the length of the tank...didn't interfere with the brace and worked.....

[Tom R]

Fish Traps work extremely well and are not very hard to build. I used an empty jug that ARM media came in and a piece of acrylic scrap for the sliding door.

I have used it a number of times and have lent it out to others who have used as well.

I will try and post a picture later.

Tom R

[fishytime]

Can you get a decent backcast in, in your tank room? I could lend you some gear.....floppy hat, vest,waders?

[my2rotties]

Come on over... coffee will be on, you are a double double kind of guy aren't you? I have about 40 feet from the tank to the diningroom Are the hip waders one size fits all, since my arse is much bigger then yours

This fish's nature is very secretive and frightful... she does not ocme out when you are watching her and I have been doing tank cleaning and you would never find that fish if you looked for her now...if it was tang I needed out it would not be so bad. This fish's nature will make it super hard to get to do anything that is not in the norm.

So will there be a big fight and do I have to tire her out or just yank her out? I watched fishing shows, it doesn't look pretty especially in a reef tank with stuff to destroy. I would think just yanking her out will give me cuts from the line and probably really damage her mouth if I yank...

This scares the bejeezus outta me Going to try the trap but it is quite awkward and I don't think I can get it to the bottom where she likes to be. I can get it down there but it won't be sitting straight and the door is questionable on a good day. My friend tweaked it with tie straps for his tank to sit on the top but this fish NEVER is at the top of the tank.

So... anyone want a really cool rabbitfish I have never seen anywhere else before?

Originally Posted by fishytime

Can you get a decent backcast in, in your tank room? I could lend you some gear.....floppy hat, vest,waders?

[Delphinus]

Tom I'd love to see pictures of your ARM container trap too.

Do you use something to weigh it down?

I've used a pop bottle (with the top cut off) in the past with great results but right now I want to relocate my CBB into an aiptasia ridden tank and it's not working out so well. The problem is it's too light and floats around in the current. When I used it last time I would just hold it in my hand. But this time he remembers that "container being held by human" is something you don't want to swim into. Although my hawkfish is all too happy to swim in anyhow. Doh de doh de doh, yum yum mysis!!! Doh de doh de doh.