humane way to kill fish

[Matthew N]

I know if you are freezing to death you fall a sleep long before you die.....

And if fish are cold blooded wouldn’t the drop in temperature effectively put them to sleep long before the water freezes?

[WhoPoopWrasse]

Have you ever tried to freeze to death? You may end up falling asleep eventually but until you do it's no picnic.
Freezing a fish in not HUMANE, it's just a way to kill them so you don't have to deal with doing it a quicker or more humane way.
Sorry, JMO

[Reefer Rob]

There's no way to know what a fish feels as it freezes. They're cold blooded, and they only have a primitive fish brain. They most likely don't feel a thing, or even understand what cold is, given the constantly warm environment they normally live in. I'm not sure there have been any studies of a fishes reactions to freezing.

I think the question Nats should have asked is how do I put this fish down and still feel OK about myself. Taking a fish I've had for 3 or 4 years and smashing it with a brick when it gets old and sick isn't going to work for me.

[Swags]

I agree with the freezing method, they are cold blooded... just make sure it is their water they are being frozen in...as for people freezing and feeling pain, impossible, it is when you 'thaw' the pain sets in.
One of the worst events ever in my life was watching our fishing guide club a sailfin marlin in Mexico, I am still sick to my stomach after 10 years, it was horrifying. Nats, use the freezer method, I have had a clear conscience for over 30 years doing that, they are cold blooded, they cannot 'feel' cold, their bodies react to it by slowing down their metabolism.... and eventually falling asleep, so to speak.

[Manny]

I have done the clove oil and vodka method and it seemed pretty human and painless. The only thing the freezer dose is kill the fish slowly in a way where you don't actually have to physically do it your self or watch the fish die. If you don't want to use the painless peaceful clove oil method than do it as quickly as possible, which will unfortunately be the most gruesome method.

[WhoPoopWrasse]

What he said!
Manuel, I love your sig!