Catching fish the easy way
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Posts that don't fit in any of the other categories.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29554
Printed Date: November 18 2025 at 8:08pm
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Topic: Catching fish the easy way
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Subject: Catching fish the easy way
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 1:36pm
I just cannot contain my exhilaration.  More and more, I have been using a wonderful technique to catch fish out of my reef aquariums. Simply wait till dark when the fish have become accustomed to the darkness, about 30 minutes or more or wait until the next morning before dawn. Leave the room lights off and get ready to immediately turn on all the tank lights. Those with MH only may have to use another light, one that comes on immediately. With the tank opened up and the bright lights stunning the fish, simply net them out.  It works like a charm. This morning I removed a large Bangaii, a Skunk Clownfish and two Ocellaris in less than 1 minute. From another tank I caught three small Bangaii in one scoop of the net that took about 5 seconds. It was so easy and did not disrupt any rock or anything. <Edit> Another good trick for catching Damsels: http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=74814" rel="nofollow - http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=74814 Aloha, Mark  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Replies:
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 1:42pm
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ive used this method even on tangs!!! the only ones that they dont work on are fish that hide actually IN the rocks ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 1:53pm
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I've advocated this for a long time. It works great with many fish.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: Cameron
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 10:59pm
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Does it work with Da** Da**sels? ------------- [COLOR="Red"](801)664-4240 |
Posted By: dew2loud1
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 9:20am
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This will work well for small tanks, not in larger tanks or SPS dominated tanks, I spent the better part of a month on and off catching fish out my 180 before i moved out here. It works very well for foxface as they just camo up and hide in the open, i would imagine it would work well for bangaii, clowns are generally easy to catch. You'd be amazed how fast a fish can learn, those Da** things would see me across the room with a net and start hiding. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 5:04pm
 I don't understand.How can they see you in complete darkness? Why would an SPS tank or a large tank be any different? I prepare ahead of time the night before, opening the top or raising the hood as the lights go off and leave it that way all night. Then in the morning, I sneak up to the tank from below, with the light switch right there or someone else controlling the lights, and make sure I have the net in my hand when the light comes on and temporarily blinds the fish. Even nocturnal fish can be caught this way. If there is a fish that sleeps in a hole, simply block the hole the night before. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: dew2loud1
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 5:18pm
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If its a mature SPS tank you can't move around much without breaking off colonies especially with a net, basically if you can maneuver a net in the tank this should work for most fish, many tanks, however, you can not get a net anywhere near where the fish hide due to the size of the tank or the rockwork. The only solution is to remove the rocks generally. I had fairly decent success putting nori into nets and leaving the nets in place until they get used to it. Not knocking the method at all, just depends on the circumstances and the size of the fish, you try sneaking up on a 12" naso tang.... |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 5:21pm
You got me there
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: zionsreef
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 5:26pm
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http://www.night-vision-goggles.com/ -
You are all making this way to hard....
 http://www.night-vision-goggles.com/ - http://www.night-vision-goggles.com/
------------- MISTAKES: It Could Be That The Purpose Of Your Life Is Only To Serve As A Warning To Others! (despair.com) |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 9:30pm
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I used this method to catch my 'pregnant' male Banggai several times... not only super-easy to catch him - he never dropped any of the babies either!
I think it was Mike who turned me on to this trick awhile back... ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 9:48pm
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night vision goggles, how funny Of course it's the lights going on that blinds and startles the fish long enough for us to catch them ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 12 2015 at 5:20pm
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See edit in OP ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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