Been taking fish home to eat since we started fishing. Bonking and bleeding has been the method of dispatch so far. Recently found out about ike jime. Anybody done it? How does it compare to bonking?

I was taught how to do it. There’s a learning curve but once you get it down, it’s pretty easy and fast. There are several easier, faster ways. Do a video search for “how to bleed a fish” and yes, doing it properly does make a difference in taste

Was always under the impression that fish like trout and bass don't require bleeding, so minimal.

I've always did the bonk or brain spike.

 

Big fish species, Yes.

Hmm. Maybe I got the terminology messed up. I apologize. Was talking about the method of dispatch. I normally bonk with a bat but would like to use a brain spike and that's where my question was. 

I just started learning this. I spiked a big fish with my knife. It was more effort than I expected, but I did hit the brain. 

You gotta really push hard to get through the bones and into the brain through the open gill flap, but it works well. I use a separate smaller knife for dispatching the fish, so I don’t dull my main fillet knife. Just aim for the base of the spinal cord and you’ll hit it. 

I tried drowning them, it was painfully slow and took FOREVER! 😂

Did my first ike jime brain spike Friday afternoon on a 10" largemouth.  It went well. Seemed like it was better for the fish than bonking. Followed the diagram in ikejime.com and I'm glad I did. Went in through the side and got the brain immediately. One little hollowing out move (like you would do with a power drill to hollow out a hole just a 1/32" more) and all twitching was done.

 

https://www.ikijime.com/fish/largemouth-bass/?mode=standard&region=North America&state=East Coast (Atlantic)&water_type=Freshwater&fish_group=Bass&fish=largemouth-bass

7 hours ago, Red Beard said:

Did my first ike jime brain spike Friday afternoon on a 10" largemouth.  It went well. Seemed like it was better for the fish than bonking. Followed the diagram in ikejime.com and I'm glad I did. Went in through the side and got the brain immediately. One little hollowing out move (like you would do with a power drill to hollow out a hole just a 1/32" more) and all twitching was done.

 

https://www.ikijime.com/fish/largemouth-bass/?mode=standard&region=North America&state=East Coast (Atlantic)&water_type=Freshwater&fish_group=Bass&fish=largemouth-bass

That was an awesome resource. Thanks.  

Unless I need to keep them for a while, I find that just pulling them from the water seems to work just fine.

 

We foul hook them, rip their lips out, hook them through the eyes, nostrils, guts etc. but when it comes to keeping them we get all sensitive about it.

 

I know, I know, I'm an inhumane fish-killing psycho who should respect nature and it's resources!

1 hour ago, 4n2t0 said:

Unless I need to keep them for a while, I find that just pulling them from the water seems to work just fine.

 

We foul hook them, rip their lips out, hook them through the eyes, nostrils, guts etc. but when it comes to keeping them we get all sensitive about it.

 

I know, I know, I'm an inhumane fish-killing psycho who should respect nature and it's resources!

Think I may be in the minority here but my family intends to eat everything we land as long as it is big enough to produce a fillet. Because of this, I'm looking to dispatch each one as soon as they come out of the water and the call is made to keep them. Conducting that process quickly and efficiently is a priority of mine. Throwing them in a cooler and having them die slowly doesn't meet either of those objectives.

I don't kill bass but , any walleye or catfish that take a liking to my bass lure are gonna get a  grease bath . Bleeding is not so essential,  removing guts is essential.  Put your knife on the forehead a swift blow with your other hand and any fish will be dispatched.  Gut it and put it on ice , you are good to go . Unless you don't know how to cook . 🤔

5 minutes ago, Bryon Shepherd said:

Put your knife on the forehead a swift blow with your other hand and any fish will be dispatched.

I'd like to learn about this too. Are you placing the knife point on the forehead straight on (dorsal) or are you doing it from a side view (lateral)?

On 8/18/2025 at 6:41 PM, Red Beard said:

I'd like to learn about this too. Are you placing the knife point on the forehead straight on (dorsal) or are you doing it from a side view (lateral)?

In the kayak,  I keep the fish on a stringer. If I am going to be out for 12 hours I don't keep fish caught early unless I am going to paddle back past the car . When I dispatch it or them , I put the point of the knife directly on the forehead and strike.  Gut it an get it on ice . It's worked in my family for more than my 59 years.......

26 minutes ago, Bryon Shepherd said:

When I dispatch it or them , I put the point of the knife directly on the forehead and strike.

Thank you for the response. Starting to get the picture now.

 

Since you're using both hands for the knife (one to hold the knife against the forehead and the other to strike the butt of the knife), do you use some kind of stand or something to keep the fish vertical? As in, how do you keep the fish from falling over on its side and presenting you with the lateral view?