Try this centuries-old way to humanely kill fish—and improve their taste

For many anglers, the thrill of the catch is just one part of the story. Whether you’re a devoted fly angler practicing catch-and-release or someone who enjoys harvesting wild fish for the table, there’s a deeper conversation worth having—one that touches on ethics, tradition and the pursuit of culinary excellence.

Hunters are taught to take an animal’s life swiftly and humanely, honouring the creature by treating its meat with care. But when it comes to fishing, especially for food, are we holding ourselves to the same standard? Far too often, fish destined for the dinner plate are left to slowly suffocate, an act that’s not only inhumane, but also detrimental to the quality of the meat.

If you’ve ever questioned how anglers dispatch—or don’t dispatch—fish, you’re not alone. In fact, ethical anglers around the world are now turning to a centuries-old Japanese technique that stands to transform the way we handle fish: Ike jime.

TRADITION MEETS PRECISION

Used by Japanese anglers and chefs for more than 300 years, ike jime is not just a method for prepping fish for the table—it’s a philosophy, designed to kill fish quickly and humanely while preserving the integrity of the meat. The principle is simple: the less trauma a fish endures, the better it tastes.

Once a fish is caught and kept out of the water, the stress from suffocation triggers the release of cortisol and lactic acid, which degrade the meat. Ike jime interrupts that process by disconnecting the brain from the muscles almost instantly, allowing the heart to efficiently bleed out the fish. The end result? Cleaner, firmer and more flavourful fillets.

A SIMPLE PROCESS

In four easy steps, here’s how the ike jime process works to quickly and respectfully kill fish right after they’re landed. Note that a variation of ike jime called “spinal cord destruction” (SCD), combines steps one and three in a single motion by running the wire from the head through the spinal cord. Especially effective for smaller fish, SCD can be carried out using a fine wire or sharp knife.

1. SPIKE THE BRAIN A sharp needle is inserted into the fish’s brain, located behind the eyes. That immediately stops pain, stress and muscle signaling. Think of it as the aquatic equivalent of a clean headshot in big-game hunting. Visit www.ikijime.com for species-specific diagrams on where to locate the fish’s brain, along with a video showing the entire ike jime process.
2. CUT THE GILLS Once the brain shuts down, the fish’s heart continues to beat. Cutting the gills allows the heart to pump out the blood from the muscles, which minimizes spoilage and improves the taste.
3. DESTROY THE SPINAL CORD In a process the Japanese call shinkei jime, a wire is then inserted along the fish’s spine to stop residual nerve signals. That prevents the muscle contractions which cause lactic acid to build up and the meat to degrade.
4. COOL IN ICE SLURRY Finally, the fish is placed head down in a bath of two parts ice to one part water. This rapidly cools the meat and supports further bleeding out.

WHY IT MATTERS

As with many other anglers, I believe wild fish are just as majestic as any elk or deer. That means they deserve the same respect when harvested. By using ike jime (or SCD), you’re not just elevating your catch to gourmet status, you’re also honouring the life of the fish and embracing a more ethical approach to angling as a whole.

So, the next time you’re out on the water to catch dinner, consider this: the way you kill your fish says as much about you as the way you catch it. With that in mind, why not raise the bar by treating your catches with the dignity they deserve? The next time you go fishing, give ike jime a try. Your tastebuds will thank you, too.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Go online and you can find a number of ike jime tools available to order from Japan. Here in North America, the American Fishing Tackle Company offers a four-inchike jime spike for dispatching fish, as well as shinkei jime wires of various gauges for the spinal cord destruction of different fish species. To learn more and watch instructional videos, go to www.aftco.com.