How to catch a long nose hawkfish

[Iamjoefox]

So my long nose hawkfish has been a model citizen for almost 2 years so until last week when I caught it snag a peppermint shrimp. After that I guess it got a taste of a good meal.
Then it ate 3 more peppermint shrimp.
last straw was it ate one of my Yasha gobies.
so far I have tried luring it in with food to get it with the net, homemade fish trap, and fishing with a hook and bait shrimp. Little punks to smart for them all.
Any other grand ideas? My next plan is blow dart gun unless someone has a better idea.

 

[Tahoe61]

How big is the tank?

 

[Fishy212]

I have successfully trapped fish that are plus intelligence. You have to play the long game. I left my net in the same spot for at least 1 1/2 to 2 weeks to catch a fish. At first they know what it is so they keep their distance but once you keep feeding near it and the fish gets comfortable..... boom shakalaka

 

[Iamjoefox]

The tank is a 120g with a lot of rock work. I’ll try leaving the net in the tank I like that idea. He for sure knows what it’s for right now.

 

[Fishy212]

The tank is a 120g with a lot of rock work. I’ll try leaving the net in the tank I like that idea. He for sure knows what it’s for right now.

Good luck! Hopefully he doesn’t turn anything else into a nice meal . Let me know if it works out for you

 

[saltyhog]

I've got a spear gun you can borrow!

If you have or can get a clear acrylic fish trap, feed only in it for as long as it takes for him to start going in it. You may have to close the door with several fish in there but you can extract the good guys at your leisure.

 

[rahger]

I always had really good luck catching fish at night. If the fish was super cranky I'd use something clear as well. works for smaller fish but the bigger ones.... not so much.

 

[lion king]

It is the long game with them, I had to catch one once, it took me a few days. I used a home made fish trap and attached it to the glass about half way with magnets, mine was rectangle with a door attached with fishing line and a hole on top to add food. He started perching on top. He eventually started entering to eat the food. One day he was the the just hanging out inside, I calmly waked over and pulled the door closed.

 

[najer]

A clear acrylic trap should work, I moved a small rock mine liked to perch on in to try and entice the angel I wanted out and the longnose virtually moved in!

 

[nereefpat]

Have you though about keeping it? Long nosed hawks are infinitely cooler than peppermint shrimp. Sorry about he goby though.

 

[Iamjoefox]

My wife is determined to catch him before I dart him haha. The peppermint shrimp doesn’t bother me much but the yasha was a good size and if he ate him I’m worried for other fish when he gets bigger.

 

[Iamjoefox]

*update

I ordered an icecap fish trap. It took me 10-15 minutes to put it together. 30 seconds to catch the fish haha. He was the first one in there bullying all the other fish away from the food then bam door shuts.
Now he sleeps in the sump until I can get him to my LFS.

 

[nereefpat]

Nice. Make sure he can't jump out of the sump.

 

[Iamjoefox]

It would be a heck of a jump. The tops about 6” from the water line.

 

[bar|none]

Ok I feel your pain. I have the same problem. My hawkfish has grown a lot. He's become a bully but man he is fast and wary.

I ordered a trap. But have to wait until maybe end of week to get it. I put the fish he was bullying the worst into an acclimation box. The other fish hopefully can hold its own for a few more days at least.