Fish stuck in overflow

[Dr Colliebreath]

If you can't drain the water enough to net the fish, based on your picture I would try a very small baited hook. They make small Sabiki rigs/hooks for catching small baitfish. Check your local fishing tackle store.

It shouldn't hurt the fish as their mouths are pretty much cartilage and flesh. Just hook it quickly and don't let it swallow the hook.

The question is whether you can find something the fish will want to eat. You might try a piece of seafood or a piece of worm - earthworm or bloodworm.

 

[ezerasurfr]

squeeze a trap in there with food in it. i would be weary with a hook (even barb less) as tangs with damaged mouths won't eat. just on the side of caution, not meant to flame or attack those suggesting the hook method.

a cone shaped trap would probably fit best and give the fastest results. let us know how it turns out.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I agree hooking is a last resort and won't be good for the fish, but it isn't looking good for the tang anyway. With the tang having been there so long and the description of the overflow having a small opening and the tank being hard to get into, I expect the many suggestions that have been made won't work due to the structure of the overflow and access to it or the tang would have been captured already. Looking at the picture, it looks like even if the overflow is 10x16, there is some relatively permanent structure covering most of the top of the overflow so that you only have 3-4" to get into. I still like dropping the water level in the overflow and using a long net, but ...

 

[gradth]

i'm in portland and his is the biggest store in the area like there's never less then 5 people in his store and he's moving so we kinda understand and the overflow is more like 50 gallons

If its the store Im guessing, no wonder. Yes you should fire him, there are 5 other stores in the area that are far better then his store. Hell join the local http://www.pnwmas.orgclub if you have not and find a dozen people that would come help you do it.

Seriously, if your refering to that store on Sandy, find another.