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Author: Subject: Releasing Billfish
Pescador
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[*] posted on 6-29-2014 at 06:55 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
That's an interesting post, Jim, the 2nd one.

The problem is that very few people have the experience you have fishing. And if it took you all those years to gain this knowledge then how long will it take for the average angler.

I think the problem you describe is with the really large fish. I've had similar experiences with tuna on the east cape. Remember those pictures we all grew up with of Lee Wulff holding Atlantic salmon upside down by their tail. Major damage. I've held tuna that way with the intention of releasing them. You can actually feel their backbone cracking from the weight.

But with fish like calico bass, snapper, grouper (small) there is a very high rate of survival.

Actually, there are several reasons why c&r fails. You talked about protruding air bladders a few years ago. Those rapala like lures are really hard on some fish. And flyfishing shouldn't be done on anything over 8lbs.

C&R is really a sign of an advanced angler in my opinion. An angler who just looks at fish as food is usually a beginner or seldom fishes.


It was not my intention to get into a philosophical discussion about fishing and especially catch and release as that issue will never be solved and depends on each persons belief system. What I do hope to accomplish is the healthy release of a billfish. If they do not leave the water, the catch is held to a reasonable time, and you pull them in the water until they have revived, then chances are very high for excellent survival rates, which have been proved with tagging reports of caught fish. In fact there was a blue that was caught 3 or 4 times between Cabo and Santa Rosalia / San Carlos.

For the average fisherman who is fortunate enough to hook one of these magnificent fish, my advice is to keep him in the water, remove the hook, resuscitate, and then release.




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BajaRat
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[*] posted on 6-29-2014 at 12:06 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe

I think the problem you describe is with the really large fish. I've had similar experiences with tuna on the east cape. Remember those pictures we all grew up with of Lee Wulff holding Atlantic salmon upside down by their tail. Major damage. I've held tuna that way with the intention of releasing them. You can actually feel their backbone cracking from the weight.


C&R is really a sign of an advanced angler in my opinion. An angler who just looks at fish as food is usually a beginner or seldom fishes.


Not sure were your going with the C&R and advanced angler/an angler who just looks at fish as food is usually a beginner or seldom fishes comparison. That's a pretty broad assumption. I fish regularly in both my backyards and have been practicing C&R as a conservation tactic for 45 + years. I fish and hunt for food not the "sport".
I guess not all anglers are created equal. I can honestly say that I would not enjoy targeting or harming an animal for "sport" even if it is released.
I do thank you pescador for the info because targeting billfish is not likely to end until their capture becomes impractical, illegal or a memory of days gone by.
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wetto
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[*] posted on 7-2-2014 at 07:33 AM


I fish for sport and food. When release is the motive, I take good care and try to revive the fish very-well before the release. Do your best.

Let's not turn the entire BCS into a marine park just to look at them. Hemmingway and others would laugh there ass off.
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[*] posted on 7-2-2014 at 07:57 AM


I think a lot of things said of Hemingway are legend hype. I do think he was a good hunter, a good shot with a steady hand. His last one was right on target. So what do you think of your swashbuckling inkslinger now Mr. Death?
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[*] posted on 7-2-2014 at 08:56 AM


Important issue, hook and release of billfish. Let's look at this subject chronologically. Where would this issue be ten years ago...twenty years ago...thirty? We as sports anglers have advanced. Thirty years ago only a small percentage of anglers would promote hook and release, and claim sport anglers are not the problem.

Sport anglers may not be the primary problem with the reduction of billfish, but we can help, and improve our perception of our fisheries as a whole. We are going in the right direction.

Where we we be in ten years...twenty? I hope to be around for that long and I admit....I love to fish not just for food but for enjoyment. And I admit I hope to release billfish in the future. If I am further educated that billfish have a low survival rate, I too may fish only for food.
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[*] posted on 7-2-2014 at 10:30 AM


Have only fished for billfish a time or two on charter boats. They're not the best eating fish by far and trolling doesn't do it for me. It's mostly a high-dollar deal and the fisherman is definitely not looking to feed his/her family. Release 'em without doing any more damage than necessary.
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[*] posted on 7-2-2014 at 10:47 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Have only fished for billfish a time or two on charter boats. They're not the best eating fish by far and trolling doesn't do it for me. It's mostly a high-dollar deal and the fisherman is definitely not looking to feed his/her family. Release 'em without doing any more damage than necessary.


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[*] posted on 7-2-2014 at 10:48 AM


At one time the fence along the runway (about 3800ft)at Buena Vista was lined with billfish tails. That was prior to being washed out by Hurricanes. Back then nothing was released. Thankfully that practice has pretty much ended.
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[*] posted on 7-2-2014 at 12:02 PM


Alka-Selzer Hooks



I knew the guy, Chad Atkins. He was sitting, standing, lurching near the bar at Rancho Leonero as he let us know how he felt about the hooks to be used in the fishing tournament which would begin just 39 hours from now. “Screw MC. Screw MC users and all the sponsors who are pushing this crap.”

He was jawjackin’ about the Multi-Coated Hooks which had been declared mandatory by the tournament board. At first I thought he was just exercised about which company got the OK to provide the hooks, or the cost, about $12 per hook.

He went on. “I’m not takin’ my whole crimping kit out there, have my sleeves dancin’ all over the deck, fumblin’ around makin’ leaders and rigs on board, while we’re supposed to be fishin’.”

I’d heard it all before. Another hard-head who didn’t get the message. Tournament fishing has come a long way from keep all the fish to tag and brag, water measure and all release, circle hooks and now the MC hooks. The new hooks were catching on. Here and at other fishing resorts the managers tell the bartenders to cook a hook or two in a c-cktail glass every shift. That way, everybody gets to watch, touch, feel, be a part of something. In sea water you can almost see the things dissolving in the glass.

Gamakatsu beat Owner by just 20 days when the hooks in the little bags full of gel hit the market. They won the big prize, got a jump on Mustad, Owner, the other big hook sellers. As tournament directors around the world learned about the strength tests, the 48 hour dissolving time, the cost, they began to get in line. The hookmakers were still taking flack about the fact that the gel packets looked like condoms, that all bets were off about hook life after the packets were opened. Members of Billfish Groups, now dedicated to the use of the hooks, could finally feel they were doing all they could do for the fishery wherever their tournaments were held, whatever game fish was the object of their contest.

I suppose every salt water fishermen, especially those who fish for billfish, wondered just how long it took his hooks, in the mouth, gill or gut of a fish he released, to rust out. Bar room chatter would always include some conjecture about days or weeks for ordinary hooks but in their hearts and minds they knew better. All of them had found, at one time or another, a rusty hook in their tackle cupboard that was still sharp and strong; a rusty relic that had never been used, was shiny and bright 10 or 15 years ago when it was purchased. Not enough to say “well this thing’s been here in the drawer all this time, not in salt water”. Serious sportsmen are willing to buy, rig and use disposable hooks; same-day hooks make for short-time rigging but the fishermen can now check the rig, the leader, just before use, be assured everything looks good.
When ole Chad sobers up tomorrow he’ll buy some MC hooks, take his kit aboard, crimp and grumble. Later he’ll brag about using the hooks to whoever will listen to him back home.
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