Bigger Fish

[AlloyToy]

Not really sure what side of the fence I sit on with this issue but I guess I'll add some fuel to the fire. All those who agree with this post do you or don't you agree with the IGFA and all they have done for fishing? Because after all IGFA records are about catching BIG fish on light line right?

Valid point Dan.....

Also does a larger fish 800-1000# say have a better chance of survival if it is fought for a long period of time then lost over a 180-200# fish which is much younger????

[Tuna Meltdown]

STL18000SW Max Drag= 55 pounds
Power Pro Line Capacity (# Test/Yards)
50/845,65/470,80/390

STL20000SW Max Drag= 55 pounds
Power Pro Line Capacity (# Test/Yards)
65/525,80/445,100/305

TI50WA Max Drag at Full w/ Freespool (lbs.)=37.5
Max Drag at Strike w/ Freespool (lbs.)=28.5
Line Capacity (# Test/Yards)=50/850

TI50WLRSA Max Drag at Full w/ Freespool (lbs.)= 44
Max Drag at Strike w/ Freespool (lbs.)=35
Line Capacity (# Test/Yards)=80/550 or 50/850

TI80WA Max Drag at Full w/ Freespool (lbs.)= 44
Max Drag at Strike w/ Freespool (lbs.)=35
Line Capacity (# Test/Yards)=80/950

These specs are taken directly from Shimano's website. I choose to compare Shimano Stella 18000SW and 20000SW against Tiagra 50W, 50WLRSA, and Tiagra 80W. I chose not to compare PENN because I don't think their spinning reels are equal to shimano. From what I saw and concluded is that the Stellas pull more drag than all three of the Tiagras. In fact if you want a Tiagra that pulls more than 55 pounds you got to buy 130's.
I own both a Shimano Stella 18000SW and 4 Tiagra 50WLRSA's and haven't been spooled ,or even come close on either. I don't think it is fair to pick on the gear or recomend to people to buy bigger gear but instead lets talk about the individuals fighting the fish. Angling technique and boat handling have more to to do with whether a fish is caught or dropped more than anything else.

[stew]

Chris, you raise a great issue here. For me and my shop we have always been about the right size tackle for the size of the fish that are out there. However I do support the right to chase these fish with the spinning gear as long as you have stepped up the gear. The spining reels and rods that can land these class fish are not cheap and you have to step it up if you really want to have a shot at this class of fish. Once you catch one and land it and harvest it, you should put the light tackle away and brake out the big rods so you can release these fish healthy. Now I am not talking about the professional guides who get all this, I am talking about the average rec. angler. This is why I never spin cast for these fish. Never have and never will. Not my game. I am all about catching numbers and getting clean releases. These fish will survive if you keep the fight times down and if the fish are tired you must swim and revive them and they will live. It has been an awesome start to the season so far so it's up to all of us to make releasing as importan as the catching. Capt. Eric

[Bigeye10]

This is a site for sportfishermen right ? Not save all the fish for the Stickboat , fish 130's out of the corner.com

The site has a commercial section.

[shoefish]

This is a site for sportfishermen right ? Not save all the fish for the Stickboat , fish 130's out of the corner.com

Coffee on the screen on that one dude LMAO!

I hope that this thead doesn't get into a rec vs com, spin vs conventional craptacular.

The spirit of the subject is a good one- use the right tackle for the job. Now what that tackle is will vary by the fisherman, the style, the boat, the sea conditions, any one of a million factors. I use all of the above and love them each in different situations, as I think a lot of people do.

As long as you can put heat on the fish, fight it quick, and either take it or release it healthy, you're doing it right.

I hope everyone has a great weekend out there this weekend- we have an exceptional fishery out there that we can all do our part to take care of it.

Shoe

[wheatthin]

could someone describe an 'ideal' release? a safe gaff location(if there is one)? how long to 'swim' them? in the short time ive been out there, ive not had to release any as we hit the road after we get one. ive never doubled up either. id like to get mine and send his buddy back as healthy as possible. thx.

[Dads Dream]

Valid point Dan.....

Also does a larger fish 800-1000# say have a better chance of survival if it is fought for a long period of time then lost over a 180-200# fish which is much younger????

Chris (2FinBluNa)~ excellent thread - glad to see this discussion~ and your point is spot-on~ don't fish small gear when there's big fish everywhere~

And, Alloy Toy, yours is the Q I was waiting to ask........ let me TRASH myself now....

We were guilty of a bigger fish fought for a long time~ on 50W with JB HC 130~ we were ready.....but, our mistake was not applying enough pressure in the first 1-2 hrs~ I thought we were doing the right thing by a skillful fight- that kept us connected to this beast

And, Dan (TunaMeltdown)- you were there...

It still haunts me......I rewind what we 'could have done' and I think that fish swam away to fight another day....

[Hardtail Hunter]

I agree meltdown
I would love to learn more about the fighting techniques and boat handling techniques to get these fish in faster rather than being told that if I don't have 80's or 130's don't bother fishing.
j

[sears720]

To me a great fisherman is the guy that leaves the release fish in the water where everything is supported, hand line it up and cut it loose.

These aren't 90" fish we are talking about here, which is a whole different animal. You should be able to take a wrap or two on a 20' leader and pull these little guys up alongside.

I will be posting some video in the next couple days of a few releases. If anyone has any question on how to release a 150lb fish you will be able to pick up a couple tips from the vid. We use a swim hook which works well for us. I am sure everyone has their own way. The swim hook allows us to get the hook out of the fish.

-Taylor

[KP161]

No one is standing up to 55lbs of drag for any length of time if doing it at all. If you do God love ya. 20-25lbs stand up is all it takes to land 60-70" fish in 10-15 minutes. Standing up to 30lbs isn't a heck of alot of fun from what I've done and I find 25lb is all that's necessary to get it done quick.

Pressure should be pressure I guess....but in my experice 25lbs from a tiagra 50 lands a 65" fish in about 10-15 minutes. 25lbs from a 130 in the gunwale be about 8 minutes. It just seems to me from experience the heavier gear, even though the drag is set the exact same lbs, wears out the fish quicker. I have no facts to back that up just what I've seen and like I said lbs from one rod should be lbs from another rod but in reality doesn't seem to play out that way.