New England Photo Thread

[twofinbluna]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that box compass !!

Box compasses are great! We still use one up on the bow, little bigger than that one. Better than having a little one up top that gets flung around all the time as the boat rocks.

[twofinbluna]

Do these guys have blinders on with polarized glasses??

Yes sir! Eventually the glasses with leather pieces on each side to block the light became the norm (for a while), this was the best way to do it. Looked really cool, too.

[hotreels jr]

Great shots Mark, tell my why they cut out the cheek on the big BFT. Just curious

I know on the smaller fish we catch I gut them out through the gill plates and pack them with ice, im sure you can do the same with a giant?

[tolmaz]

Great Thread...I have spent the last 30 minutes reading the comments and getting the blood going! man...Those poon pics are awesome! Keep em coming!

[hotreels jr]

Thought this was a 73" fish because it was pulling drag on the 80wide, but it just turned out to be a strong 60'' fish. Matt ready with the poon!

[twofinbluna]

I know on the smaller fish we catch I gut them out through the gill plates and pack them with ice, im sure you can do the same with a giant?

You can blow the guts out of any tuna without taking the head off. We always cut the head off unless the fish is in the 73-76 (or so) inch range, because fish that size do not always make the pec measurement, so if you cut the head off, if they were to measure it they would have to use the pec measurement, and therefore it may not make the measure. (Yes, the pec measurement that the managers set is BS, we have seen plenty of fish that were multiple inches over the 73" limit that did not make the pec length. But that is another issue, no need to get into it here.)

You should always check the pec measurement of a fish before cutting the head off, the range I just mentioned is not set in stone, and you may get a 77 inch fish (or bigger) that does not make the pec measurement. At the same time, I have seen 73 or 74 inch fish that make the pec measurement (although its pretty close when they do). If its close at all, keep the head on...no need to bring in a legal fish and end up getting in trouble because you took the head off. If its within an inch or two, I would keep it on, just to be safe.

In those cases, we dont usually cut the gill plate, just the diaphragm of skin inside the gill, cut the throat, then you cut out the bunghole, cut the intestines (which frees the guts) and then you stick the hose in the hole, speed up a little, and blow the guts out the gills. You then can cut off the guts. You can cut the gill plate off if you want, its not necessary if you have a fish box full of ice water, but if you are going to stuff ice in, it would probably make life a little easier for you to cut it off.

Its always better to cut the head off and we would never keep the head on a fish unless it did not make the pec measurement. Not only can you do a far better job dressing the fish by getting the head off, but all you are doing is making more work for the guy picking up your fish (since he will then have to cut the head off). The first reason is the biggest reason, so even if you dont care about making more work for the guy, you should always take the head off unless its too small.

[twofinbluna]

I like the angle of that last shot, hot reels. Cool picture.

[KnotGolfin']

It's a long six months

What kind of boat was that with the Merc on the back? Some nice teak work there....

[bigcat1]

Libby watching intensely, trout fishing the Androscoggin River.

[twofinbluna]

Great picture, bigcat