Gaffing white marlin in the WMO

[Squidnation]

So I was talking to a captain yesterday and the topic of the WMO came up. Somehow we started talking about the rule that Jimmy Motsko imposed that if two white marlin were tied and one was gaffed and one wasn't then the fish that wasn't gaffed would be the winner.

We went on to discuss some of the controversy we have heard over the years of countless white marlin being gaffed, measured and released. Obviously not very good for the fish. THen we started talking about ways of avoiding the issue.

Easy he said. No gaffing of white marlin. PERIOD. If it has a hole in it then it is dq'ed. I thought to myself how simple is that. And why hasn't that rule been imposed during the tournament. Everybody is on an the same playing field. So what do you guys think. Should gaffing white marlin be against the rules in the WMO and MA 500? Lets hear it and why or why not.

[terr]

Well, as far as why this type of rule is not in place, and will not be put into effect by the two tournaments mentioned, here is what I think. Both the WMO and MA500 are very proud of there high release rates. If a rule such as this were to be put into place, I would, effectively be admitting that there is an issue of a large number of whites being "gaffed and released". This would call into question the validity of the high release percentage on whites. The high release % has been sited in the past (I am thinking of the proposed CITES listing a few years ago) as a reason that the tournaments and rec. fishing in general should not see any restrictions.

It could also be called unfair towards the boats without highly skilled crew, specifically the person on the leader. It often takes a high degree of finesse to get a white close enough for someone to grab ahold of went using light leaders, as is typical for targeting whites. One could also argue that you are increasing the chances of someone being poked in the eye by that stick. Not being able to stroke one with a 8' gaff ups the ante. Part of the reason that the WMO draws so many boats is that everyone has a legit shot at winning, it just takes one. Take away the ability to stroke one, and the scale tips further towards the boats with pro crew.

All that being said, I think that a no gaff rule on whites is a OK idea. I don't think if will fly, but I am rather cynical. One other thing, anyone who thinks that there is not alot of "gaff and release" going on, has their blinders on. It is one thing when there is a 80# on the board, but when the board is empty, or occupied by fish in the high 60's...., or low 60's in the case of the MA500....

[frankypettolina]

I have weighed 3 fish in the open, and never gaffed any of them. I know guys that gaff a bunch during the oturney and send them swimming away calling it a release.

I think a rule is in place to prevent this now- isn't there a rule that says if the gaff breaks the plane of the covering boards that the fish is not considered a release?

Not sure , but i bet there is a lot of inadvertant cheating going on.

[Deep C]

I am opposed to and disgusted by the practice of gaff and release as I think we all should be. I have witnessed it plenty and just bit my tongue. That being said, I think that gaffing of money fish should remain in place for a few reasons. First, Its an accepted IGFA practice. Next, I am over the top pissed at any attempts to further strip fishermen in general of rights by imposing more and more rules against them.
My third arguement for it really holds the strongest and most legitimate reasong. Not everyone knows how to bill a fish properly. I know they say its bad for a fish but we frequently do bill our fish in order to remove those damned circle hooks that are now jammed in and destroying mandibular jaw joints that the fish need to have working properly to eat. For us and others that do know how to bill a fish its no big deal. For those less or totally inexperienced it can be and is dangerous. From a safety standpoint, gaffing is a far safer practice. Yes there is still a swinging bill to contend with but its not like bending over the side where a potential last minute javeline lauch can happen without notice.
Theres a big ugly scar on my neck that serves as a reminder that no matter how much experience we think we have it only takes a split second for things to go real bad. My wound was a bit different. Drilled by a second fish while billing one. Still the potential for even death was right there. I would think that if somebody did get pronged and dead because a rule was in place demanding that they did bill a fish would be a tremendous liability for the tournament.

[WAHOONBOX]

I THINK THE FIRST ISSUE TO LOOK AT HERE IS THE FACT THAT IT IS LEGAL TO KILL A WHITE MARLIN AT ANYTIME WHILE RECREATIONAL FISHING AS LONG AS IT MEATS THE MINIMUM LENGTH.....THE LAW STATES THAT WE CAN KILL THEM LEGALLY.....SO WHATS THE FUSS?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE WHITE MARLIN HAS BECOME THE POLITICALLY CORRECT FISH OF THE OCEAN? IF WE REALLY KNEW THE WHOLE TRUTH HERE I BET EVERY MAN WHO HAS RELEASED WHITE MARLIN PROBABLY KILLED ONE AND WE JUST CAN'T PROVE THAT IT SURVIVED AND SWAM AWAY


WANNA PROTECT THEM YOU SAY? THEN I SAY STAY AT THE DOCK AND DON'T TARGET THEM. BY GOSH NO HARM WILL COME TO THEM IF WE DON'T FISH FOR THEM RIGHT?

WE AS ANGLERS/FISHERMEN THINK THAT BECAUSE WE LOVE TO HOOK WHITE MARLIN THAT WE ARE ALL OCEAN SAVIOUR CHOIR BOYS....WHEN IN FACT WE ARE ALL KILLERS...JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF SMALL BILLFISH WE RIG UP EACH AND EVERY DAY ON A CIRCLE HOOK AND J-HOOK.....WHAT ABOUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE DISCARD OUR BAIT AND TOSS IT UNUSED OVERBOARD? NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT WASTING BALLYHOO NOW HAVE THEY....BALLHOO ARE BILLFISH TOO YA KNOW.


RULES ARE RULES.....IF THE RULES ALLOW YOU TO GAFF A FISH AND THEN SEND IT BACK ....THEN GOODY FOR THAT RULE....AND IF THE RULE SAYS NO GAFFING OF WHITE MARLIN THEN GOODY AGAIN....IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEE RULES IN A TOURNAMENT....THEN STAY HOME.

IF THERE IS A SAINT AMONG US WHO CLAIMS TO BE THE ALL TIME MR CONSERVATIVE OF OUR OCEAN WATERS AND FISHERIES... LET HIM SPEAK NOW ....FOR I WOULD LIKE TO MEET THIS BISHOP....

[canyongear]

What's next a circle gaff..

Yes and No

your dealing with IGFA rules for tournaments, no?

Why not just make snooters mandatory instead of gaffs then.

[Squidnation]

Great arguments all of them. And actually just about everyone of them came up in my convsersation with this well respected captain. Here are some rebuttles. mind you I have my own opinions but I am really just playing devil's advocate in order to get as many positive and negative arguments on the table. Not that I plan to show this to anyone. but more so because it is cold, its gonna rain in a little while and my plane doesn't leave until friday So I am bored.

Terr - Not sure I buy your first arugment at all. We are always striving to improve everything. I can't think of one rule that has intentionally been put in place and have the directors thinking being - man we are really gonna screw them up with this one. The fact is their is alot of gaff and release going on. So why not omit all of the doubt and stop the gaffing of whites. Hell I don't think it is legal to gaff a striper in Md and that is just part of the game. I may be wrong on that one but I don't think I am.

I could also make the arugment that while a more skilled crew could bill a fish with ease I can also make the arument that the free board on a 32 mirage is much lower thus making it easier to wire and bill a fish then lets say the Smoker that sits pretty high in the water at the transom.

Deep - I am not saying that it be a law. Something that must be done but rather maybe a tournament rule. Aren't the minimums of the WMO higher then the legal minimums to kill a billfish. We have no problems abiding by that rule.

Just because it is an acceptable IGFA practice doesn't make it right. Hell the IGFA doesn't allow spreader bars - Thats not right

The IGFA will not recognize a catch where the mate or captain hook a fish and then hand it to the angler but the WMO and MA 500 feel that it is OK to do that. So really the IGFA really sets a suggestion of rules but it is not mandated that the tournaments follow those rules.

Again- I am not saying that it should be a fisheries law but rather something discussed and considered by tournament committees.

Marty - you are correct it is legal to kill a legal white marlin. But it is not within the tournament rules of the WMO. You must reach a higher minumum to kill and weigh a white marlin in the tournament. So I guess if it is OK to kill any and all white marlin of a certain length then why don't we see tournament legal whites stacked up liked chord wood at the weight station. Becauase many crews have a conscience and will not kill a fish that is not a contender. So who made the white marlin holier then though? I think the angling community did that and with good reason.

Not saying we are choir boys at all. Hell I will wax a white to eat because I like them. And bet your ass I was yelling at Karl to the Gaff that sombitch when we had a fish we thought to be tournament legal two yrs ago. Because that is the rule. But I also don't feel it is right to gaff a white marlin, tuna, wahoo hell even a dolphin if there is a chance that I am going to release that fish. Why would I? You are absolutely correct in that we have all killed white marlin. Hell it killed me to release a next to dead white marlin this year when I knew it was as good as dead because it was tailwrapped and the line had also cut through the gills. That fish was tilefish food. But it wouldn't have made the legal minimum so it was cut off. How stupid is that?

So I guess the question is more so since we know that we are not suppose to gaff these fish and release them in these tournaments AND we know that it is going on. Why not omit the doubt and just say no gaffing of whites at all.

One last thought - Deep - How many billfish have injured anglers by jumping in the boat. Wouldn't that be curbed a little by allowing the use of a 10 or 12 or 15 ft gaff. But we abide by the rules that an 8 ft gaff is the maximum allowable lenght. I don't see anybody sueing the tournaments for injuries caused by a short gaff. We are fishing for big fish and it can be dangerous. Accidents are gonna happen but you can't make a rule to protect people from every possible accident scenario.

Fire away - Thanks for all the responses so far. Great stuff!!!!!

[SeaMent]

These are kill Tournys we are talkin about here ! who cares if the fish is stuck with a gaff ? I personally think the Rule in the WMO sucks, in my opinion it should read the first one hung should win in the event of a tie on weight !! As far as the "Gaff & Release" goes , you ain't ever gonna stop that because IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY $$$$$$

[Fritz]

Remember, its a sport. Is it or is not more sporty to have an 80 lb. plus White on the leader to where you have to physically reach down and grab the bill? Of course it is because there is greater risk of loosing the fish. The last two we weighed at tournaments were billed. The problem is that some of the big rigs, 60' plus, have high covering boards and don't allow you to reach the water unless you are Stretch Armstrong, so I guess there has to be a gaff option. I have, however, seen guys stickem'-measure em'- and throw them back with a hole in em' and that sucks. If a fish is that close to legal length and you can reach the water, shouldn't you? Besides, if its that close to legal length, you probably are not going to be in the chips anyway.

As for the safety factor, if you grab the bill with two hands thumb to thumb and not like a baseball bat, you will have fairly good control. The baseball bat grab the less experienced guys use will get you poked. A flailing billfish on on the end of a gaff has its own set of risk. I don't see one method being necessarily safer than the other provided proper technique is used.

As for the conservation side of the issue, I applaud those that care about the fishing resources. I want them for my grandchildren. If you want to stack marlin, tuna, drumfish, weakfish or any other fish like cordwood just for the chest pounding photo op, well that say's a lot. The meat for the freezer argument doesn't hold water either. Let's face it, its cheaper to go the fish market.

BTW- That awesome White bite we have been having the past several years is back due to the conservation efforts of the sportfisherman and the restrictions placed on long liners. It was not too long ago, the Whites were seriously on the ropes.

[biebs]

Pino and his damn gaffs. The man is an artist with a flyer.