PCBT Selling out

[Squidnation]

Just heard that Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament is gonna allow Hook and Hand as opposed to anglers having to hook their own fish. What are your thoughts on this change?

[neilinov]

Why????? That tournament is awesome as it is.

[frankypettolina]

I do not see hook and hand as a sell out. the truly talented anglers are still going to hook the fish themselves, and a majority of those anglers hook more fish per year than even the top mates.

I mean think about it Bill. Guys like Arch, Ronnie, Big Wave, Gary, Rick, Valko, etc etc etc always have the top "amateurs" charter them all year long (for those that run charters, the guys that are private fish the same crew day in, day out anyway). These top "amateurs" routinely fish 20 to 50 days in billfish hotspots, or more, per year. i know from my days in the sun, and from what i read about on here, and in mags and dock scuttlebutt, the first thing these top "amateurs" say is, "We hook our own fish- no one but us touches the rod or your tip is gonna suffer, or you have to wind it in..." or something to that like. SO, the top mates in the game in the top fishing destinations are more often than not going to have less time hooking fish than the anglers. Is allowing hook and hand an advantage?

Now on the flip side, most mates are still pretty good at hooking fish, and now that it is hook and hand, somebody with deep pockets and a little less skill may now throw his money into the pot at Pirate's cove. The fact that someone else hooked his fish does not make him a better angler, or more experience on the rod, or more capable of dancing the rod around his buddy's rod during a multiple hook up.

I think hook and hand open's the door for bigger tournaments, bigger pots, and also opens the door for new people to get the tournament fever.

Most of the top "amateurs" did not start out hooking their own fish. It is a passion that developed from watching the "pros" have all the fun.

So I guess my answer is no harm with hook and hand- will most likely make a larger pot to the winner, more dock camraderie and introduce some new faces to tourney fishing.

[CGMate]

its about time. i can see why the rule was started and i can see why the rule needed to be changed. back in the day private boats were inexperienced and couldn't keep up with the charter fleet. these days the private boats are bigger, faster, and very well outfitted. A lot of the private boats are made up of very experienced anglers that follow the billfish up and down the coast year round. there are even some crews made up entirely of ex-mates, the sea toy would be a perfect example(first place in 09). personally i think the rule change is great.

[WAHOONBOX]

IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR A PIRATE COVE RULE CHANGE......

A RULE STATING THAT A PAID MATE OR CAPTAIN CAN NOT HOOK A FISH AND CRANK IT IN IS ABOUT ONE STUPID RULE AND IT FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO PIRATES COVE TOURNY.....

HOW MANY BOATS FISHED THE PC LAST YEAR?

IN THE PAST YOU COULD HAVE AN EXTREMELY WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL FISHING ALL AROUND THE WORLD 50 TIMES A YEAR HOOKING FISH ON HIS 3 MILLION DOLLAR RIG WHICH IS COOL AND ALL THAT, AND WINNING A TRUCK LOAD OF MONEY IN SEVERAL TOURNAMENTS AND THAT IS ALSO COOL....BUT HEAVEN FORBID A CHARTER BOAT MATE MAKING 200 BUCKS A DAY, BE ALLOWED TO HOOK A FISH AND EITHER CRANK IT IN OR PASS THE ROD OFF... THE HORROR.

TO CALL A MAN A NON-PROFESSIONAL UNPAID ANGLER WHO TRAVELS THE WORLD FISHING TOURNAMENTS AND WINNING MONEY IS ABSURD....



THIS NOW GIVES ALL BOATS, ESPECIALLY CHARTER BOATS, AND OPPORTUNITY TO FISH THIS TOURNY AND BE COMPETITIVE, REGARDLESS OF THE PARTIES/ANGLERS HOOKING/FISHING EXPERIENCE


NOW A REGULAR OL CHARTER BOAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND AND BOOK A CHARTER AND FISH THE PCT REGARDLESS OF ANGLING EXPERIENCE OF SAID CHARTER

THIS RULE CHANGE NOW GIVES ME THE INCENTIVE TO AT LEAST TRY TO FISH THIS TOURNY...

[Squidnation]

Some very valid points that I never considered made by all. But I still don't like the rule change. This tournament was special in that it was angler Hooked only. At the same time I find it interesting that all the mates comments are for the positive. But over on FB most of the comments are against it.

The WBS just made a rule change in the opposite direction (not allowing professionals to participate in a tournament within 100 miles of their home port) and I found that refreshing and a big postive for the tournament and its participants. I always felt more accomplished and satisfied as an angler who participated in this tournament a few times because I was fishing against anglers not mates. No idea why but I just did. I'm sure if I get the chance to fish it again I most likely will but It just loses some of its luster. Now its just another tournament.

[Protege Sportfishing]

As a well known captain and I were discussing last night, It is a stacked deck either way you look at it!

[SeaMent]

Bill, are you talkin about Pirates in Stuart or NC ?? I agree with what alot of the responses above ,it's all about the $$$$ !! I think it will encourage more boats to sign up and get alot more people involved in Tournament Fishin ! Maybe this will slow down the decline in Tournament Entries and paticipation ! I think it's a good thing in all Billfish Tournys. Kill & Release as well !! make um all a "Free For All". JMO !!

[WAHOONBOX]

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE FAIR IN TOURNAMENT LET'S PLACE ALL THE BIG TIME FAST BOATS IN A CATEGORY AND SLOWER BOATS IN A CATEGORY...HELL I CAN REMEMBER WHEN VERY FEW BOATS COULD EVEN DO 20 KTS AND WHEN THEY DID ...WE SAID HOLEY COW!!!!


AND IF YOU WANT TO REALLY MAKE A TOURNAMENT PROFESSIONAL....WITH ALL THE HOOPLA NOW ABOUT NOT HURTING FISH, HOW TO RELASE FISH SAFELY AND ALL....AND NOT GUT HOOKING FISH ...LET'S RID OURSELVES OF THE GPS, SAT PHONES, SAT SHOTS, RADAR, EXPANDED CHANNELS, BEEFED UP RADIOS, RADIO SCRAMBLERS, RDF's, RUTGERS, ROFFS, NWS, ....AND NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT SILLY HOOK STYLES AND WHAT TECHNIQUE ONE USES WHEN RELEASING A FISH

HOW ABOUT THIS IDEA: A TOURNAMENT ANGLER MUST RIG HIS OR HER OWN BAIT AS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT TO BE AN ANGLER.....CERTAINLY ALL THESE PROFESSIONAL PIRATES COVE ANGLERS CAN RIG A BAIT AND SET UP A ROD CAN'T THEY? AND DO SUCH RIGGING ONLY AFTER ALL LINES ARE FREE FROM THE DOCK....NO RIGGING BAITS DOCKSIDE.......ALL RIGGING MUST BE DONE WHILE RUNNING OUT....ANGLER MUST ALSO TIE ON ALL TOPSHOTS AND SNELL, CRIMP HIS OWN HOOKS

IF WE ARE GOING TO BE PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT ANGLERS LETS GO ALL OUT WITH IT...


YESSIREEE....I LIKE THAT IDEA...."NO PERSON SHALL TOUCH, RIG OR HANDLE ANOTHER PERSONS BAIT.....OH AND ANOTHER THING.........IF AN ANGLER TANGLES HIS MESS UP WITH ANOTHER ANGLERS GEAR, THEN THAT ANGLER GETS PENALIZED 2 HRS IN THE V-BERTH PENALTY BOX WITH NO FISHING TIME UNTIL HE GETS HIS ACT IN ORDER."

[merry marlin]

...LET'S RID OURSELVES OF THE GPS, SAT PHONES, SAT SHOTS, RADAR, EXPANDED CHANNELS, BEEFED UP RADIOS, RADIO SCRAMBLERS, RDF's, RUTGERS, ROFFS, NWS, ....AND NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT SILLY HOOK STYLES AND WHAT TECHNIQUE ONE USES WHEN RELEASING A FISH

HOW ABOUT THIS IDEA: A TOURNAMENT ANGLER MUST RIG HIS OR HER OWN BAIT AS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT TO BE AN ANGLER.....CERTAINLY ALL THESE PROFESSIONAL PIRATES COVE ANGLERS CAN RIG A BAIT AND SET UP A ROD CAN'T THEY? AND DO SUCH RIGGING ONLY AFTER ALL LINES ARE FREE FROM THE DOCK....NO RIGGING BAITS DOCKSIDE.......ALL RIGGING MUST BE DONE WHILE RUNNING OUT....ANGLER MUST ALSO TIE ON ALL TOPSHOTS AND SNELL, CRIMP HIS OWN HOOKS


Add... that angler or team must own the boat...
All gains go towards building offshore FADS....
Now that's a tourney I wouldn't mind entering !!!
MM