Picking up billfish for a pic

[Squidnation]

I just read a response by sanchoco about a fish being taken out of the water for a picture is as good as dead. I am very against pulling a fish out of the water for a picture. Have I done it before yes, will i probably do it again, yes. But it is a rare day that we do it.

If a person catches their first fish and really wants a pic of that fish on their lap I will ask the mate to do it.

If the fish wrapped up I will do it.

but to say that the fish is as good as dead because it was pulled out of the water is a hard pill to swallow. Consider this. Almost Every fish that has had a one of them $3000.00 radio tags impanted has survived. Not only are they taken out of the water but they are layed flat on the deck measured for length and girth, tagged, tissue sampled probably and then released. That fish has less slime on him then a kid at a halloween party by the time it hits the water. But 95% of those fish have survived to swim thousands of miles away.

just my dos pesos

[FAT CAT MX]

While I think taking fish out of the water is not the best idea, I don't feel that doing so is necessarily a death sentience either. The loss for slime is temporary and the fish loose and replace it constantly. The strain on internal organs is probably a bigger issue to survival.

Another potential issue is personal safety to the anglers.

Generally it's better to photograph the fish in the water and release them with as little harm as possible. You can hold up the ones that your taking to eat.

[92 feet down]

I just read a response by sanchoco about a fish being taken out of the water for a picture is as good as dead. I am very against pulling a fish out of the water for a picture. Have I done it before yes, will i probably do it again, yes. But it is a rare day that we do it.

If a person catches their first fish and really wants a pic of that fish on their lap I will ask the mate to do it.

If the fish wrapped up I will do it.

but to say that the fish is as good as dead because it was pulled out of the water is a hard pill to swallow. Consider this. Almost Every fish that has had a one of them $3000.00 radio tags impanted has survived. Not only are they taken out of the water but they are layed flat on the deck measured for length and girth, tagged, tissue sampled probably and then released. That fish has less slime on him then a kid at a halloween party by the time it hits the water. But 95% of those fish have survived to swim thousands of miles away.

just my dos pesos

If it's an angler's 1st marlin, I'll pull it out for a photo. Otherwise, it stays in the water.

[RCARNEY]

Actually Bill, the 5 whites receiving the expensive tags on our boat were tagged in the water while being controlled? with a snooter.
All in all, they probably survive a quick boating, it is a risk that needs to be addressed by crew catching the fish.

[Squidnation]

thanks for the clairifcation rick. I saw pictures of some guys implanting the tags and the fish were layed on the deck so I figured that is how all of them were done. good to hear they were not taken out of the water.

[waynofish]

I'd like to say I'm aganst bringing one out of the water for a pic. However, there are certain circumstances in which I have no problem doing it. Is it a death sentance for the fish? Not necesarrily, take the time to revive it. We tail wrap them and sometimes hook them in ways which aren't the best. Every now and then one dies. I hope to kill one in any of a few tournaments we have on the east coast. If a bosses clients kid catches a sailfish or white I have no problem bringing it on board for a quick photo. There are other instances as well well the moment may strike. It is a very rare occasion but again, why have a problem with it.
I have gone over to the circles and feel it helps but come on, were not members of PETA. Every now and then a fish is going to get hurt or die. If you can't accept that you shouldn't be fishing. Bring every fish on board for a picture----no. On special occasions----no problem with me.
To be quite honest, for me it might have something to do with how the boat is. Newly cleaned and oiled teak---I'm more inclined to advise against it. Dirtier teak----I might have no problem. Again, depending on the situation.

[Agitated88]

As someone who has never caught a billfish, I would pull one out...quickly...for the picture. If we're going to be honest...anything after that needs to be a GRANDER or it's a shot in the water.

[sanchoco]

AS recreational fishermen we are the worst steward's of our resource out there.

All we do is blame the commercial guys for killing to many fish and do nothing to increase fish populations or reduce our own release mortality. As I travel around the world fishing all I see is kill tournaments, irresponsible release ethics, resistance to new techniques and tackle that are better for the fish and overall denial that we(recreational anglers) have any affect on fish populations.

Unless we(recreational anglers) can change out own attitudes about the resource there will be no chance of us competing with the commercial lobby that currently makes the fisheries laws around the world.

This is my experience to prove my point:

1. resistance to using circle hooks in all but a few places in the world over that past 10 years.

2. tournament promoters staying with kill formats when all release formats have proved themselves.

3. uneducated and poor release practices.
snapping leaders, pulling fish in for photos, not reviving fish

4. overall attitudes that quantity is better than quality. not taking a few extra minutes to release fish healthy because of wanting to catch more that your buddy.

5. dead billfish on the dock in locations like Cabo and Hawaii on a daily basis.

6. using poison baits - juiced ballyhoo and Mackerel for release fishing.

7. It's a grander, I only kill Granders, 300lb minimums in tournaments - those are the large female breading stocks. What other sport takes mainly females out of the population.



Lets logically look at what we can, but don't do to help our own resource.

1. reduce release mortality

2. don't kill the females

3. teach other recreational anglers


you may disagree with me on pulling a fish out of the water for a photo but shouldn't we try and do everything in our power to release fish healthy. If removing the slime lowers the survival chance by 20% and gut hooking them reduce it by 50% and fighting the fish to exhaustion reduces it by 10% and so and so on, should we only give the fish 80% chance of survival after release or what. (my % numbers are only for example).




Many of you are also hunters, over the past few decades duck, turkey, and deer populations have all increased because the Hunters took it upon themselves to make a difference. we plant food, improve habitat, shoot mainly male animals, and educate new hunters about ethical hunting. Why is there such resistance to think the same way when fishing is concerned.

[Big Jay]

you may disagree with me on pulling a fish out of the water for a photo but shouldn't we try and do everything in our power to release fish healthy. If removing the slime lowers the survival chance by 20% and gut hooking them reduce it by 50% and fighting the fish to exhaustion reduces it by 10% and so and so on, should we only give the fish 80% chance of survival after release or what. (my % numbers are only for example).

No offense but i you're a little off. First off, if you lay the fish on the deck...that's a whole different story. However, a wet hand or even better, a wet gloved hand will not remove that much slime coat.

In the aquarium trade guys will lift fish out of the tanks with hands vs. nets all the time. We're talking a 6" fish with a hand completely wrapped around it and the fish lives for another 5-6 years. Heck, I've pulled saltwater aquarium fish out of tanks and treated them topically with medication. Many of them lived.

I'll pull a billfish for a pic if it's the anglers first. Or if it's hooked deep where I need to have it out of the water to get at the hook. I never understood these guys lifting 150 lb. rat blues out of the water. I would rather have my discs in my back than a picture.

Proper revival is obviously key.

Circle hooks i agree with. Definitely a good practice.

Point being, I don't think you give these fish enough credit.

LL's hands down are the worst enemies of the billfish here on the east coast. A fish forced to swim around a 10' leader for 10 hours is not going to live long.

[scattered_grass]

AS recreational fishermen we are the worst steward's of our resource out there.

All we do is blame the commercial guys for killing to many fish and do nothing to increase fish populations or reduce our own release mortality. As I travel around the world fishing all I see is kill tournaments, irresponsible release ethics, resistance to new techniques and tackle that are better for the fish and overall denial that we(recreational anglers) have any affect on fish populations.

Unless we(recreational anglers) can change out own attitudes about the resource there will be no chance of us competing with the commercial lobby that currently makes the fisheries laws around the world.

This is my experience to prove my point:

1. resistance to using circle hooks in all but a few places in the world over that past 10 years.

2. tournament promoters staying with kill formats when all release formats have proved themselves.

3. uneducated and poor release practices.
snapping leaders, pulling fish in for photos, not reviving fish

4. overall attitudes that quantity is better than quality. not taking a few extra minutes to release fish healthy because of wanting to catch more that your buddy.

5. dead billfish on the dock in locations like Cabo and Hawaii on a daily basis.

6. using poison baits - juiced ballyhoo and Mackerel for release fishing.

7. It's a grander, I only kill Granders, 300lb minimums in tournaments - those are the large female breading stocks. What other sport takes mainly females out of the population.



Lets logically look at what we can, but don't do to help our own resource.

1. reduce release mortality

2. don't kill the females

3. teach other recreational anglers


you may disagree with me on pulling a fish out of the water for a photo but shouldn't we try and do everything in our power to release fish healthy. If removing the slime lowers the survival chance by 20% and gut hooking them reduce it by 50% and fighting the fish to exhaustion reduces it by 10% and so and so on, should we only give the fish 80% chance of survival after release or what. (my % numbers are only for example).




Many of you are also hunters, over the past few decades duck, turkey, and deer populations have all increased because the Hunters took it upon themselves to make a difference. we plant food, improve habitat, shoot mainly male animals, and educate new hunters about ethical hunting. Why is there such resistance to think the same way when fishing is concerned.

If a Billfish is in fact this delicate to strain, I'm surprised that you would troll for them period..