Captain Tred Barta - FISHING: Calcutta Kill Tournaments

[Squidnation]

Bottom line is that Calcuttas in tournaments will continue so it really doesn't matter what tred, guy, or mickey mouse think. If for some crazy reason they get outlawed in the states then guess what. They will still be legal in CR, Ven, Bahamas, PR and DR etc so now who loses? The US charter boats and all the industries that support the fishery.

[hubris 1]

Bottom line is that Calcuttas in tournaments will continue so it really doesn't matter what tred, guy, or mickey mouse think. If for some crazy reason they get outlawed in the states then guess what. They will still be legal in CR, Ven, Bahamas, PR and DR etc so now who loses? The US charter boats and all the industries that support the fishery.

a lot of things are outlawed in the us that are legal in other countries. like prostitution! now im only making a point. since when did a turd world country set the standard for whats right? i do think eventually, there is going to be a regulation about this. so what.......what will really change? tournaments will find a way, with observers to still exist. whats the big deal? weighing fish in front of people with to much perfume, all dressed in black, smoking cigs, and going OOOOOOOH, when the weight is announced? i think the right thing to do is stop it, come to a new way to determine the winner........and leave the overly perfumed chicks at home. its not going to keep any jobs away, youll still sell fuel, and then the arguement with the commercials will have a voice. can i get an amen?

[Deep C]

Bris...
If Tred comes to a grinding halt your gonna snap your neck off in his scupper...

That crowd is one of the things I love most about what I do here for a living. I'm the gladiator in the arena, qb on the field, pitcher on the mound, of only for a few fleeting minutes here and there. I'm a competitor. Like a race driver or other sport kind of guy a lot of it is the crowd that makes the game...
Have you been to the weigh in at OCWMO... Thats a couple to a few thousand that show up for that. Thats hotel rooms, and restaurants, and concession stands and if it means adding one f*****g job in todays economy then I say bring em on.
Screw observers. Most are ok but some are dolts. Many are primadonnas only wanting to go on the big pretty boats. Some can be bought and some even demand to be bought. Some get sick and some cant tell a white from a blue from a sail even with "certified" training... Human factor makes them no go.
The signatured time date stamped digital with corresponding verification shot works. And as I said you could appease a lot of the crowd by popping the shots up on a big screen. Still its like going to a rock concert with the big screens. It aint the same without the real thing in the house...

[hubris 1]

Bris...
If Tred comes to a grinding halt your gonna snap your neck off in his scupper...

That crowd is one of the things I love most about what I do here for a living. I'm the gladiator in the arena, qb on the field, pitcher on the mound, of only for a few fleeting minutes here and there. I'm a competitor. Like a race driver or other sport kind of guy a lot of it is the crowd that makes the game...
Have you been to the weigh in at OCWMO... Thats a couple to a few thousand that show up for that. Thats hotel rooms, and restaurants, and concession stands and if it means adding one f*****g job in todays economy then I say bring em on.
Screw observers. Most are ok but some are dolts. Many are primadonnas only wanting to go on the big pretty boats. Some can be bought and some even demand to be bought. Some get sick and some cant tell a white from a blue from a sail even with "certified" training... Human factor makes them no go.
The signatured time date stamped digital with corresponding verification shot works. And as I said you could appease a lot of the crowd by popping the shots up on a big screen. Still its like going to a rock concert with the big screens. It aint the same without the real thing in the house...

my name is Hubris, i do as i want, when i want, if i want because i can. ive been this way forever. well i used to kill animals but, i dont even do that anymore. weighins, JMO! but then again i have to admit. ive never caught the biggest of anything. but its still in my nature to be happy about it.

[clt_capt]

P.S. I would love Tred or Box's response to this. Tourneys are about big fish. Are not the biggest of the big fish past their prime in the reproductive cycle? I don't know that exact stats but I've been told that a grander is out produced by the 200-400 pounders all day long. Is that is true then what is the big cry about on taking a grander for a million?

I believe that research has shown that older, larger females are still fertile and productive their entire life. The larger females produce more eggs than the younger and smaller females.

IMHO, Big fish & Kill tournaments are able to offer the huge prizes for just that reason - A big fish is mostly a matter of luck.

Experienced, full time crews will see more fish in a day and will catch more - That has a tendency to scare off the casual fishermen from entering the big money - Unless there is an element of luck involved - The Big fish.

On any given day any boat in the right area has a shot at winning the lottery.

I believe the dollars and number of entered boats would be severely reduced if most tournaments were based on quantity of fish released - The casual crew simply cannot compete day in and day out.

[Deep C]

I believe that research has shown that older, larger females are still fertile and productive their entire life. The larger females produce more eggs than the younger and smaller females.

IMHO, Big fish & Kill tournaments are able to offer the huge prizes for just that reason - A big fish is mostly a matter of luck.

Experienced, full time crews will see more fish in a day and will catch more - That has a tendency to scare off the casual fishermen from entering the big money - Unless there is an element of luck involved - The Big fish.

On any given day any boat in the right area has a shot at winning the lottery.

I believe the dollars and number of entered boats would be severely reduced if most tournaments were based on quantity of fish released - The casual crew simply cannot compete day in and day out.

Clt... You know we get alkong and most of the time we're on the same page but I'll disagree on this one. I fish both kinds of tournaments and there are different skills used in each. Yes there is always a luck factor in any fishing event. In the numbers ones it hold true there too stepping on a little hot wad of fish no bigger than a football field in the middle of nowhere.
Seking out big fish is a seperate skill though. Yeah a blind hog can find an acorn but working a specific set of baits or plastics dictated by the conditions in particular positions can greatly improve your shot at a big fish...

[Squidnation]

a lot of things are outlawed in the us that are legal in other countries. like prostitution! now im only making a point. since when did a turd world country set the standard for whats right? i do think eventually, there is going to be a regulation about this. so what.......what will really change? tournaments will find a way, with observers to still exist. whats the big deal? weighing fish in front of people with to much perfume, all dressed in black, smoking cigs, and going OOOOOOOH, when the weight is announced? i think the right thing to do is stop it, come to a new way to determine the winner........and leave the overly perfumed chicks at home. its not going to keep any jobs away, youll still sell fuel, and then the arguement with the commercials will have a voice. can i get an amen?

I thought prostitution was legal in nevada. btw - Its illegal in all the countries I mentioned.

Now I'm not sure about PR but with the exception of the Bahamas the other countries don't have any kill billfish tournaments. They are all release tournaments. But they still have calcutta release tournaments. BUT - But I guess calcutta tournaments are OK for release since none are killed

[clt_capt]

Clt... You know we get alkong and most of the time we're on the same page but I'll disagree on this one. I fish both kinds of tournaments and there are different skills used in each. Yes there is always a luck factor in any fishing event. In the numbers ones it hold true there too stepping on a little hot wad of fish no bigger than a football field in the middle of nowhere.
Seking out big fish is a seperate skill though. Yeah a blind hog can find an acorn but working a specific set of baits or plastics dictated by the conditions in particular positions can greatly improve your shot at a big fish...

I don't think there is a disagreement here - The skilled, prepared team is going to have a better shot day after day, even though luck does play into it.

My real point is that the "Lottery" effect - a single big strike can pay off big is what gets the average Joe to put his money into the tournament - so he has a shot at the lottery.

Much of the payout is based on entries, and Joe ain't gonna put his money on the line, unless there is a chance he will win.

[Deep C]

I don't think there is a disagreement here - The skilled, prepared team is going to have a better shot day after day, even though luck does play into it.

My real point is that the "Lottery" effect - a single big strike can pay off big is what gets the average Joe to put his money into the tournament - so he has a shot at the lottery.

Much of the payout is based on entries, and Joe ain't gonna put his money on the line, unless there is a chance he will win.

That "lottery" effect is in play in any tournament and again I see it as a way for "Joe" to not only shoot for a load of green but to be the sports star also even if for just a few moments...
There is something to be said for green machines in 30 fathoms to dig up that mud white but if zilla blue comes calling most "Joes" just pee their pants and are either spooled or schooled or both...

[Captain Tred Barta]

in whos eyes are they dead!?? How many marlin do you think are killed during your barta tourney!? you think they all live...? come on now.. if you want a discussion discuss.. but went you come in here shooting off and pointing fingers there is no discussion of intelligence.

this shows that you are totally ignant to the sitiation and do not care what anyone else feels.

there are people who base vacation around this. you go out and kill a boar, a bear, a squirell or anything else and you think that is ok!??! IT IS NOT OKAY TO THE TREE HUGGERS!!

i dont understand how you can expect people to sit back and read this.. i for one fish these tourneys and i find that any good fishermen in their right mind would love to be a part of it..

take your barta tournament... add a few calcuttas and you are in business. same scenario just you say no kill but i saw a bunch of 5lb wahoo and 2 lb mahi..

if it wasnt for the kids smiling people would be all over those small fish being kept like white i rice.

lets call a spade a spade here..


my mother once said (rest her soul) that WHAT IS RIGHT FOR SOME IS NOT RIGHT FOR OTHERS.. AND IF YOU DONT AGREE JUST TURN AROUND AND WALK AWAY...

there is no way in hell that these kill tournaments are going to diminish our stocks.. killing the 20 grander blue marlin that are out there in our waters each year will not hurt anything..

one question.. have you or anyone you know trolled out across the great big pond around every nook, cranny, edge, elbow and anywhere else there might be a fish!?!? NOPE..

NO ONE HAS AND NO ONE WILL.. for all we know there could be a huge pile of 1000 lb fish swimming around in the middle of the atlantic.. or in the middle of the pacific.. we just dont know now and we will never know.

people get so up in arms about stocks... the stocks are based on local waters not what is out past the waters.. i mean come on.. you dont think there is any other life out there other than planet earth!!??!

and to say cancerous.. people die of cancer sir.. and to say this is going to kill our sport.. well you know what.. i throw in the towel.. hug that tree... kiss that marlin... carress that saildog and i will be out there killing them as i feel the need as long as it is LEGAL..

YOU ARE COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES HERE SIR..

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A GUN FIGHT IN A CHURCH WITH MONEY..

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING 70"WHITES, AND 99INCH BLUE MARLIN HERE SIR.. NOT TALKING ABOUT KILLING SMALLER FISH...

i do not think this is ever a valid thread and i dont think that there has been one point or opinion brough up here that supports your theory with any validaty.

sorry for the rant but this is the truth and how i feel.

thanks

vinnie ragus

Dear Vinnie,

Thank you for your post. Thank you for keeping it civil and respectful. And in many ways, you have many valid points.

However, I would like to comment on what your mother said with the greatest respect. And I want to make sure I don't take her statement out of context. But sometimes, if you don't agree, just turning around and walking away isn't right. And sometimes, it is.

I am willing to take all of your criticisms without lashing out. And, I'm willing to accept that your point of view may be correct to some. But to me, it is not. Two wrongs do not make a right.

You know and I know that killing breeder blue marlin females serves no purpose, and it's a bad example to our kids. You know and I know that 98% of mortality of sportfish are caused by commercial fishermen. You know and I know that sportfishermen do not account for hardly a hashmark when it comes to billfish conservation. You know and I know that some of the fish we release at my charity tournaments, or for that matter, anyone releasing a fish anywhere, could die. You know and I know that any released fish would have a much better chance of living than four guys throwing gaffs in it, trying to win a large paper bag of cash.

Two wrongs do not make a right. If there was one buffalo left in the world, after the slaughter of millions. Can you justify pulling the trigger?

I personally believe that killing God's creatures for money is immoral. Expecially betting on their death.

Am I more of a hypocrite than you?

Maybe I am. But I'm not willing to walk away from this subject.

Till Next Tide,

Captain Tred Barta