Mr. BOX is right. Catching a dolphin (especially under 35-40 lbs) should never be elevated over a wahoo or tuna. These fish are as stupid as a bluefish, and they will hit a spinning hoo, clarkspoon, or trolled beer can (we actually rigged one up last summer and caught dolphin on it!)
Congrats on your Hoo. I personally love catching those fish.
triple slam in Venezuela 1997 or 31 sails in a day Mexico 98
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Marine Surveyor and Charterboat Captain
Now, i do not troll any spinning hoos but I have caught many a wahoo and tuna on clark spoons. As far as the beer can goes- i have raised blue marlin and white marlin to a beer can teaser (albeit in Venezuela), and one of the largest makos ever caught in OCMD was taken on a trolled Fosters beer can (800 plus pounder)
I think when it comes down to it, most of these fish will hit just about anything that moves.
What you need to realize, in the Canyon Kickoff Tournament there are prizes for Billfish Release points, Heaviest Bluefin Tuna, Heaviest Tuna (non bluefin), heaviest Dolphin and heaviest Wahoo. The calcutta structure has some winner take all levels, and som levels that pay 3 places. The Tuna receives more money then the dolphin or wahoo in the structure of the meatfish calcuttas. The Dolphin and Wahoo receive the same amount.
Had the wahoo winner been in ANY of the calcuttas it would have received the same as the dolphin in that particular calcutta.
While some do not appreciate the dolphin as a gamefish, i believe if you look at a majority of the tournaments out there you will see that it receives some pretty strong recognition.
In the Marlin Club tournaments, we have minimum weights that lend to ensuring a payout in the meatfish calcuttas. Lets face it, not many people release a 10 pound dolphin, 30 pound tuna or 20 pound wahoo. the fish is dead anyway, it might as well count. Thus 14 and 15 pound dolphins will get a check. A 27 pound wahoo was eligible. If it were not structured this way, moneys would be refunded (less the 10% administrative fee) in alot of the tourneys. I dare say people would rather have a shot at a payout, instead of a refund less 10%.
Last edited by frankypettolina; 07-08-2009 at 09:37 AM.
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but I have caught many a wahoo and tuna on clark spoons. As far as the beer can goes- i have raised blue marlin and white marlin to a beer can teaser (albeit in Venezuela), and one of the largest makos ever caught in OCMD was taken on a trolled Fosters beer can (800 plus pounder)
