BIG OOPS - Topless

[clt_capt]

I bet this one is gonna cost more than the entry fee...

MARINE PATROL CONFISCATES BLUE MARLIN FROM BIG ROCK BOAT

MOREAHEAD CITY – N.C. Marine Patrol officers confiscated an undersized blue marlin brought to the docks for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament Friday.

The fish, landed by the vessel The Toplesss of Ocean City, Md., measured 97 inches in length, said Marine Patrol Officer Carter Witten. The minimum size limit for blue marlin in North Carolina is 99 inches.

Additionally, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament requires blue marlin landed to meet either a 110-inch or 400-pound size limit.

Marine Patrol Officer Mitch Stone was at the Big Rock Landing when the fish was brought in to be weighed between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday.

The boat captain, Alan Evans Fields of Juniper, Fla., was cited for possession of an undersized blue marlin and given a mandatory court appearance where a judge will decide his fine.

The fish was given to Dr. Jeff Buckel, assistant professor at the N.C. State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technologies in Morehead City to be used for research.

[Reeltitanium]

must have died and didn't want to feed it to the sharks! This ain't Mr. Fields' first rodeo!

[Bert Rodgers]

I would be pretty sure Scott ( the owner) made the call to bring him in. Capt
Fields is among the best of the best and I doubt it was his decision.

Bert

[Tuna Taxi]

After a 26 min fight, I doubt the fish was dead when it came to the boat.

I don't know how they thought it met tournament minimums before puting the steel to it, but once they did they are left with a tough decision. The law says you can't possess it, and the tourny rules say you must bring any boated marlin to the scales.

My guess is that they figured once the fish was killed the law was broken, so the more honorable thing to do is to follow the tournament rule and bring it in, knowing they will have to take the fines like men. I'm not endorsing the kill, but once killed they did the right thing as far as I'm concerned.

[Randy Stinchcomb]

a seasoned capt & crew, nah....no excuse, imo
I'll be the "liberal-leftwing-tree-huggers" will have a field day wth this if it gets out

[Reeltitanium]

I know this much Alan Fields has more time on the shitter offshore than anyone on this board does offshore period! The fish story will come out and this to shall pass! Hell I've fished next to a boat several times in the MA 500 and WMO were they stuck everything no matter what! Gaff and release was no option here because they knew if it made minimum or not a dead fish is a weighed fish! By the way be real careful about slammin' a Fields period it may have serious consequences!

[Randy Stinchcomb]

I know this much Alan Fields has more time on the shitter offshore than anyone on this board does offshore period! The fish story will come out and this to shall pass! Hell I've fished next to a boat several times in the MA 500 and WMO were they stuck everything no matter what! Gaff and release was no option here because they knew if it made minimum or not a dead fish is a weighed fish! By the way be real careful about slammin' a Fields period it may have serious consequences!

ok, undestand your thoughts. but as I stated, it is IMO (in my opinion) that it was not a smart move by the capt, crew, owner or whoever made the call to boat an undersized fish, again that is MY opinion and I stand by-it, there was no "slam" intended towards anyone

[Reeltitanium]

have you seen how hard it is to measure a 400 lb blue alive at boatside? No easy task. All I know for certain is Alan Fields would not purposely kill an undersized fish period. he would however as captain accept full responsibility for whatever occurs on the vessel period! IMO based on rep of Capt. Fields.

[Randy Stinchcomb]

ok, I'll take your word for it that Capt Fields is a good man
but bringing that fish to the docks ONLY adds fuel to the fire for groups like PETA to try and put a stop to sportfishing.
there are protesters in OC right now protesting the currant Shark tournament , We DO NOT need to give these PETA-people anymore ammunition
me, I would have "deep-sixed" that fish if it were dead, or tagged it if it were still alive, but thats me.

now that I think about it, maybe this whole thread should be deleted so that (peta) and other groups can't "google" it and use this for ammo

[Tuna Taxi]

I know this much Alan Fields has more time on the shitter offshore than anyone on this board does offshore period! The fish story will come out and this to shall pass! Hell I've fished next to a boat several times in the MA 500 and WMO were they stuck everything no matter what! Gaff and release was no option here because they knew if it made minimum or not a dead fish is a weighed fish! By the way be real careful about slammin' a Fields period it may have serious consequences!

No sure anyone was slammed and I'm not sure what you think "serious consequences" are, but I doubt I or anyone else here care. Time to take a deep breath and settle down, I think. Your account of this man's expertise does not jive with the fish that landed on the dock. Turning it into a schoolyard fight before anyone knows details will not help the real story come out. Just lighten up, noone is crucifying your friend yet.