Marlin - Release or Kill.... Let's Hear It!!

[Logan9581]

Release 'em, there are better tasting fish out there!

[Rhodekill]

I agree 100% with Capt-D.

[harrisonr]

release all
1:unless they are brought to the boat dead.
most tourneys for marlin are catch and release only anyways.

[deskperado]

Release ! A good marlin is a swimming one. They don't breed on the dock!

[TommyTuna]

Originally Posted by harrisonr

release all
1:unless they are brought to the boat dead.
most tourneys for marlin are catch and release only anyways.

I wouldn't say most. In fact, the biggest money $$$ are all kill - Big Rock, Pirates Cove, OC WMO, Mid Atlantic 500. The release divisions are basically prestige - just about every single boat in these tourneys would stick a million dollar fish - I find it amusing that they are treated with such deference until big $$$ are involved - then there is nothing but blood thirsty killkillkill.

I am the one that wrote they are no more valuable to me then any other pelagic - I find Wahoo, Giant Bluefins, Big Eye Tuna, Makos, etc. etc. all worthy creatures, no more or less so than any billfish.

Fire Away.

[Squidnation]

Tommy - hope all those flags in your signature pic are upside down

[Rhodekill]

I also agree with Tommy 100%

I would not kill them just for the fun of it. I would kill them in a $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ tourny.

Anyone who says that MOST billfish tournys are release has either:

1. Never fished in a big $$$$$$$$$ tourny
2. Could just be talking to hear themselves talk and feel better about themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chumtini]

And if it's a grander?

And, my original question...If I charter a boat and the captain decides to kill the BM...Is it the captain's rule or can the charter mutiny (as was the case in my situation).

[Squidnation]

In may of 1995 I went to Venezuela which is not the ideal time to go fishing. We chartered the GIGI for two days of marlin and swordfishing. On the first hour of the first day we raised a grander by all accounts on boat. I was lucky enough to set the hook and be the one in the chair. The fish stayed high and put on a great show. She came straight up the starboard side in the air and when she got about mid-ship she came right at the boat grey hounding the whole way. She hit the side of the tower in mid air and was immediatly stunned. We quickly got the release but she came too and sounded. After another 35 minutes we were at a stalemate. I asked the captain if we had the official release and he said yes but also told the mate to get the flyer ready because it was a grander and probably a venezuelan record. I told him that I would rather not kill the fish and to change the angle of the fight to raise the fish. HE urged me to kill it but the mate "Speedy" came to my defense. He told the captain that it is my fish and I should have the choice. For those of you who had the pleasure of fishing with the GIGI fleet and know "speedy" also know that he holds enough clout to tell this the captain. Anyway the captain "piranha" was his name changed the angle of the fight and the fish shot straight up to the top and began going bezerk. We quickly backed down to her and released her. So although he wasn't crazy about it at least that captain and mate understood my desire to release the fish.

[scrumcenter]

Out of my home port ocmd you bet I would stick him that fish would help elevate oc put them on the map and so on would I feel bad no just cause they have a spike on the head makes them no different. I feel worse taking a sixty pound bft thats a fish that by all accounts most likely has not spawned once. A grander is on the way out and has spawned several times. Now I am not the kind of guy who says kill everything either. I have a dusky mounted on my wall a shark that is now protected do I feel bad for having killed that one no not at all because you know what that was my decision and I stick with it besides they are pretty damn good on the grill. I kill what I want within in the law and anyone that wants to give me a hard time can kiss my ass. Thats what annoys me people should look at what they take not at what the other guys take look at yourself and if your happy with what you do good for you. Killing a fish for money makes no difference don't justify it that way killing is killing. Handle your own affairs as you choose but don't preach nothing is more annoying than some clown shoe on a soap box preaching I would never do this or that til well.... theres a check then you are no better than the commerical guys you condem they do it for money to....