Proper Care of Bills...

[twodogs]

I have a question for the experienced billfishers out there.

I read an article the other day in either a Billfish Foundation publication or one of the other mags (Saltwater Sportsman, etc.) that made the argument that you should never lift a billfish out of the water for the "hero shot" pic. Obviously this only applies to sails and whites - maybe very small blues - so, is this correct that I may be endangering the fish with this pic? I've only caught one sail - first one last year while king fishing - and yes, we had the hero shot before we released. The fish was still a pretty lit up color, the fight was fairly short and we swam it a few minutes before what looked like a very successful release. Still, after reading that article, I don't want to contribute toward billfish mortality for a nice pic on the wall.

I have started the offshore game more and assuming another lucky hook up, need some expert advice on how to celebrate the moment. I'm fine with pics in the water...not me, the fish.

Let me know please.

Thanks in advance.

[Deep C]

Sadly I have been guilty of this but usually only to unhook deeper hooked fish or fish that have been hooked in the jaw joint. On rare occasion we'll bring them aboard to unwrap lleader that they have rolled up in or got stuck behid fin or gill.
To some extent its true. If you use cotton gloves, cotton fibers can get caught in the rasp of the bill and serve as a bed for marine growth... Secondly this can add more stress to an already stressed fish. Most times we don't lift em out on my boat but I really like to get that hook out if I can with as little added stress as I can. If the hook is in a place that getting it out will do more damage than good i cut the leader as close to the mouth as I can without lifting the fish out...
Still that doesn't really make bringing them out right. It should not be done and I hang my head in shame as a sometimes violator...

[Squidnation]

Twodogs - great topic. Their are no two ways about it. Pulling the fish from the water for the hero shot will hurt the fish. Their are several reasons this is true.

1. In order to pull a fish out of the water you must first grab the fish and lift it. If a fish was brought to the boat quickly then it will go ballistic once it is grabbed. This will entail a tug-of-war with the fish until it is exhausted and has given up. If the wireman is particularly strong or experienced at the grab and snatch then it will give the fish that same opportunity to go ballistic but instead of hitting water and the side of the boat it will be hitting gunnel or deck. I am amazed at watching videos (and I have been guilty of this before, even on video but will not do it again) of guys grabbing a fish by the bill. Letting it struggle almost every ounce of energy only to pull the hook and then be a hero and spend 10 minutes trying to revive that fish. Cut the line - The fish will swim away and look like a rock star with a pierced lip for a few days.

2. Pulling a fish from the water will remove the protective slime that all fish have to ward off many parasites and bacteria. The biggest threat to a fishes imununity system is a. stess and b. loss of slime. By pulling a fish out of the water you have stripped a fish of its slime after you stressed it out.

3. I have no proof on this one but have to believe that landing a fish is not good for it organs. A fish lives in a boyant enviroment. Once that fish is pulled from its enviroment not only is it suffocating but also applying pressure to its organs. AGAIN - this one is a theory not based on fact.

While we are at it lets talk about leadering the fish. I have witnessed many times a healthy non-bleeder come to the side of the boat only to watch the mate yank on the leader to try and rip the hook free or break the leader. Next thing you know the fish is a bleeder. Try to apply the same amount of pressure on the fish while leadering as you were while fighting. get the fish to the boat and snip the line as close as you can to the hook. Reviving has it place and if the fish comes to the boat exhausted, it will help. but if it comes to the boat fresh and green then just cut the line.

Here is a pic of my 9yr old (at the time) son's first marlin. I think he was plenty happy to see that fish in the water.

BTW - don't get me wrong. I am not against killing any legal fish so long as it done for the right reason. It is up to you to determine the right reason.

[Water Damage]

I agree with the above - and like Deep said, I too am very guilty of this myself. I have tried to do it quickly and gently and revive properly - but I do know in my heart that it would be best to leave'em in the water.

I am certainly no expert about handling these fish, but there seems to be more than enough information and evidence that the less we handle them the better it is for the fish.

[twodogs]

Thanks guys, that pretty much confirms what I thought - however, I had no idea about the cotton gloves - need to keep a different pair on board for just such occasions.