Removing Billfish From Water - a No-No

[Sea Draggin]

There was a recent thread with video's showing whites being pulled from the water and slung back in like trash. In the past, I have pulled fish from the water for photo's (although never handled the fish/resource wrecklessly like what was shown), but just to caution everyone before posting pics and video's of it....that it is against the law now.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....3.1.2&idno=50

(2) If a billfish is caught by a hook and not retained, the fish must be released by cutting the line near the hook or by using a dehooking device, in either case without removing the fish from the water.



Just so everyone knows, don't post "evidence" if you don't want trouble.

[Johnk1040]

just cut the leader as close as possible and get goin again!

[JRJBfishing]

I don't pull them in anyway.. By the time I get em to the boat I have had all the fun I want. I try to get them off the line and back in action asap...

JRJB

[EMTAE]

I call BULLSHIT i will remove the hook from all Bills that i catch if it's possible.If it"s done right you can remove the hook and get the fish out of the water for a few pics whats wrong with that??

[BlueH20Boss]

yeah but its legal for longliners to kill hundreds of them a day......this countries laws are so ass backwards.

[Deep C]

Starting last year we have left em all over the side... Made us a set of measuring ribbons... That being said though we will still bill and get back what hooks we can... I did a test a couple years back to see how fast or slow a hook rusts... Three weeks under water and only one hook was what you could call done and that one was a mustad 9175 non circle. I hate the thought of a fish swimmin with steel planted in its mandible destrying the joint to the point of not being able to use it...

[Team Karma]

I call BULLSHIT i will remove the hook from all Bills that i catch if it's possible.If it"s done right you can remove the hook and get the fish out of the water for a few pics whats wrong with that??

Hard to get a billfish out of the water without accidentally removing at least some of their protective slime. The slime helps them fight off infections and parasites.

Whats wrong with leaving the fish in the water for a few pics?

[costaricasportfishing]

No Longer allowed in Costa Rica. Sometimes the charter really wants that photo so we will do 1 fish in the morning. But I ain't gonna lie....I have a worn spot on the rails from hauling them over everyday. Can't be good for them and I hate taking the extra time screwing around with them when we could be fishing. But....If they are dying for that pic what can you say?

On that note....I pulled 4 day before yesterday....Sorry......heehee

[whitey]

Starting last year we have left em all over the side...

You sure about that Deep? Check pages 12 and 21 of your Chubathon 2009 thread. The pictures don't lie.

Chubathon 09

[Fish Dad]

Has anyone ever been given a ticket for removing them from the water based on the hero photo shot? It is pretty imcriminating evidence.

I have no problems leaving them in the water, getting the hook out, and getting a nice shot of the angler holding the bill. I don't know if pulling them out of the water really hurts them after all the acrobatic jumps they do to get loose but it has to be better for them to stay in the water.