RUN-OFF...BFT #1 in the books

[O-SEA-D]

Couple of quick notes. The stomach contents are peanut bunker, crabs, and sand eels. Crabs, most likely a result of draggers bycatch. Also, they could be as new as that day. The BF digest more quickly than you can imagine. Also, swimming the fish does NOT get rid of lactic acid build-up from the fight. The lactic acid takes days of stress free conditions to dissolve. Swimming the fish will help cool the fish down but if the meat was damaged, has white cloud, or is soft, swimming will not do anything unless you are releasing the fish. If you want to be assured of the best meat condition possible---lock down the drag and reef them in as quickly as possible.

JUST LIKE I SAID.

THE STOMACH CONTENTS ARE MENHADEN...NOT PEANUT BUNKER, CRABS AND NEEDLE FISH...NOT SAND EELS.

I think I am pretty sure I know what a Menhaden is and what a peanut bunker is....and I know the difference between Sand Eels and Needle fish.

After all, I am the one who stuck my hand in the stomach and pulled them out. The jaws of the needle fish were broken off and they were also in the stomach.

Thanks

[Sea Draggin]

I say, "We did the best we could, now you do the best you can"

I like that. Pretty work.

[fat2na.com]

While, by no means, am I a biologist and evidently either are you, a menhaden is the scientific name of the species. A "menhaden" less than 11cm is referred to as a "peanut bunker". While it is possible that what I referred to as sand eels are, in fact, needle fish, their broken off beaks would most likely be bright green as are all of the bones in a needlefish.
Also, I wasn't trying to offend anyone, just trying to offer some insight as to species identification. I've caught more than 200 giants(11 this year) and been involved with BFT tagging research as well as feeding and migration patterns, while that was a small giant I think everyone tries to identify stomach contents so that they may use bait that closely resembles the fishes prey. A huge percentage of the GBFT that are caught in the northeast and some in the mid-atlantic will have a large amount of sand eels, especially in the absence of herring, in their stomachs if they don't regurgitate during the fight, another tell tale sign that they have been feeding on sand eels is low body fat.
Congrats on the catch lets all hope that the fish find large amounts of "menhaden" to fatten up quickly as that fish, menhaden, has a decent fat content. And again just a little info, no need to get frustrated.

I've just brought a boat (50') to Morehead to fish the season, some will be research, so if anyone, with experience, is looking for a ride let me know and we'll put some trips together. Also we'll be looking for a photographer to ride for free with the understanding that the boat gets copies of all pictures.

[fat2na.com]

Oh, by the way, nice Westmac.

[FINRAZOR RODS]

Nice work again John and Brian...