WMO 70 lbs min. Good or Bad?

[Bert Rodgers]

This thread is as predictable as local news media giving hangover tips on New Years Day.
The WMO is a kill Tourny and hopefully it always will be. The notion that there is a mass unnecessry killing is stupid. This year there were over 750 whites caught out of which 17 were killed. Also 40 blues with 1 killed.

Why is it that the same guys who ooh and ah over a big BFT on a bloody deck (and also bemone fed restrictions on them) pitch a hissy over a few whites hanging? Is there a logical explanation for the moral statis of killing a billfish as opposed to a "meat fish"? It's silly.

Bert

[DoveHunt]

Why not have a minimum length only. If it meets the length then it counts. There is plenty of data out there that would provide for a length determination for the target maturity level. Yep there are some short fat fish, but for crews to be criticized for bringing a under weight fish that meets length is bs. With that much money on the line if it meets the length I am not going to play scientist, let the scale.

I think the tournament looks bad to the crowd when the fish don't meet the minimum weight. Once the fish is deemed qualifying length let it go on the board. The fish is dead already.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Why not have a minimum length only. If it meets the length then it counts. There is plenty of data out there that would provide for a length determination for the target maturity level. Yep there are some short fat fish, but for crews to be criticized for bringing a under weight fish that meets length is bs. With that much money on the line if it meets the length I am not going to play scientist, let the scale.

I think the tournament looks bad to the crowd when the fish don't meet the minimum weight. Once the fish is deemed qualifying length let it go on the board. The fish is dead already.

I couldn't agree more.
Holwachagot

[Squidnation]

Minimum length should be the only qualifier in my opinion like dove hunt said. As far as it being a release tournament I doubt it will ever happen and I hope it doesn't ever happen.

[clt_capt]

Definitely agree on minimum length as the only qualifier. It is easy enough to get an accurate length and release the fish if it doesn't meet minimum length, but there is no way to get weight reasonably on a moving boat and still be able to release that fish in good condition.

It might mean a few more fish brought to the scales, but would look a whole lot better than DQ'ing a fish that is both legal (NMFS) and meets a length criteria.

[albemarle305]

I agree also, make it min lengh but increase it to 70" that way 50 and 60 pounders are not weighed in... a 72 inch whihte should weigh about 72 pounds if I am correct, so making in 70 should be good and I am sure just about all 1st 2nd and 3rd place fish in the last 5 or so year would all be over 70inches, that would decrease the 60 pounders coming in when 3rd place is already a 70 pounder!!! Saw one boat kill two and neither of them made a place!!

[Bonehead]

Minimum length only is a great idea and it should stay a kill tournament. If we're willing to bomb people we shouldn't have a problem with killing fish. Let's keep our priorites in perspective, but if you kill it you must grill it. No killing and wasting.

[frankypettolina]

Glad to see I am not alone- I have been saying for years to make it an inch minimum- buying in bulk the tourney could affordably put the tapes in the bags and everyone would be playing with the same exact minimum.

no such thing as a non qualifier. sure it takes some of the drama out of it, but it would eliminate wasted fish.

[saltlife]

For me thats bad.. im losing a bet