Released fish floating away ...

[JahMussa]

I sit back and read all the talk about releasing Swordfish. I know the buoy guys seem to have much better luck than I have had on rod and reel. So for buoy guys and rec guys... what amount of time do you think is proper to get to 100% survival rate for released fish?

I have told a few about this and will post it here. The last few trips where we already had a bigger fish in the boat, we get a 55+ inch fish, unhook it and revive the fish until it seems ok. When the fish is let go, it rolls and sinks or pops to the surface to float away. Disheartening for sure when we think we are doing the right thing... and it's not paid off for us or the fish being released. Smaller fish (sub legal size) seem to do better with releases than the bigger fish maybe.

So I think we need to consider these release Swordfish Tourney's that are being talked about. Sure it's a good thing on paper but when fishing any type of release tourney... you are trying to dehook or cut the leader for the release and get back to fishing as quick as possible. IMO, there will be no one that gives these fish the time it truely will take to revive them for a successful release. So the tourney gets a pat on the back for having a Release tourney when in fact we will be "possibly" killing more fish than we know.

This is my own opinion but I have spoken to others that haven't had good luck either with releases surviving. Some guys fish heavy drag, some light but the released fish are still floating away.

With that said, in the past we have released fish that I felt would survive 100%. It's just been the last few released fish didn't make it that makes me less than excited to see a Release division in a Swordtourney. Especially due to the fact that most will not take the time to revive a fish 100%.

What's your thoughts on this?

[TOPPDAWG]

1. hey ----even if you already have a bigger fish in the boat and a legal fish floats away after release you are just ABOUT forced to drive over there and go get it.
2. in most tournaments that i fish the guys that win the release division end up releasing all the small fish---- everything else up to 3 they'll keep which im sure is what most boats do. i think the release division is just another bet on how many not the biggest.


thanx

[JahMussa]

Originally Posted by TOPPDAWG

1. hey ----even if you already have a bigger fish in the boat and a legal fish floats away after release you are just ABOUT forced to drive over there and go get it.

And we do for sure.

Originally Posted by TOPPDAWG

2. in most tournaments that i fish the guys that win the release division end up releasing all the small fish---- everything else up to 3 they'll keep which im sure is what most boats do. i think the release division is just another bet on how many not the biggest.

thanx

Well put.. I didn't think of that. And the smaller fish we have released do seem strong. But in a tourney, I still wonder if the majority will take the time to revive the fish or just cut them loose.

[Flatsfish B]

I can honestly say since fishing HEAVY drag All sub legal fish are usually brought to the boat in less then 10 min and always are green green when released. The only time this hasn't held true for me is if the fish is severely gashed/cut/ripped from the hook. Even gut hooked fish i reach in pull out the hook and they seem healthy.

As far as legal fish...Well I have only released a very few. I spend a lot of $$ to go out there often. I often bring people that have never caught a fish or don't swordfish more then 3 times a year so if its clearly legal we kill it. My crews have only had 1 night where we could have had more then 3 legal fish on board and only 2 other times when we did catch 3 keepers, so most nights are 1 or 2 legal fish max.

I agree with you tho tek, the big fish are no where near as frisky. I have never had a fish go belly up that i know off.

On a side note: I think fishing 12-15 lbs of drag is doing harm. Like any other fish if you tire them out they might not have the energy to overcome the exhaustion.

[catching]

It takes a good 10 to 15 minutes at times to revive these fish sometimes with the boat moving in gear to get it done right and keep the water flowing through the gills. Honesty with the guys I fish with we have only caught 5 shorts over the past year and three of those were ripped apart from the hook so there was no chance

[TOPPDAWG]

Yea 12- 15 Pounds Is B.s. Either Locked Up 30 Pounds Or Not There

[Capt. Art]

If you do not use the boat to pull the weakened fish through the water for at least 10 minutes, the oxegen required to revive the fish is not present.

So for the larger fish and the weakened fish, you must move off your spot to revive the fish and then reset your lines.

If you just drift and try to revive the fish, it will not work.

The best way, is to leave the hook where it is (unless it is easy to get out) tow the fish by the leader (or use a snooter) then cut the line close to the fish.

[Jesslyn]

I agree on all the points above however a question for Tek do you think in a tournament guys will take the time to revive the fish tey should. We will of course but I am just thinking thats the one time when guys will hurry.

[Nick C]

Tek, Although I fish heavy drag, I still believe that about 75% of the pups I catch don't make it. I try not even to bill them if they're green... just clip the leader, other wise I'll drag em for 10 minutes if needed. I've had some 50-60" fish that I've released too.... those I'm most certain made it which is why they were released. They came up green and had lots of life left(and bolted off when let go)

I see what you mean with the release divisions in the tourneys, but I think that will affect very few legal fish.

[Uncle Buck]

It seems to me, that the release divisions in sword tournaments are in place to make every fish worth catching. It would suck to drop $300+ on entry fees, catch a few rats, and not have a chance at winning something.

As far as recovery... well, every fish and situation is different. Since I've been tagging 'em, I have even more reason to want them little fellers to SWIM away. Heavy drags, quick fights, and minimal handling seem to encourage a healthy release... but we've gone after floaters a few times in order to continue revival. Unfortunately, best intentions don't always have a happy ending.

A release tournament is certainly a good idea... but I understand Tek's concern.

Probably one in two make it. Keeping them in the water is important.
Both tagged swordfish lived after being stuck with a tag. The bleeders
are shark bits and one can argue that if a shark eats your released
bleeder, (s)he will probably not eat another sword from the population,
(but of course, some do). If this is the case and if there are enough sharks
to eat all the dead released one, a released fish by a fisherman that dies
can almost be equated to natural mortality by sharks and the effects of
recreational fishing are minimized. in addition, the sharks are using
less energy and their population would be healthy. cheers, O

[JahMussa]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

It seems to me, that the release divisions in sword tournaments are in place to make every fish worth catching. It would suck to drop $300+ on entry fees, catch a few rats, and not have a chance at winning something.

That's exactly my point... If you are paying $300+ to enter a tourney... will you spend the required time to release the fish in the best condtion for survival? Or will you be more concerned with winning the tourney and not really try and revive the fish?

Again, my concern was with the larger fish as the smaller ( <47" ) seem to be very frisky for the most part. So my concern might not be valid as long as the points assigned to a released fish are less than the weight of a legal fish. This would ensure that we get "credit" for releasing small undersized fish. But there would be no need to release a legal fish in the tourney as it would have a higher point value in an aggregate type setting.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and let the Release Tourney's work out the details.

-Tek

[Flatsfish B]

Ok i'll shoot....

Is it just me or is it crazy to have a high dollar/point division on releases with no observer??? One person could take 5 pictures of 1 fish, or take in water pics of a fish as a release then kill it and take in boat pics of a "keeper". I could understand a small division like top releases gets $500. But to have a grand prize based of points which can easily be lied about, i am not sure i want to throw money into a "lotto". I was going to fish most tourneys but might just stick with Drew's/swordlords/sailclubs Am i crazy and missing something??

[The BEAST]

Originally Posted by Flatsfish B

Ok i'll shoot....

Is it just me or is it crazy to have a high dollar/point division on releases with no observer??? One person could take 5 pictures of 1 fish, or take in water pics of a fish as a release then kill it and take in boat pics of a "keeper". I could understand a small division like top releases gets $500. But to have a grand prize based of points which can easily be lied about, i am not sure i want to throw money into a "lotto". I was going to fish most tourneys but might just stick with Drew's/swordlords/sailclubs Am i crazy and missing something??

Flatfish B,

This is why The BEAST and The Beastie Girls only participate in a very select few tournaments now.

There is not doubt that cheating abounds in nearly all tournaments. The higher the payout the higher the level of dishonesty. I and The Beastie Girls have caught people cheating, red handed, and it is usually in the Ladies division.

We used to read the rules at each tournament kick off and the final rule was always "Captain's HONOR RULES apply!" That line has been dropped from almost 100% of the tournaments. I guess there is no HONOR anymore.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST