A few things are true about Daytime Electric Reel Swordfishing

[SeaHunter35]

I care about our fishery, and from this day forward I will be proactive about it. Starting with this thread.

Daytime Electric Reel Swordfishing is not :

1. It is not Sportfishing
2. There is no Sport at all
3. There is no "pretty work captain"
4. There is no epic battle.
5. There is no sweet release
6. There is no darkside
7. There is no responsibility
8. There is no accountability
9. There is no small fish, only big ones.
10. There is no World Records.
11. There is no blood, sweat, and tears.
12. There is no 50 or 80 wide.
13. There is no Stand Up Harness
14. There is no Fishing
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.


Im sure we can think of more things that daytime Swording is not.

It has been about 5 years since I first went Swordfishing. I have caught big ones, I have had bigger on. I have also released alot of legal fish.

I do have a personal problem with a new wave of so called fisherman, that think that they can buy an electric reel and a Squid, and catch the big ones.


I know it is a generalization.
I know there is the exception.
I know that it might be unfair to say this, but im gona say it anyways

If you use an electric reel to catch a Big Swordfish, and you kill it. If you feel any bit of pride or accomplishment from this.

You are an unsportsmanlike coward, who used electricity to do what your muscles could not.

You should be ashamed to exchange electricity for Sportfishing.


To me fishing is a difficult, glamorous, fun, demanding, rewarding, adrenaline pumping, life changing, lifelong SPORT.

Congradulations to those that have taken all the SPORT out of SPORTFISHING

I see this recent change in Swordfishing methods as "The Beginning of the End, for the second time"

One minor detail will change the future of this fishery drastically!!!!!


That detail that you all have forgotten is called a RELEASE

If your gona use an Electric Reel, let the fish go, you did not accomplish anything to deserve that fish.

If you use your own muscle, then enjoy your catch, but chances are you will just flip a switch.

Lastly, I might sound opinionated, and pushy with those opinions. Very few of you know me, but I hope my message is heard and you remember my opinions when there are very few Swordfish left.

Chris

[Capt'n Shane]

Originally Posted by SeaHunter35

Lastly, I might sound opinionated, and pushy with those opinions. Chris

No.......

That settles it guys...Those of you who fish electrics are cowards and should be ashamed.



So my position is not misinterpreted, this is sarcism.

[fishstu]

Im tired of hearing everyone crying about daytime swordfishing and electric reels. There is alot more to fishing than just reeling in a big fish. There is also the hunt and all the other work that goes into a successful fishing trip. A real captain would understand that. I guess some of the people out there must not have ever used and electric reel. I guess you guys just think everyone is just out there flipping a switch and kicking their feet up drinking a cold one.
So if you guys don't agree with the daytime fishing then stay home till dark, keep doing what you are doing and stop crying every time someone else is doing somthing other then what you are doing.
Other then that

STU

[UFCroft]

Maybe everyone should start complaining about electric kite reels. It allows crews to get more baits in the water, which results in more sailfish being caught, and we know some of the sailfish caught and released don't live. And then maybe we should complain about electric start motors, cause they allow us to start our engines faster and make more sets which allow us to catch more fish. Then we should complain about electric GPS units which allows us to go back to spots we know produce, and allow us to catch more fish. And the we should complain about the depth finder, cell phones, even computers, anyone get the point yet?

[dpdash]

Wow, you must be a real hoot at parties, god(whatever you say is god because clearly only you are allowed to say) forbid someone has a different opinion than you. Seeing as how you are the expert on everything, I was thinking about wearing a tan shirt today, is that ok??

[Big Squid]

15. For poor people because they can not afford electric reels.

[billspilingup]

Since you are God, you realize that you gave us free choice.

I hereby freely choose to use electrics when dropping 1700ft deep.

See you on Sunday.

[Thumper235]

Using an electric reel does take a great deal of sport out of it, however, I think there are times when it is OK to use one. If you are not familiar with how to set up your rig, Or rig your squid properly so it stays on the hook without sliding up the leader. Locating the right spot, Etc....Basically if you are still in the Experimental Stage I believe it is ok to use an electric.
I say this because I have experimented with my 80's before this whole daytime thing became so popular. I know first hand how frustrating and time consuming it is to reel up over 2000' of line with no results. My last 2 drops were on an electric with a few minor adjustments to my rig. I honestly did not expect the results we got: 2 for 2. So go ahead and call people like me an unsportsmanlike coward, but if you have ever fished with me you would know that is far from the truth.
Now that I feel I have the right rig, the right spot, and the right crew, I will certainly be using the 80's again for daytime swording.
So bottom line is if you are in your experimental stages of this new fishery, I believe it is ok to use an electric reel ( if you have one ) until you get your techniques down.

[cogzwell]

i have 80's and 130's...... you are welcome to come on my boat and pull them up

[quack quack]

We are all entitled to our opinions.The great thing about this country and this site is the ability to speak your mind freely.But like most things just because you do not believe in the way some one else does something does not make it wrong.Like politics and religion you vote and believe in what you want but do not tell me I am wrong for what I do or believe in.

[Uncle Buck]

What would you say about handle-equipped electric reels? Would it be unsportsmanlike to use the electric advantage for recovering 2000ft of line and an empty hook? But fight a fish with muscle?

In my opinion, there are levels of recreational fishing. For instance: wahoo. Catch a 50lb wahoo on wire line. Catch a 50lb wahoo on 30lb mono. Both are good catches, even though I would consider the mono-caught fish a higher accomplishment.

I have the same opinion about technology in rod/reel swordfishing. Certainly a double- or triple-marker swordfish is a fine catch, no matter what gear was used. I'd be quite happy to get a beast on an LP-S1200 electric reel. But would certainly be more proud to have cranked it in on my 50-wide Tiagra. And to catch a fish that size on 30-class or lesser tackle... that would be spectacular. I won't condem anyone for choosing to use electricity, but will certainly hold a manual catch in higher regard.

[ContenderWays]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

I have the same opinion about technology in rod/reel swordfishing. Certainly a double- or triple-marker swordfish is a fine catch, no matter what gear was used. I'd be quite happy to get a beast on an LP-S1200 electric reel. But would certainly be more proud to have cranked it in on my 50-wide Tiagra. And to catch a fish that size on 30-class or lesser tackle... that would be spectacular. I won't condem anyone for choosing to use electricity, but will certainly hold a manual catch in higher regard.

Right on.

[Kevinm]

What does it really matter what you catch it on. As long as we are all legal, use good judgements on what fish to keep, then there is no difference. Everyone sees a catch in the daytime, but they do not realize what goes into making that catch a reality. For instance if the man behind the wheel can't drive or have knowledge of currents and boat handling in that current, you will not catch anything. All you will end up with is a tangled mess. What about the choice of a drop spot, alot goes into that as well. I have made a lot of drops, with the fish winning most of the time, and some really big fish. I have also hand cranked up from 1600 ft and I am not doing it again. So to the people that are against electric reel fishing, don't do it, but don't condemn those who want to.

[wahooman]

It is just like using electric deep dropping for snapper and grouper, it is not sportfishing, it is putting meat in the boat. If that is what you are doing than you should not be harvesting several fish if you are going to put them in the freezer for months on end, take only what you need and call it a day. I personally would do this just for the meat aspect as I would be a newbie at it and need to learn. Once I learn and I want to go out for the sportfishing aspect than I will butch up and strap on the 80w, until than I will push the button to learn and get steaks for me and my friends. My .02

[Another Grand]

I find it odd that it is the younger generations that are showing the fish and the fishery the respect it rightfully deserves.

Mark my words.......you will eat your comments about this method of fishing being promoted by our "recreational" community if the decision in Washington is to open a general category.

Wait until ICCAT takes our quota away, our season could get shut down in no time, then watch somebody post a picture of 4 slobs on the computer caught with an electric reel that are going to market and lets see what the comments are.

Passing judgment on another fisherman's catch when he is within his limits, that is not my suit. Arguing what is and isnt sportfishing, not going to do that either.

Looking out for the best interest of our fishery and protecting our image in the sport fishing community so we dont lose the support of other recreational sportfishing groups, that is what I will voice my opinion on.

People on these forums are going to hate whether you post a small fish, or a big fish, rather you catch it on a 130 or a spinner......end of story.

However,

Until somebody gives me a reasonable explanation of why this method should continue to be promoted, I am going to do just the opposite, for reasons that I feel are for the better of the fishery, not becuase I think it is or isnt fishing, or is or isnt, morally or ethically correct.

Being to much of a bitch to reel the line in is no excuse. Everybody fishes at least a 5 rod spread, count the ft of line you have out, it is the same thing as having to reel your entire spread in yourself.....which I do every night I go fishing almost, throughout the entire night time and time again, because I go fishing, not boating.

I have been day dropping a few times, a three person crew can fish just as effectively without the aid of electric reel as those with the aid of electric reel, again by fishing and not boating.

Soooooo.......you can sit back and debate this topic and take offense to Chris's comments, or you can realize that not only does his opinion have some justification but it is going to be the opinion of many sportfisherman around the world, and thus we are not going to gain the respect we would be if we were fishing with rod and reel.

Nobody is wrong for the fish they caught, there is nothing wrong with catching a fish on an electric reel to figure out that it could be done. That time has came and gone.

Right/Wrong ....who knows who cares.......good/bad........until everything with the immediate future of our fishery is determined......I am going with BAD.

All I am saying is......go out and daydrop, it is a great fishery. If you choose to use your electric reel, as you are well within your legal right to do. Just dont post pics or stories about it on the internet.....that is all I am asking.

OR............keep fishing with the electrics, but RELEASE the fish because, like Chris, I have a little more respect for this fish that to justify you deserving to kill it and would like to maintain our reputation in the sportfishing community, as recreational sport fisherman even if for nothing else than that we are going to need their assistance in the future.

That is my opinion. Just like Chris, I am entitled one.

I would like to hear the opinion of the individuals that were pushing that the bouy guys killed all the fish. That have now turned around and are promoting the harvest of these big fish with electric reels.......feel free to chime in anytime fellas

Respect!

Johnny

[Country Boys]

I am basically a meat fisherman. I troll for dolphin and once in the school I don't wip out the 12lb spinner. I reach under my seat for the 80LB YOYO with a 9/0 barbless J hook and take 5 or so fish and move on.
I could care less about bragging rights...Same goes for Swordfish or any other fish.

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by fishstu

Im tired of hearing everyone crying

Let's get one thing straight - somebody disagreeing with using electric reels does NOT equate to crying. Second, from now on, every time you slap a 200+ pound fish on the deck I want you to say to yourself: "Nice fish. There goes up to 30 million eggs a year."

[islandshark633]

Daytime Electric Reel Swordfishing is not :

1. It is not Sportfishing
2. There is no Sport at all

I do not recall anyone on this board claiming that it was SPORT fishing.

The issue is not the gear and manner of fishing but that there appears to be a disproportionately high number of large breeding females caught in this way. Wether or not it was caught on a Tiagra 80 or a LP 1200 doesnt matter - the fish is just as dead.

[fishstu]

making a post about other people fishing a certain way that they don't like sounds like crying to me.

So now we can't take a fish over 200 lbs? Any other restrictions you guys want to make up while you're at it?

[quack quack]

Originally Posted by CAPTINMITCH

Let's get one thing straight - somebody disagreeing with using electric reels does NOT equate to crying. Second, from now on, every time you slap a 200+ pound fish on the deck I want you to say to yourself: "Nice fish. There goes up to 30 million eggs a year."

Come on Mitch that is a hypocritical statement.