2023 Fishing Resolution (Page 5): Good words for thought Fred🎣🇺🇸🙂👍...

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Fredfish wrote:

Well that would eliminate weighing fish, except in a bag. I would think putting them in a bag would do worse damage by removing slime. I wonder how much organ damage they get jumping out of the water, or tailwalking into the side of the boat, or even flopping around on the deck?

Good words for thought Fred🎣🇺🇸🙂👍

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Fredfish wrote:

Well that would eliminate weighing fish, except in a bag. I would think putting them in a bag would do worse damage by removing slime. I wonder how much organ damage they get jumping out of the water, or tailwalking into the side of the boat, or even flopping around on the deck?

All good questions! I hope I can find more info. I forgot to add that it was their opinion that the bigger fish are the ones damaged the most from a vertical lift. Regardless, at some point we all know that not catching them is best for survival. I sure as hell am not willing to go that far. My goal is to just do better than 18%.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

NoCal Steve wrote:

All good questions! I hope I can find more info. I forgot to add that it was their opinion that the bigger fish are the ones damaged the most from a vertical lift. Regardless, at some point we all know that not catching them is best for survival. I sure as hell am not willing to go that far. My goal is to just do better than 18%.

With you on all accounts Steve🎣🇺🇸🙂👍

Tyvek Loc: Ontario, California

Rubber net as opposed to what?

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Tyvek wrote:

Rubber net as opposed to what?

I believe woven nylon strings is the material common to landing nets.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Tyvek wrote:

Rubber net as opposed to what?

The nylon ones they are abrasive that strips the protective slime off of some fish and once a hook gets caught in it ts a job trying to get the hook out without cutting out🎣🙂👍

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

HenryG wrote:

The nylon ones they are abrasive that strips the protective slime off of some fish and once a hook gets caught in it ts a job trying to get the hook out without cutting out🎣🙂👍

Yes sir. Your fish could sit in those nets a long time while you are trying to remove hooks.

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

Gardener Dave wrote:

Those are all great ideas. I am almost 100% c & r and I won't do tournaments because I've seen too many dead fish after weigh ins. Would love to see formats like kayak tourneys where the fish are immediately released where they are caught . Also a gentle release helps as I see so many on Youtube actually throwing them back.

I avoid tournaments because I enjoy a relaxing day on the water fishing without needing to fish fast.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Jim Kay wrote:

I avoid tournaments because I enjoy a relaxing day on the water fishing without needing to fish fast.

JK... I fished team tournaments out here in the early 90's. At first, it was so much fun. I was learning, upgrading equipment and boats, plus it got my competitive juices flowing. It reached a point where I realized only time on the water could elevate my game. I could not justify the sacrifices my young family would have to make. I never fished another tournament and have a completely different mentality towards fishing today... it's where I get my therapy and my joy. Catching is not required but, fishing is.

MoJoe Loc: Springfield, MO

I finished one tournament in the early 1970s at Lake Pleasant, Arizona with a guy named Fast Freddy Ward. That experience was nothing like the kind of fishing I enjoyed, and I never fished another tournament again.

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

NoCal Steve wrote:

JK... I fished team tournaments out here in the ea... (show quote)

I completely agree.

FisherJeff Loc: Carlsbad, ca

Don’t use a rag on the fish. It removes their protective slime. I have a lip grabber handy. Bring the fish up. Grab the line close to the lure, and grab the fish by the lower lip with the grabber. Be ready to grab the hook with pliers to get it released quickly. The biggest issue is the 5% that gulp the hook. Most of my catch is c&r bass. But, occasionally a keeper halibut. They mostly always get the hook in the lip, and Im afraid to lose a big keeper Hali by going barbless, as many times once in the net they shake the hook loose.

And yeah…definitely go with what we call halibut friendly nets. They are rubber with smaller octagon shaped holes. We catch too many shorts that have split tails from conventional nets, and that can lead to their early demise.