That’s the bottom line, release as soon as possible, don’t handle them much and slosh them back and forth to get water thru heir gills

I have enjoyed large fish on lite tackle , but it does in crease death rate. I had a hard time reviving a 37 lb Striper I caught on 12lb test.
Lots of fun. However, it does hurt the fish a lot .

Nice Marlin

Rockaway NY
37 lbs

The Hudson river produced lotta nice fish this year

35 lber , lots of fun!

I had an incredible month of May, Striper fishing on the Hudson this year. Must have gone thru 30 fish 6 of them 25-35 lbs.

No way are my fishing toys going in a shed, they need to be displayed in a trophy room. Big Danny and Gibbs surf plugs hanging on racks. I just like to see them and reminisce. One day I’ll hit the surf again. Until then it’s bunker chunking for bass, and buck tailing fluke with gulp.

2-4 fish or hits per hour, otherwise change spots or go home, often I catch more fish because I get back in the water fast. Gotta get yours when the bite turns on.

I used to hang out in Bklyn NY marinas, help a guy wax the hull, paint the bottom, sort ropes. Learned a lot and fished with lots of great people with big boats. Captain can’t run a 42 ft boat without a crew. Be pleasant and you get invited back. Catch fish, make a few knots, organize bait, and your the first mate. Don’t drink until some one catches a fish worthy of a beer and a celibritory cigar. Damn I love fishing especially on other people’s boats.

For me I prefer left hand retrieve with reels that have a thumb bar clutch, and engage when you turn the handle. so I am ready to jig or set a hook as soon as I’m in the water. A larger saltwater reel with a lever or switch clutch, that does not engage by turning the handle, is righty and I’ll switch the rod from side to side often.

It’s a hobby. Organize things in large storage systems. Rods in racks on the ceiling. I have a bag ready to go if I get a call that the fish are biting and the boat sails in an hour. Other wise just pack small tackle bag from larger storage systems. It’s really a play room for adults. Guns, rods, game calls, tackle, I could spend hours if the wife would let me. But kids, grass, dogs, all need attention. So the rods get dusty and the hooks get rusty!

I have the same problem. The NY Hudson River does not allow disposing of carcus. If I throw it in the woods, I get cats, if I put it in the garbage it stinks. I walk it back into the woods, where I leave all the game harvestered.

All good advice, stay in the boat, both feet on the deck at all times.
Wear a vest when under way or rough seas.

Bryanova: Long Island tuna, wow that’s a good story with a sad ending. You must have been way off shore. I have had sharks up to 350, and tuna up to 200lbs but it was all team work, on the rod or a gaff or a camera, handing out the beer afterward, or using a broom to keep line of boat hull, working a camera, clearing the deck as you coach the fisherman, it’s always team work,My personal best was a 100 lb bluefin, by myself while everyone was sleeping, I hooked it, gaffed it and iced it before anyone even woke up!
A few stripers up to 40lbs we’re pretty memorable as well. Damn I love fishing!