Corpusfishing.com

sacourt97 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:55 am Post subject: Injured fish; what to do.

If a fish swallows a hook way too far to get out without injuring him, in particular a flounder, and he is right at legal limits, maybe a quarter inch too short after being on ice, is it preferred to return him to the sea injured and about to die or to go ahead and harvest him? I know, I know, the fines are stiff for having undersized fish and I would never take one that small even if it wasn't injured. But if it's injured and obviously going to die, what's the preferred thing to do?

justletmein · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:58 am Post subject:

If you're willing to eat the fines if you get busted and it makes you feel better then have at it. Myself, fish is not worth stiff fines so I let'em go and hope for the best.
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JJ

Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3974

measure twice, and if its close, let it go on general principle.

I would hope that this is black and white in everyone's mind, with absolutely no grey area involved.

Legal or not legal. there is no CLOSE, lets put him on ice for a bit, and then whoa, it "shrank" now what?

I also heard a report of illegal snook being retained at the jetties recently. please call GameThief if you see this type of behavior.
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sacourt97 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:06 am Post subject:

texmike · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:11 am Post subject:

I asked that question of TPW and they said, "You did what you could to help, but do not keep it."

That's straight from one of there own. But it's always your choice. I don't keep anything that is close. If it's over or on the line. Not worth it.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock.
Will Rogers

ironmanstan · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

Use hooks that rust away rather than stainless.
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I LIKE MINE FRIED.

Gib · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:54 am Post subject: Circle of Life

Continue the circle of life by donating to the water animals and not land animals to consume on a fine dinner and avoid the monetary fine making the heart merry knowing you gave something back.

A fine such as this would ruin my fishing for sometime having to pay fee instead of contributing towards my next run.

Skipjack · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

Put the fish back in the water.

Crabs need to survive as well.
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I am a pirate 200 years too late.

Drake · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:07 am Post subject: to keep it

In the (in)famous words of Capt Paw Paw - "crabs gotta eat too."

ccbobber · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:22 am Post subject: fish

ims started to say the right thing. buy more than one hook and if fish has swallowed it, cut leader as close to mouth as possible and many fish will survive. hooks dissolve in short time and fish have good endurance.
put new hook on and try again, and again.
have cleaned fish with thumb sized body lures inside and they swan real healthy until we caught them.
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ccbobber

JayandCoyote · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:23 am Post subject:

In the words of The Outlaw Josey Wales, ”Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.” Or, in this case maybe, "Hardheads gotta eat, same as crabs".

GoinCoastal · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:30 am Post subject:

I hate to hear people use the term "waste" when they refer to throwing an injured fish back. You may see it as waste from your perspective but the bottom line is ... THERE IS NO WASTE!!!!!!!!!!!

An injured fish will be consumed either by larger species , usually their own species, or they die and become a food source for the crabs and other scavengers. There is NO waste when a fish dies in it's environment. The only waste occurs when we remove them from their environment and do not consume it.

If the catch is not of size to legally retain the fish, let it go. PERIOD!!!!

gonefishing

I think TPW should consider a different policy for gigged flounder because there is no real way to measure before gigging. I'm pretty good eyeballing them nowadays, but I still have to sometimes let one die. It would be far better to allow one per catch to be undersized by a specified amount or, even better, issue a couple "undersize-gigged" flounder tags per license.

-Michael

sacourt97 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:46 am Post subject:

Thank you, and I'm sorry if I offended you more experienced fishermen with my question. I'm not as good as you guys with 400+posts, so I just like to learn as much as I can. I appreciate the wisdom and advice. And just so you know, I did cut the leader line very close to the hook and threw him back. Hope everyone has a good week.

texmike · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:

I don't think you offended anyone on this board. We just have a habit of telling it like it is. Wink

I for one have asked some questions that got a lot of responses but I still learned from them.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock.
Will Rogers