Quote:
Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND
OK.
I have some points to open discussion on, some issues I have w/ the light tackle BFT fishery. It isn't an attack at anyone, as what most people are doing is legal. Just some questions I have. Personally, I wouldnt chase these 50-60" bluefin with anything lighter than 50lb gear, with stout stand-up rods. I know spinning reels and heavy spin rods rods have plenty of backbone, but it just isn't the same, IMHO.
1. What do people think the survivability of 100+lb bluefin on spin gear? Has anyone seen numbers? Just curious. Something I've never seen.
Having caught my share, I know they pull almost to death.
2. Whats the hook-up bust off ratio of your average angler?
3. How many people are fishing trebles on the plugs. See #2, a fish busted off with a mouth full of trebles has a much lower survivability than one w/ single hooks (I feel the same w/ Bass FWIW)
4. How do people feel about this fishery?
It is bringing a lot of people in small boats to tuna fishing, which is cool, but bluefin are not doing well as a whole, so any added pressure probably isn't good, right?
Again, this isn't an attack, just trying to open some discussion on a fish other than bass!
In full disclosure, I have no problem with tuna fishing (and try and get out for yellowfin and albacore at the edge as often as I can), but it is pretty rare that we catch a legal limit and start releasing fish. We fish 50's spooled with 80lb braid and mono topshots, and troll gear with single hooks, which I think does less damage if you break off fish. I'm not some card carrying peta guy, as you know, but I am not a big fan of light tackle for most any fish. I believe in 'appropriate tackle'. Just some thoughts I have when I see the pictures of the bluefin being caught....
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Brian, I troll fish exclusively, on 50W's. One idea is with trolled baits, whether it's squid rigs, cedar plugs, whatever, reduce the size of the hooks on the hook baits. Large hooks will exit through the fish's eye and will most certainly cause him some trouble as tuna really rely on their vision to feed.
Good discussion.
I hope that unlike bass, we are not keeping every fish that we are legally allowed to keep. These fish are babies and beyond one or two a year for the grill, we have kicked back our fish. It seems that our fisheries managers have their collective heads up their behinds, so it seems that we as sportsman need to do the right thing and let our conscience guide us.
But, there are a lot of people in the game now, so I believe we as a group are killing way more BFT now than in the past, but that's only my opinion, not fact.
Light tackle might be more fun, but in the interest of releasing a healthy fish, 50 weight tackle seems smarter.