Did anyone see the "Tuna Wranglers".... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

FishermanTim · 08-17-2007, 10:52 AM

..on Discovery channel last night?
I tuned in, expecting to see guys actually fishing for tuna the way it should be. Instead, I see these jerks (they don't qualify as fishermen in any sense of the word) "corralling" tuna by luring them into a net with anchovies. Where the hell is the sport in that?
These Aussie a$$holes are more concerned that they won't make their goal of $20 million worth of tuna in one trip. If these types of "tuna-rapers" are allowed to continue and (God-forbid) flourish, we can kiss tuna goodbye. These "guys" are wiping out entire schools of tuna in one shot. I guess the rest of the world (or at least the southern hemisphere) has no regulations on tuna harvesting.

Needless to say, I watched it long enough to turn my stomach, an then moved on.

stripersnipr · 08-17-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

..on Discovery channel last night?
I tuned in, expecting to see guys actually fishing for tuna the way it should be. Instead, I see these jerks (they don't qualify as fishermen in any sense of the word) "corralling" tuna by luring them into a net with anchovies. Where the hell is the sport in that?
These Aussie a$$holes are more concerned that they won't make their goal of $20 million worth of tuna in one trip. If these types of "tuna-rapers" are allowed to continue and (God-forbid) flourish, we can kiss tuna goodbye. These "guys" are wiping out entire schools of tuna in one shot. I guess the rest of the world (or at least the southern hemisphere) has no regulations on tuna harvesting.

Needless to say, I watched it long enough to turn my stomach, an then moved on.

I dont think these guys much care about or or claim to be "Sport" fishing. 20 million bucks can drive people to do almost anything I think.

kippy · 08-17-2007, 11:08 AM

I taped it but haven't watched it yet. Based upon the reviews I may just delete it.

striperman36 · 08-17-2007, 11:12 AM

ever see those shots of a tuna purse seiner driving the tuna into the net with boats?
Or high seas drift nets 20 miles long?

It's a business, just like any other harvesting of wild fish. Unfortunately effiency has the industry overfishing the supply.

spence · 08-17-2007, 11:26 AM

It was pretty amazing really...they corral the tuna into pens and literally drag the pens into the harbor for processing.

They have a quota, and have to put any fish over quota back where they caught them...80 miles out.

As long as the species is being properly managed, who really cares how they catch them, especially if it's going to deliver a better product and reduce (or eliminate) bycatch?

-spence

FishermanTim · 08-17-2007, 12:14 PM

Maybe it's just me, but seeing how they are corralling entire schools of tuna, it seems that they may soon have to enlarge their range if there are fewer schools in their own region. (Kind of like the Japanese fishing fleets having to traverse the globe for fish because they depleted their own ocean.

(It would be like having fishing fleets corral all the stripers in Cape Cod Bay. They wouldn't be taking "ALL" the stripers from New England waters, but just from that bay. They wouldn't be taking all the fish, just all the mature, breeders. Then when the bay is empty, they'd have to "expand" their fishing range to the South Shore or to Buzzards Bay.)

If this is how all tuna fishing is done, then I apologize for my rant. I just thought it would be a little more like the tuna fishing of old, where you had to fish for them, not lure them into a pen with bait.

beamie · 08-17-2007, 05:42 PM

FT,

This is also the way the BIG purse seiners catch thier Giant BF on Stellwagon and all over CC Bay. Last year there were 5 of them, not sure how many are in the area now. But they have a quota, seperate from the other catogories. Disheartening yes but it is the business................

boot man · 08-17-2007, 10:23 PM

Are Tuna endangered?

Is the fishery managed efficiently? Do you know? Is it different than king crabbing in Alaska?

These guys (who are called a$$holes and jerks in the posts above) are making a legal living, putting food on the table. They are not Sport Fishing, reserved for those that can afford to do it Who are you to say which way is the "way it should be"?

Sorry for the rant but as the son of an immigrant who made a living as a commercial fisherman right here in New England, I get the occassional laugh out of rod and reelers who say that's the "way it should be".

Just my opinion....

Jon G · 08-19-2007, 11:05 AM

Those guys are getting paid like everyone else, for a hard days work, whats the problem, its legal and its their job.

Adam_777 · 08-19-2007, 11:24 AM

Some big nets and big money.I'd do it just like I'd go on deadliest catch.Never happen but if the offer came about I would do it.Try anything once or twice.The show if thats what it is was kind of boring IMO .They wait then wait then wait.

riverrat2 · 08-19-2007, 06:22 PM

The ocean CAN be used like a farm if managed correctly. It did seem like the aussies had it pretty well managed, whats the difference if they take a big chunk of there quota in one shot instead of over a longer period of time. Its the same argument the rec guys have a bout commercial bass, in the the end it is the rec group that harvests more fish than the commercial.

FishermanTim · 08-20-2007, 11:33 AM

Believe me, I do understand the right to earn a living.
I think the thing that got me was the fact that the show was promoted as "Tuna Wranglers", which would lead most of us to believe they were going to be fighting the fish, like on a rod and reel.
Instead, the show was like a very dull "Deadliest Catch" knock-off.

If tuna are being harvested by fleets with nets, so be it. I can't argue there, particularly if there are quotas in place, and I've enjoyed the fruits of their harvest.

I should have been more specific in my original "rant".
I expected to see a show about CATCHING tuna, not HARVESTING tuna.