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[bart]

heard of black drum up here before...

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by bart

heard of black drum up here before...

Nope.

[bart]

wow, that was in-depth response

[LeCounts1099]

Thanks, Bryan!


Simply put, I can't imagine there being any valid argument that lifting 25+ lbs. of Bass by its jaw, can't but hurt it's chances of survival!


Besides, despite what Bill & his Mentor say about "all fisherman..." Why weigh any Bass but what you're keeping/ killing?

I know I for one can eyeball any Striper to be released, even in- water mostly, in the deep night... & give you an accurate weight estimate within 2- 3 lbs. (max error on a bigger fish!) And I'll be closer to 1 lb. + or - most times I assure! (Forget what I've seen or not lifetime: my PB boated is 49 lbs.!)

Yes, my friends have tested this ability of mine-- & lost beers betting against me here!

Bogas aren't necessary to either land... nor control big Bass-- nor to tell you what one to be released weighs! Experience & your eyes will do that for you fine! (OR: if you must: weigh them in a large net... hooking up only the net- frame to the scale... still not as advisable as no weighing if releasing... but light- years more friendly to the Bass, than lip- weighing is!)

(Save the Bogas for pesky Blues if you must carry them! Better than grabbing them by the eyes or hard around the gills as I see many do! )

[piemma]

Originally Posted by LeCounts1099

Thanks, Bryan!


Simply put, I can't imagine there being any valid argument that lifting 25+ lbs. of Bass by its jaw, can't but hurt it's chances of survival!


Besides, despite what Bill & his Mentor say about "all fisherman..." Why weigh any Bass but what you're keeping/ killing?

I know I for one can eyeball any Striper to be released, even in- water mostly, in the deep night... & give you an accurate weight estimate within 2- 3 lbs. (max error on a bigger fish!) And I'll be closer to 1 lb. + or - most times I assure! (Forget what I've seen or not lifetime: my PB boated is 49 lbs.!)

Yes, my friends have tested this ability of mine-- & lost beers betting against me here!

Bogas aren't necessary to either land... nor control big Bass-- nor to tell you what one to be released weighs! Experience & your eyes will do that for you fine! (OR: if you must: weigh them in a large net... hooking up only the net- frame to the scale... still not as advisable as no weighing if releasing... but light- years more friendly to the Bass, than lip- weighing is!)

(Save the Bogas for pesky Blues if you must carry them! Better than grabbing them by the eyes or hard around the gills as I see many do! )

Great Post!!
I agree with all you have said but the problem remains that most guys only think they have see/caught a 30 # bass. I have seen guys with 25# fish that have bet me that it was 40#. They lost.
I also can eyeball within a couple of pounds but it takes years of experience to do that.
When Bryan and I were in the surf togther we would guess the weight of every fish we kept and were always within a pound or 2.

The boga is for the new firshermen who can't estimate yet. (Now the disclaimer so I don't get my a$$ in a sling)
Not that being a newbie is a bad thing or that using a Boga is a bad thing or asking a bunch of questions is a bad thing. There I think I covered myself.

[WadingWill]

So hooking a fish through it's mouth and pulling it through the water agianst it's will while it's pulling back as hard as it can, is more harmful than using a boga? I only use the boga for fish I keep and bluefish, but it's a helpful tool for tag and release guys as well. That way they can get accurate weights instead of estimates. There are plenty of people who use bogas who are not new fisherman.

[Sea Dangles]

I usually carry a boga to verify the guesses. This is how you know if you are close with the guess. It's easy to tell a 23# from a 28# but when the fish get to picture taking size you can be surprised more than you think. And yes it is a 60# boga. I like to know what I am talking about rather than just saying I know or guessing.