[TunaFvr]

Everyone has their own opinions on this subject. Yes, we encourge the use of the rail, that does not mean we don't let someone fish from a stand-up harness if they so desire too. If a passenger is fishing for IGFA records then, of course, you can not let the rod touch the rail. For comsumption by the general public, the rail technique is easier to learn, more agile, and does put more fish on the deck, the landeing ratio goes way up. It can be extremely hard to manuver while in a harness and there are five to ten other cows hanging at the same time.
I think JD should not put us down for the season we are haveing. If anything this would be the culmination of what the fleet strives for, to put our passengers fish of a lifetime on the deck. The long range fleet has come along way through trail and error to be able to put the fish on that we do. We(not speaking for every boat) have used the rail for over eighteen years now, but that is not the sole reason we land these fish. It is the whole scope of long-range boats, captians, crews, knowledge of the area and of tuna, inventing and reinventing tackle and refinment of techniques, passengers that have progressed beyond the bygone standard of catching and killing everything to putting in the time of looking for the quaility bigger fish.

The fish are there and they are biting, that is what this thing really comes down too. We are doing what we always have done, gone down there, show our passengers a good time and catch some fish. It just happens that half of the fish we are catching this year are over 200lbs. Not to down play this at all, it is the best of the best, a much needed boost for the industry on a whole, from ringed hooks to reels to filling our boats for next year.

Of course there will always be sour grapes, by some people. It is too bad that he is not looking at he positive of this situation and reveling in the prospects of next year, but only making his own news by down gradeing a technique that has been around alot of years and has helped many, many, people to reliaze thier dream.

These our my personnel views as I am not the representitive of the long range fleet, I only work there.