How to release big lure-caught tunas

[Bada Bing]

Originally Posted by Fred Archer

I got bad news for you, Bing....

Read 'em and weep! English conversion (not by me) of present Pesca regs for all of Mexico. I lived by them for many years and back then, you could take five dorado. They have since cut that down too. This applies to boats as well as people...in other words, yes it is the boat limit. I would love to be wrong on this, but please check it out for yourself. I honestly don't have the time to.

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS

In ocean waters and estuaries the limit is a total of ten fish per person per day, with no more than 5 catches of a single specie, except of the species of Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish and Shark, of which only one specimen from this group is allowed per day, and which counts a five toward the overall 10 fish limit, or Dorado, Roosterfish, Shad, or Tarpon, of which only two samples from this group are allowed, and which count as five toward the overall 10 fish limit.

I'm sorry Fred but I'm a bit confused. What you've quoted is nothing more than what I have already stated and in that there is no reference to BOAT limits. If you don't have time to do the proper research don't make the statement. I got a feeling there's many out here who are gonna disagree with you on such an important piece of info. You are wrong Fred, do the research.

[Jaydog]

Mr. Archer you have quoted the truth but not read it unfortunately.

[BigJoe]

Having had many conversations about this subject with CONAPESCA San Diego, I can clearly verify it is a per person limit not a boat limit. The rule that is broken most often is the limit of fishing with only one rod/pole per angler. In addition there is a stipulation that only one hook be on that one line/rod/pole unless fishing for bottom fish in which case up to four hooks are allowed.

[Fred Archer]

You guys are right about the letter of the law, but Eric Bricston, among others, has posted reports of the Mex Navy stopping and busting people for the "boat limit" thing. And I know for a fact that that was the case in Cabo for a long time, but that may well have been a Port Captain's rules (somethng that can and does happen in Mexico), or whatever. Doesn't matter. If you guys are confident about the limits, and from what I am looking at now (and I read before I posted it, thank you. I wasn't about to change what the current law is and what my experience was.), you are right, I stand corrected and hope you all limit out on every trip.

And that "one rod per angler" thing is right too, but everyone, including me, violated that one in Cabo and I never heard of a single incident where it was enforced. I am sure that I wasn't the only one who didn't even know that law existed, and that included the Pesca guys.

Anyhoo, thanks for setting me straight.

[MikeyLikesIt]

Fred, I think you just blew the whole "know it all" complaint right out of the water....

[Rubberhook2]

When I fished Clipperton Island we would catch on average 15 large tuna per day per angler yet were only able to keep one due to fish hold limitations. Alot of those fish were hooked on jigs (PL 68's). The crew was very proficient in releasing these fish while at the same time getting your jig back. Similar to the release poles pictured above the crew would use the standard bamboo boat gaff. While the angler would keep the rod tip down and pull in the opposite direction the crewman would use the gaff point to wrap the exposed hook and pull in the opposite direction. A couple of tugs and the jig would just pop out and the tuna would swim away without ever having to be taken out of the water.

As far as the pic of the yellowfin gaffed through the roof of its mouth and removed from the water it sure seems there is a lot of blood pouring out of that fish onto the deck. I doubt that fish would actually survive if released.

[dru]

Originally Posted by Rubberhook2

As far as the pic of the yellowfin gaffed through the roof of its mouth and removed from the water it sure seems there is a lot of blood pouring out of that fish onto the deck. I doubt that fish would actually survive if released.

Thought the same thing...I don't see where stinking a sharp object into a fishes head results in the best release method. Sure, you could get lucky and not do damage, but the more likely result is the one pictured. I'm all for advice from knowledgeable fisherman, just don't see the jist of this technique.

[Fred Archer]

You guys are right about that one particular tuna probably not making it and that size gaff in that position being hard on the fish, but as I pointed out in my original post, a bigger gaff was used in the photo to give an idea of how it's done. I also said that in practice, we used a smaller, dull gaff (that nearly always slid over to the thin membrane at the outside edges of the mouth, where they did less damage than most hooks). And, of course, we never pulled fish out of the water, like in the picture. My crew got very, very good at this and that, combined with the barbless hooks that we used, mostly circles and always in hollow squids, resulted in very fast, clean releases that spared one helluva lot of tuna lives. Please know that I am the first to say, as I do in my books, "if you are going to release a fish, for cryin' out loud, release a healthy one!"

Those long range guys are so good with their gaffs, I suspect that some could gaff a fly off an elephant's ass without the elephant even knowing it! With a few exceptions, the average, or even pretty active private boater isn't in the same class.

We have been using those ARC DeHookers for a long time now and never use the original small, dull gaff anymore. Those things do the job better and faster and with less trauma for the fish than anything that I have ever seen, plus, when it comes to the sharks, I don't want a gaff anywhere near their faces for a lot of reasons. The ARC is just unbeatable for those puppies and the way they keep the hook from re-hooking a deeply hooked shark is terrific and not a lot of skill is required, which is nice too.

Thanks for the inputs. It's good to see some others out there who are interested in not only releasing big tunas, but healthy ones to boot. That's all good and I'm sorry that I didn't make myself clear.

And that tuna in the picture did go in the box. He was just an unfortunate model. Pretty fish, though. Not a big one by LR standards, but not bad for us little boat people!

Here is how the chasebaits the I literally catch all of my tunas on and have for years, along with a cut-out of the entire rigging. Then, there is a cow with a tag in her back, about to get ARC'd. Check out how small that chasebait is and where the hook is...big tunas eat lots of little bait. It's whale food, after all. Good stuff for building strong bones and muscles, don'tchaknow?

[StillinScrubs]

I am glad to see that bloody decks is adding some comedy to the forums....this is funny.

[DaGoose]

Originally Posted by StillinScrubs

I am glad to see that bloody decks is adding some comedy to the forums....this is funny.

OK Albert, just what is it that's so funny?

The notion that a man can catch enough big tuna that he actually releases them or perhaps it's because you would never consider such an act...........

Do tell please!

Rick

[StillinScrubs]

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS

In ocean waters and estuaries the limit is a total of ten fish per day, with no more than 5 catches of a single specie, except of the species of Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish and Shark, of which only one specimen of either is allowed, and which counts a five toward the overall 10 fish limit, or Dorado, Roosterfish, Shad, or Tarpon, of which only two samples of each specie are allowed, and which count a five toward the overall 10 fish limit.***

[*** Note: As explained by the Department of Fisheries office in San Diego, this means that if you catch 1 marlin (5 points) and 1 dorado (5 points), you have reached your limit for the day.
Other examples of full Mexican limits would be: 2 dorado; 1 dorado plus 5 miscellaneous species; or, 1 roosterfish plus 1 dorado.-- B.A.R.]

Limit on inland bodies of water (rivers, lakes, dams, etc.) is five fish per day, whether of a single specie or in combination.
Underwater fishing is limited to five fish per day, using rubber band or spring type harpoons, and only while skin-diving.
There is no limit to the practice of "catch and release," as long as the fish that exceed the bag limit be returned to their environment in good survival condition.
Where sport-fishing is conducted from boats out at sea for longer than three days, the bag limit will be the equivalent of three times the amounts mentioned above.


I can google the correct limits.....I catch and release and I can catch plenty in a day....but I would only release a healthy fish, it is the responsible thing to do...but to imply to people that the above is a boats limit is PURE comedy.

[DaGoose]

Originally Posted by StillinScrubs

.I catch and release and I can catch plenty in a day....but I would only release a healthy fish, it is the responsible thing to do...but to imply to people that the above is a boats limit is PURE comedy.

StillinScrubs,

There is no "pure comedy" to be found in your post. Show some respect to those that deserve it.

Then go fuck thyself.

Best wishes towards that end.

Rick

BTW: How's the tuna bite in Nashville these days anyways?