Got Rail?

http404 · Dec-22-2005, 12:25 AM

Was looking at the fish report at www.jdsbiggame.com and found the following editorial comments. Wonder if he has ever caught a cow from a sportie.

Latest estimates this year puts the long range fleet taking 1,400 Yellowfin Tuna over 200 lbs, yet many of them were taken by that unsportsmanlike ( in my opinion) method of rail fishing- hooking a fish then laying the rod on the boats railing and using it as a lever to help winch the fish up out of the depths- to their discredit they only want you to fish that way, they figure that's the only way to land these fish -- it puts fish counts on their boats score only to encourage more bookings- - it should not be called sportfishing, it's not sport it's simply meat fishing not much different than hand line fishing, - To the credit of some of the other long range boats they do not encourage that method of rail fishing, there still is some challenge and sport with today's 2- Speed reels, super braid lines and composite fiber rods that lets the angler fight the fish using his or her angling skills. I know this discredit of catching these rail caught fish goes in the face of some of the fishing crowd- so be it- but where does it end- is the goal only to just land a fish for the boats ego or is there still some sport left in the game of angling--- JD

Baja Dreamer · Dec-22-2005, 01:28 AM

It's easy to flap your gums about something like this when you are catering to the "carriage trade" of Newport Beach who fish from primarily larger private boats, some with professional skippers, that can back down on a fish to gain line after all of the other lines have been cleared out of the way.

Using the rail to catch a fish when you have rigged your own tackle, serviced your own reel, selected and cast your own bait, sometimes on a rod you may have wrapped yourself, seems quite sporting to me. Even more so when you consider the tangles and other problems during the fight! Not to mention that you are also fishing from a dead boat while standing up and the only way you can gain line is by the strength of your own arm, back, and will!

The only thing that fish caught by the wood lack is the abilty to be submitted for record consideration. BFD!!!

Personaly, I think that JD needs to go catch a cow and a smile and STFU! :FU:

FISH HARD!

Chris

tunachris · Dec-22-2005, 07:41 AM

Fishing 4lb. test for large "carp", and never having the line tight after setting the hook is much more sporting. How does backing down with a 2000 HP private yacht, with the rod in a chair become more sporting than a 2+ hour stand-up fight with cow on a dead boat?

Double Z · Dec-22-2005, 07:57 AM

"not much different than hand line fishing"

Add, "The Old Man and the Sea." to the list of books he NEEDS to read.

jimm · Dec-22-2005, 09:49 AM

Yachties cant even catch these fish and they are ragging on those who can. Whatever!

Neill · Dec-22-2005, 09:50 AM

I saw that too and nearly posted it....

What a stupid comment...

Is this what billfisher's think of LR's....?

TunaFvr · Dec-22-2005, 10:04 AM

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.

http404 · Dec-22-2005, 10:13 AM

Bravo, well said Bruce!

TunaFvr · Dec-22-2005, 10:13 AM

By the way, you can add another 55 to that 1400

reel fun · Dec-22-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Steve K · Dec-22-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TunaFvr

By the way, you can add another 55 to that 1400

Nice job, Bruce; way to get 'em. This season has been truly phenomenal. Back in the middle of it when you all were getting beat up pretty bad, I read this from Bill Roecker's website. I then realized how amazing it was when you guys simply ran out of words to describe it:

"Everything's Been Said"

Bruce Smith docked Shogun at Fisherman's Landing November 13 following a ten-day trip with 23 fishermen aboard the wide 90-footer. I asked him what he had to say about the unprecedented cow bite on the southern banks.

"Everything's been said," commented Bruce. "This is the best big fish fishing we've ever seen."

jimm · Dec-22-2005, 11:31 AM

Well put Bruce. I agree whole heartedly! Congats on a historic season!