- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: 167# First Place Tarpon
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:02 pm to KG6
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:02 pm to KG6
quote:
Florida fisherman are a bit hypocritical.
Agreed. Fishing became cool some time over the last several years, and with that came a lot of hipsters more concerned with how they look in an Instagram picture than actually fishing. Florida seems to be a breeding ground for that type.
2
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:18 pm to bluemoons
quote:
with that came a lot of hipsters more concerned with how they look in an Instagram picture than actually fishing
:slowlylookstoleftatavatar:
I know what you mean. People don't realize that a lot of people here care too. I know Captain Coon and several others participated and least at one time in tag and release programs to track tarpon for research. They care about the fish and definitely don't want it to go anywhere. But he'd weigh (and has) a tournament winning fish when given the chance.
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:26 pm to bluemoons
Yep. I call it the Mosquito Lagoon effect
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:37 pm to KG6
quote:
But he'd weigh (and has) a tournament winning fish when given the chance.
But why? Why spend all that time and effort catching, tagging, and safely releasing Tarpon only to turn around and kill one for weight? The fish is worth far more alive than dead.
I understand that the Tarpon rodeo is no way damages the population but killing the fish also doesn't do anyone any good. We aren't gaining anything from hanging them, so why do it?
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:44 pm to bluemoons
quote:
Again, I think that "who is doing it more" is irrelevant.
I agree 100% with this statement. One side just seems to like pointing the finger a little more than the other. To your other points, I simply disagree that there's a difference between "wantonly" killing a fish and "accidentally" killing one when you knew there was a significant risk of that before you hooked it. Neither practice is admirable to me, and I think both sides make it worse from a PR standpoint you brought up by slinging mud at each other.
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:49 pm to Barf
quote:
We aren't gaining anything from hanging them, so why do it?
We aren't gaining anything from catching them period, besides the thrill of it. Some people enjoy the competitive nature of the weigh in tournaments, some like dragging the fish into the shallows for a picture. As long as the population isn't suffering I don't think either practice deserves to be called immoral.
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:56 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
I simply disagree that there's a difference between "wantonly" killing a fish and "accidentally" killing one when you knew there was a significant risk of that before you hooked it.
So in other words we should close all catch and release fisheries? If there is zero sustainable creel limit and/or no commercial value, the species should not be fished?
Bones are a good example of catch and release only. They have no value dead whatsoever. Since we can't willfully kill a bonefish for the purpose of sport, we should not fish them at all because they have a post release mortality rate?
You're presenting this as a very If/Then subject, and it's not that simple. There is a huge difference between catch and release of sport fish and hauling a dead fish that has aboslutly zero value to the scales.
Posted on 8/4/16 at 1:59 pm to Barf
Guy devotes his entire life to Tarpon. Catching the big one. Winning, what to him and his family is the biggest deal in tarpon fishing, is kind of a big deal. Having his name in the record books (having pretty much the only lure used in LA named after him (or his son) is pretty awesome too). Coon charters for the rodeo, but I believe he cuts a deal with the people on the boat, that if he catches it on a casting line, it's his fish. He's such a good tarpon fisherman, people would still rather go with him even if he is slightly concentrating on his own goals (not that it in any way affects how hard he works for you).
Why do people kill deer and mount them? It's really f**king stupid if you think about it. Let's kill that deer because it's horns are big. They aren't doing it for the meat (although they do eat it). It's a lifestyle and the pinnacle of that lifestyle would be to have your name in the record books.
Doesn't mean you WANT to kill the fish. And if it truly hurt the ecosystem, I'm sure 99% of people wouldn't.
Why do people kill deer and mount them? It's really f**king stupid if you think about it. Let's kill that deer because it's horns are big. They aren't doing it for the meat (although they do eat it). It's a lifestyle and the pinnacle of that lifestyle would be to have your name in the record books.
Doesn't mean you WANT to kill the fish. And if it truly hurt the ecosystem, I'm sure 99% of people wouldn't.
Posted on 8/4/16 at 2:04 pm to Barf
quote:
So in other words we should close all catch and release fisheries? If there is zero sustainable creel limit and/or no commercial value, the species should not be fished?
That's a strawman. I haven't asserted one time that tarpon shouldn't be targeted at all. I've simply pointed out the hypocrisy of bemoaning others killing tarpon while you are in fact killing tarpon. I think what's sustainable for any population is the final judge, and what you and I think moral or immoral is irrelevant.
Posted on 8/4/16 at 2:25 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
That's a strawman.
I guess. It just seems that you're putting post release mortality on the same level as hanging a dead fish for weight and throwing it out afterwards. I'm having a hard time understand how the two are related.
A lot of it is context as well. If the rodeo did something other than toss the dead fish in the water like a piece of garbage, I feel that we wouldn't be having this conversation. You don't see dead marlin being throw in the marina at the bill fish tour tournaments.
It's weird for me. In a way it's disrespectful.
Posted on 8/4/16 at 2:28 pm to KG6
quote:
Why do people kill deer and mount them? It's really f**king stupid if you think about it. Let's kill that deer because it's horns are big. They aren't doing it for the meat (although they do eat it).
Doe > Buck
All day, errday
Posted on 8/4/16 at 5:00 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
I agree 100% with this statement. One side just seems to like pointing the finger a little more than the other. To your other points, I simply disagree that there's a difference between "wantonly" killing a fish and "accidentally" killing one when you knew there was a significant risk of that before you hooked it. Neither practice is admirable to me, and I think both sides make it worse from a PR standpoint you brought up by slinging mud at each other.
Fair enough. I agree with your mudslinging comment as well. I guess to me the difference lies with going out with the goal of killing a tarpon (or other gamefish), or going fishing and doing what you can to release the fish safely.
I'm going bonefishing again in October. I have zero intention of killing any of those fish, and I'd feel pretty lame if a cuda smoked one as soon as I released it. To me, that would be different than going bonefishing with the goal of loading an ice chest with fish I can't eat just to measure them for weight. I certainly understand the point though, and my fish that gets eaten by a cuda is just as dead as fish that I kill intentionally. My intentions don't matter at that point.
I also understand completely that we're talking about such a small portion of the fish population here. Frankly, my dead fish means nothing in the grand scheme of things, and doesn't hurt the fish population. I just feel it's kinda my responsibility as a fishermen to respect the fish as best I can.
FWIW, I also release plenty of redfish and trout into my ice chest.
quote:
It's weird for me. In a way it's disrespectful
I agree with that too.
Man I'm getting old.
This post was edited on 8/4/16 at 5:02 pm
Posted on 8/5/16 at 8:37 am to TheDrunkenTigah
Just an analogy for thought:
Driving a car carries a significant risk of injury or death, to yourself or others, but most try to do so as safely as they can. Many people drive everyday,some just for fun,and many people are injured or killed everyday as a result. That's quite a bit different than intentionally murdering someone.
I understand what you're saying. A dead fish is a dead fish and it affects the health of the population the same way. But when you add the human element and public perception of respect for the animal and the fisheries, the difference between catch and release as safely as possible and intentionally killing a fish just to weigh it then toss it is very real.
Driving a car carries a significant risk of injury or death, to yourself or others, but most try to do so as safely as they can. Many people drive everyday,some just for fun,and many people are injured or killed everyday as a result. That's quite a bit different than intentionally murdering someone.
I understand what you're saying. A dead fish is a dead fish and it affects the health of the population the same way. But when you add the human element and public perception of respect for the animal and the fisheries, the difference between catch and release as safely as possible and intentionally killing a fish just to weigh it then toss it is very real.
Posted on 8/5/16 at 9:16 am to pt448
quote:
Driving a car carries a significant risk of injury or death, to yourself or others, but most try to do so as safely as they can. Many people drive everyday,some just for fun,and many people are injured or killed everyday as a result. That's quite a bit different than intentionally murdering someone.
This thread has kind of run its course, but I will say I think your analogy is a little off. Driving a car is necessary in daily life and carries with it a very small amount of inherent risk.
A more appropriate version of this analogy would be driving recklessly. I'm tempted to throw drunk driving in there but I don't want anyone to get their panties in a wad thinking I'm comparing drunk driving to catching a fish. Still, the point is that you've made a decision to do something, not because you need to but simply because you want to, that carries a pretty large risk of something bad happening. If someone drives 130 on the interstate and kills someone, he may not be in the same league as an axe murderer, but he's definitely forfeited his right to throw stones at the murderer. All I'm saying is catch and release fishermen seem to love to throw stones.
Posted on 8/8/16 at 2:22 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
Just going to drop this off here and go on about my business..
Posted on 8/8/16 at 2:31 pm to 34venture
Rustlin rustlin rustlin
Posted on 8/8/16 at 4:15 pm to 34venture
Gotta teach to kill em young
Posted on 8/8/16 at 4:44 pm to TurtleSS208
All this talk about tarpon rodeo, ans no titty pictures 
Page 6 of 6
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News