Seal Beach 3/27

[Schmalzy88]

Originally Posted by William Novotny

Are you eating the Ray?

i suggested it but he wanted to release it, so back to the big blue it went (or big brown as seal beach goes)

[William Novotny]

Originally Posted by Schmalzy88

i suggested it but he wanted to release it, so back to the big blue it went (or big brown as seal beach goes)

Why in the HELL would you pier gaff a fish with a huge rusty weighted treble hook, hoist it onto a pier then release it? YOU NEVER GAFF A FISH YOU DON'T PLAN TO KEEP. That fish is more then likely going to die a slow death from infection. If you are going to the pier to fish for any fish that you may want to safely release PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a hoop net. I've safely caught thresher shark off the pier, landed them with a hoop net and released them. A big part of this lifestyle is a respect for our fishery.

[Schmalzy88]

i understand the concern with gaffing and releasing and was not an ideal situation. i have a tremendous amount of respect for fishing and fish as well. it was such a big and beautiful fish that it deserved to live. i've caught much smaller various rays with gaff scars who survived. it was a small puncture in a the wing of a massive fish with a NEW gaff hook. i respect your opinion and in the future i will be sure to bring a net for a more responsible catch and release. the last thing either of us want to do is be disrespectful to any creature as beautiful as this.

[Sully1]

Ouch!!! I think it would be a safe assumption that a gaffed animal will die. I'd also recommend a hoop net or safely releasing the fish from your yak.

[viti]

catch and release fail

[jorluivil]