WFOctopi

[BT]

Originally Posted by old_rookie

Anything special I need to know to unhook one of them if I get one? I keep thinking sharp beaks, but that's squid.

When I caught mine it was a mess cause it was wrapped in a sabiki. I never saw a beak, but my buddy told me they have one. Most ones I have seen out here are small and you can handle them with your hands. If you get one of the larger models, you can use your paddle or gaff so they grab onto that and then use pliers to get the hook/s out. They arent fast by any means. Once I got him loose onto my gaff, I got him in my bait tank and filled it with water.

Once I figured out where "the neck" was I used my gaff to get a hold of him, and I cut all around the top of the tentacles almost separating the head from the legs. When you cut in on the larger ones you will hit a very hard section. Just cut around the top of the legs till you hit this. Then I put him in a plastic bag and back into the bait tank to keep him cool. I dont know if this is the right way, but my buddy used to get them out of the rocks (smaller models), stretch them out and bite their neck off. He said the one I got came out perfect. So I figured my way was pretty close.

They are a messy and slimy I will let you know that right now. Except the suckers of course.

[Phatford]

Saw you out there... I was in the Green Outback. I kept fishing the rocks and ended up catching a bunch of smaller Starys... I found a lot of nice rocks and fish marks but nothing was really going off.

[Drewtang]

Originally Posted by Phatford

Saw you out there... I was in the Green Outback. I kept fishing the rocks and ended up catching a bunch of smaller Starys... I found a lot of nice rocks and fish marks but nothing was really going off.

Good to see you on here. Yeah, nothing besides the 8-armed critters were doing much of anything. Hope to see you out here soon. Perhaps the ghosts will make an appearance after all. Shhhh.

As far as size, the octopi were quite small. Nothing to write home about.

[old_rookie]

Originally Posted by BT

When I caught mine it was a mess cause it was wrapped in a sabiki. I never saw a beak, but my buddy told me they have one. Most ones I have seen out here are small and you can handle them with your hands. If you get one of the larger models, you can use your paddle or gaff so they grab onto that and then use pliers to get the hook/s out. They arent fast by any means. Once I got him loose onto my gaff, I got him in my bait tank and filled it with water.

Once I figured out where "the neck" was I used my gaff to get a hold of him, and I cut all around the top of the tentacles almost separating the head from the legs. When you cut in on the larger ones you will hit a very hard section. Just cut around the top of the legs till you hit this. Then I put him in a plastic bag and back into the bait tank to keep him cool. I dont know if this is the right way, but my buddy used to get them out of the rocks (smaller models), stretch them out and bite their neck off. He said the one I got came out perfect. So I figured my way was pretty close.

They are a messy and slimy I will let you know that right now. Except the suckers of course.

Why do you keep them? To eat or for bait?
I was thinking that it might start wrapping itself around my legs or arms while I try to unhook it. The paddle/gaff idea is good. Saw a video last night of a big one taking down a shark!!

[maui jim]

MMMMMMMMM...........TAKO.........

[BT]

Originally Posted by old_rookie

Why do you keep them? To eat or for bait?
I was thinking that it might start wrapping itself around my legs or arms while I try to unhook it. The paddle/gaff idea is good. Saw a video last night of a big one taking down a shark!!

To eat. They are for a coworker of mine. Loves octopus. Made a huge salad out of the one I gave him. The small ones you could grab and they dont hurt as much as the larger models. The one I gave him was larger than anyone he had ever caught, and I didnt want to get near the suckers. If you cut around the top of the legs (the neck)that kills them and are easier to handle...kinda. Once you kill them they go limp, and then they are a slimy sticky mess that is tricky to hold onto...