Yet another Giant Sea Bass killed

[Thiad]

Once you have hooked a fish and pulled it out of the water to identify it, what's the likelihood of it surviving if returned to the water? I ask because I honestly don't know.

A friend of mine who deep sea fishes mentioned that a few years back. By the time the fish makes it to the surface, he said they're usually dead or well on their way to being dead. But, you still can't bring the fish onboard and if you do, you risk the fines.

I know a lot of sport shops that sell licenses seem to stock the F&G guides - many right next to the cash register (it probably is a requirement if they sell a license??). Ignorance of the rules and regulations is nothing more than someone being lazy. Maybe start slapping people with serious fines? Take away your ability to get a license for 5 to 10 years?

 

[Hank49]

A friend of mine who deep sea fishes mentioned that a few years back. By the time the fish makes it to the surface, he said they're usually dead or well on their way to being dead. But, you still can't bring the fish onboard and if you do, you risk the fines.

If grouper are brought up from the deep and their swim bladder is sticking out of their mouth, I think they're done for. I've heard you can deflate it with something and they go back down but I would think it might get an infection or some other problems.
But the catch and release rules are a little shady. I was at the pier at Sebastian Inlet in FL watching people fish. There was a game warden making sure no one had a mutton snapper or other fish less than 16 inches. I watched a couple of obviously inexperienced fisherkids pull one up and than take 5 minutes wrestling with it as it flopped around on the hot cement before they could get it off the hook. There is little chance that the fish would survive that. But, they had to throw it back.

 

[Peter_C]

If grouper are brought up from the deep and their swim bladder is sticking out of their mouth, I think they're done for. I've heard you can deflate it with something and they go back down but I would think it might get an infection or some other problems.

Some of the local boats are starting to use a lead weight rigged with a release that once back at the bottom they cut the fish loose. Supposedly they have a better chance of surviving going back to the deep water. Otherwise if they are fishing deeper all the catch pretty much dies. Of course it is nature and something will eat them, or so trying to see the bright side goes.

Catching fish and releasing them is hard on them, but most survive if taken from shallow depths. Even a hook left in the mouth doesn't mean it is going to die.

 

[Hank49]

Some of the local boats are starting to use a lead weight rigged with a release that once back at the bottom they cut the fish loose. Supposedly they have a better chance of surviving going back to the deep water. Otherwise if they are fishing deeper all the catch pretty much dies. Of course it is nature and something will eat them, or so trying to see the bright side goes.

Catching fish and releasing them is hard on them, but most survive if taken from shallow depths. Even a hook left in the mouth doesn't mean it is going to die.

I've shot a few cuberas with hooks in their mouth.
A guy was here from Texas last year and said that the worst is when guys fly fish for strong fish like permit. The fight for a long time on the light tackle and go back in the water exhausted.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Broomtail groupers,

Mycteroperca xenarcha​

near the Redondo Beach breakwall

 

[TSandM]

Well, if the fish don't survive being pulled up, is there any way to modify one's fishing technique to avoid catching these particular fish? It seems less than productive to allow the act of fishing, which kills the fish before the person holding the pole knows what they have, and then punish the person for having pulled up the wrong sort of fish.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ocal/archives/j_f_05_16-19.pdf

Giant Sea Bass Release Device

 

[TSandM]

Interesting information, Max, thank you. Maybe this will help any fishermen/divers who might read this thread, too.

 

[Divebum Don]

Awesome Vids and lucky divers! The elusive Broomtail, Sweet!

There is some gadgetry available to help the deep fish recover from surfacing, but it's all a little weird...

 

[drbill]

Actually giant sea bass can survive being brought up since they generally are in "shallow" water during the summer mating season. Puncturing the air bladder with a knife or ice pick is the old way anglers would try to deflate the bladder so they could swim back down, but this carries a strong risk of infection and death. I know of several anglers who have accidentally caught one and then swam it down to depth by holding onto it. That would be preferable.

By the way... a report last night of a great white taking and eating a giant sea bass right off Avalon Bay. No particular yet, but it apparently was witnessed by a broadbill boat anchored off the dive park.