[B.Attitude]

Bucktail,
I can handle,wire and gaff any fish that you can reel in.Then I will still put a bullet in it. 293lb mako is a nice fish,did you swing it in live? I would of blown his head off.
Is it maybe you can't handle a bang stick?
Are you afraid of one? If you practice safety,you won't get hurt,I promise.
paulie

"Fishing with an Attitude"







This message was edited by B.Attitude on 3-3-02 @ 9:27 AM

 

[CAPTSEANB]

I feel that any method an angler uses to bring a fish inside the boat(that lessens the chance of an accident) is a good thing.There are many arguments for and against,flying gaffs,harpoons,firearms,etc.I prefer to dart(in the head) the fish boatside,and then(if it doesn't run)shoot it in the head.In the case of giant bluefins,the buyers love to see a well placed bullet hole,because they know the fish was brought in without beating itself(or the crew) up.Up north it is basically a sign of professionals.Why wouldn't the same logic prevail for a fish you wanted for your own table?The most important thing(for safety) on the water is to keep a level head.A fool that thinks it is "macho" to boat a green fish is just that, a FOOL!!!

Capt.Sean Bradshaw



This message was edited by CAPTSEANB on 3-3-02 @ 11:56 AM

 

[B.Attitude]

CAPT. Sean,
I agree with what you said 100%,especially the last line.
paulie

"Fishing with an Attitude"

This message was edited by B.Attitude on 3-3-02 @ 11:39 AM

 

[Scalawag]

How can using a bang stick to make sure the shark is dead before bringing him into the boat spark ANY controversy whatsoever?
Whats the insinuation, its more sporting to let him die slowly & frail around the deck biting off the crew's extremities ?
The only issue would be the fact that you have to be very carefull with firearms out there,
no moral issues with finishing off a dangerous fish you just reeled in you plan on keeping for dinner. The only guns I really like are water pistols.
Alan

 

[bucktail]

b.attitude: My response was not about bringing a LIVE shark into the boat, no one in their right mind would do that, my point is that I don"t see the sport in shooting a shark at the boat.Also if yer fishing a tournament, the bang stick will not help you because shot sharks are disqualified.LATER

 

[B.Attitude]

Bucktail,
I know that your not allowed to shoot a shark for a tournament and I never called shooting a shark a sport.I do it for the safety of the crew and the boat.You mentioned that "if I couldn't handle it,don't do it",The way I see it is, I do the same exact thing that you do and more,we reel it in,wire the fish,gaff the fish,put a tail rope on the fish,put another rope around the head and then I shoot it.So I think I can handle it just fine.If you catch a shark at the end of the day and theres no time to hang it over the side,what do you do?Besides tying it off to cleats in the ****pit area how do you guarantee the safety of the crew on your return trip?

"Fishing with an Attitude"

This message was edited by B.Attitude on 3-3-02 @ 3:00 PM

 

[Guest]

Bad Attitude,
I have been on enough shark trips with you to know that with the exception of maybe Larry Festa, no one handles a dangerous Mako more safely than you.
But I think we might be missing some one elses theory on " sport fishing". After the wire man has done his job, and the fish is gaffed and safely tail roped and streched out between two cleats and the crew settles down, maybe we should try letting the shark slowly die needlessly and suffocate. Maybe we are missing some macho unknown enjoyment. I know that when we take a shark in tournaments I feel badly that we cant quickly end such a magnificent creatures struggle
but, who knows with a little practice maybe we can get off on watching the shark slowly die. Or
maybe we could tow it back ward and just drown it... Those nasty bang sticks.



This message was edited by Makomagic on 3-3-02 @ 4:44 PM

 

[Scalawag]

tsk tsk do I sense sarcasim here ? Glenn, I got the Yamaha hour meter @ fred Chall for $100, 3 wires plugs right into the 3 wires hanging off the control harness. Make sure you ask for " digital" model.

 

[Hipshot]

I think some people here are missing the point about BANG STICKS or FIREARMS dispatching sharks. No body is advocating taking pot shots at sharks or any other fish. They are just saying SAFETY IS FIRST. AFTER a shark is gaffed, tail roped and brought under control in the water, that is the time to use a bang stick so you don't have to tow this thing all over the ocean until it dies so you can SAFELY secure it in your boat. YES, IT SHOULD BE TIED OFF SECURELY IN THE BOAT EVEN IF YOU THINK IT'S DEAD! Remember, the battle has already been won, you are just guaranteeing the safety of your crew and trying to prevent unnecessary damage to your boat! Nobody is telling you what to do-they are only telling you WHAT THEY DO!
AMEN!

 

[Guest]

Hipshot.....Well said

 

[Scalawag]

Did you ever see on those Amazing Video type shows footage of guys putting thier hands in a sharks mouth that was thought to be dead ? Then everyone on the boats trying to pull the sharks mouth open so the dude can pull whats left of his arm out??
Ummmm thought da dang fish wuz dead now Is need 200 stitches and 2 pints of blood.
theres a couple videos out there in TV land Ive seen of that happening.
thats got to be the ultimate low IQ move.
Alan

 

[MakoMike]

Guys,
I'm not going to get into a discussion on the morality of using bangsticks. But for those of you concerned that that "dead" shark might come back to life, besides tying it off, another trick I use is to put its head in a five gallon bucket and tie it off to its body behind the dorsal.



===MakoMike===

 

[Hipshot]

Excuse me but I try to stay as fare away from a live shark as possible! I want to eat him! Not him eating me! BE CAREFUL OUT THERE GUYS!

 

[617921]

I purchased a .410 gauge "snake charmer" with hollow-point slugs. It's about 36" long, was real cheap ($120) & is nickel-plated with plastic furniture (with a nice, saw-like handle). I bring it on every shark trip- but the captain of the boat never lets me use it (afraid I will shoot a hole thru the hull). Instead, we hang the poor mako on the side of the boat for about four hours, then bring him in the transom door (he IS still moving)- at which point I jump on his back with welding gloves on & hold his cone, while my buddy cuts his head off as fast as he can with a hack saw! Maybe I will get a mako on my boat this year, and can try it out. I would imagine a 12 gauge makes a big hole & wreck any chance of a decent picture. Anyone ever use a hollow point slug or .45ACP?

 

[reelfun]

Guns that you have to aim are not a good idea on boats. Leave the 'snake charmer' home and invest in a 'bangstick'. Capt Bradshaw summed everything up very nicely. Anybody that has been there on a regular basis would have to agree. In addition to the equipment mentioned I carry a home made lance. It also comes in handy sometimes. Bottom line, if you don't like a 'bangstick' don't use one. Don't however think less of someone that does.
I don't want to mess with a 'pissed off'
mako any longer than I have to.

Capt Larry 'REEL FUN'

 

[620568]

I have been selling bangsticks and powerheads to the diving community for over 20 years and thought I would jump in with a few words of my own.
1. Bangsticks are best used with a blank instead of a bullet or shot. It is the expanding gasses that do the damage that counts and not a small piece of metal passing through. The force of the gas ball expands in all directions and provides a serious shock to the nervous system. Divers have been using 357 bangsticks successfully for years on aggressive sharks and many use nothing but blank cartridges. In fact, using a bullet lessens the damage done to the animal by providing an escape path for the expanding gasses.
2. You need to check with your local fisheries people about the legalities of using one in your area. In SC if is illegal to posses any fish that has been hit with a bang stick (as far as I have been able to find out, SC is the only state where it is completely illegal). In WA a bangstick can only be used with a blank cartridge to prevent the accidental ricochet of a bullet. However, owing a bangstick is not illegal unless you attach the powerhead to a shaft less than 18" long.
3. Good bangsticks aren't cheap and cheap ones aren't good. I have seen damage to a diver from a $39.95 powerhead on a fiberglass pole. The diving version is about $170 and the fishing version (much longer for boat use) is about $30 more. A good powerhead starts at around $90 and must be mounted on a stout pole.
4. Bang sticks have a little kick but nothing like a topside gin. In a rifle or pistol, the majority of the kick comes from air rushing back into the barrel after the bullet and the expanding gas ball has pushed out...the longer and bigger the barrel, the stronger the kick.
5. A little fingernail polish around the primer and the crimp will work great for waterproofing standard shells. For shotgun shells, a finger cot or non-lubricated condom tied over the shell works great.

I think that covers it.

Just my $.02

Ray


This post edited by Hunt n' Fish 03:00 PM 07/18/2011

 

[620574]

Well Placed Shot in Giant Tuna?????????

I agree with the use of a shotgun or bang stick if your going to keep a shark. I also now from experience if you want to keep a mako and don't want to shoot it (for you anti gun people), drag it backwards and rake its gills with a harpoon.

Now for the real question. I fish Giant Tuna (up north) and I have no idea what Capt Sean is talking about. I've fished tuna for 15 years and I have NEVER seen a Tuna with a bullet hole in it or had any buyer talk about wanting a well placed shot in the fish.

In fact Sean, they want you to drag them and bleed them out as much as possible by raking the gills and cutting the main artery in the side.

If you go and shoot a tuna you will be laughed off the dock.

 

[617301]

Marco-
You will be amazed to see that the bangstick has very little recoil, this is due to the fact that there is no 18-28" barrel which you are used to for birds and little critters, that is why they magnaport guns. Most of the energy will be exerted right into the target fish at point blank range, though they make a **** of a splash and you may get some flesh on ya but thats ok. Any pattern shot works well just dont use slugs, you want pattern because it will spread a bit and cause more shock to the fish than would a straight hole, It doesnt hurt to buy some magnum rounds like you would use for turkey, naturally they pack a bit more punch with 2 OZs of lead instead of 1 or 1 1/8 like taerget loads, Another key factor is placing the shot correctly, try and hit em between the gills and the eyes as much in line with the spine as you can, if u only have a top shot brain em. As for those who feel we should take our bangsticks hunting...stick a moose with a flyer, maybe attach a ball or barrel ya know just for kicks.....There is nothing wrong with using bangsticks for large fish as long as they are used correctly and responsibily, just not in tournaments!

HOOD

 

[Hipshot]

BANGSTICKS

Hey RAYZPLACE,
If I bought a condom at this stage in life what would my wife think---no matter what I told her!

Just kidding-your post was very informative!

 

[620399]

weapons on board

Not to change the subject or anything, but I'm from Ct and am looking to carry a Marlin 12 ga Mariner on board and am wondering what regulations I'll be looking at from NY, RI, and MA. Thanx.