[baywatch]

I have had this discussion with some other people about Fly Fsihing for our beloved Stripped Bass.

Don't get me wrong but using this method and doing C& R with this type of fishing is more detrimanetal to the fish then anything I have heard of.

We are worried about the limits of 2 or 1 but everyone seems to overlook that this type of fishing puts a lot of stress on the fish and if it not released peoperly you have a kill.

Last year when I was out east the F/F guys where all over the place like nats.They where mostly hitting blues ands some albies but what about the ones who hit the bass.

I Know if Fla. there is a law trying to be passed to eliminate this type of fishing for big game fish especially TARPON. Who at the end of the fight is so exhaused that it becomes shark bait.

I know I will get flack from the fly guys but I would like to hear some other views also.

 

[strip]

A misconception

In my opinion,if done right, landing a bass on a 8 to 10wt fly rod is the same as landing a bass on a spinning rod using 12 to 20lb test mono.
Admittedly I see alot of guys playing fish too long with a fly rod.....alot of guys don't realize the backbone that a 9 or 10wt flyrod has and are afraid to apply the pressure.
Bottom line if your fishing with a 9wt rod and a 15lb tippet it's the same as using a spinning rod with 15lb test.

 

[strip]

P.S.

I think alot of what goes on at the south shore bridges with clam bellies is much more detrimental to the fish......but I guess not by the guys who do it right.

 

[614050]

even if you're right about mortality rates from fly fishing you're overlooking that flyfishing represents a tiny fraction of all the other forms of recreational fishing. i've seen a lot of gut-hooked bass from surf guys, but i wouldn't call surf fishing detrimental to the sport, would you? as noted from others, it's no different from any other form of light tackle. bad fishing skills produce bad results, no matter your choice of tackle. jmo, but i'd say try it yourself before you condemn it, instead of "hearing about it". OK, it's still winter and everyone's bored, right?

 

[captshiner]

??

baywatch: That is a fair question and I can see how you arrive at your conclusions, but for the most part your accusations are unfounded. There is absolutely no research to support that fly fishers cause more damage than "regular" guys to stripers. For the record I fly, bait and plug for bass (fly mostly though.) I can see, looking from the outside how it would seem that a fly guy would take forever to bring in a bass with "that wimpy rod" Believe me, I heard it all walking down the beach with a fly rod!! It would seem to me that a plug with 3 trebles, with 1/2 of them in the gill plates and face of a bass does more harm than one hook in the corner of the mouth. Also a big 8/0 hook in the gut probably isn't too healthy either. As for the amnount of time taking to land a bass, I can put almost as much pressure on a fish with my 10 wt. fly rod as I can with my lami with 50 powerpro. Another point (sorry for rambling) is that most bass hooked by a fly guy are within 50 feet of him, not 50 yards. It's just a matter of not being familiar with the technique and hopefully we can convince you that fly fishing for bass is safe for the fish, rewarding and absolutely enjoyable method to chase our striped friends. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have!

 

[baywatch]

OK YOU GOT ME

Maybe I came across the wrong way. I am not condeming fly guys by any means and you guys sound like you know what you are doing.

I am trying to find out what others feel also.
Especially after hearing some stories out east.

I guess every type of fishing have the novice and gut hooking is part of it. I think that is wht a lot of people who belly, chunck , etc. are turning to circles especially with bellies. You can literaly deadstick and the fish really does the hook up and 99.9% of the time the fish is hooked in the side of the mouth. I don't use S/S hooks either.

I net the fish and then use a boga grip to revive and release the fish.

I even saw a fly guy who was going offshore for Mako last year. This is the point I am trying to make. What would be the effect with this method on a Mako?

I know they are trying to do away with big game fish in Fla.using fly tackle and if you talk to some people down there who target the Tarpon they are in favor of that law. Just beats em up to much.

Capt shiner has it right I am just inquiring and getting some viewpoints of this. Especially with with no reasearch done on this subject. Maybe it is time to start doing some research on it.
I am not picking on the fly guy but this question was asked to someone who F/F also at the Freeport show and who is a moderator on this site.

When asked his head almost snapped off his shoulders and it became a good discuusion both pro and con. One thing he did agree with was the law in Fla about targeting big game with the fly.

I'll let you guess who the moderator was.

 

[615965]

another thing most are forgetting is fly fishing in the salt is a specialized niche of fishing, most people who fly fish the salt have been fishing for a long time, u usually dont pick up a flyrod before, spin tackle or conventional, so most take good care in fighting, handling and releasing the fish + the hook is usually in the corner of the mouth it's small and often barbless,

 

[186logic]

Most fish can be whipped easily on the proper fly gear. Year round, good fly fishermen don't catch nearly as many fish as good meat guys for obvious reasons. Gut hooking w/ circles is still common.

Unless you use 50lb. standup gear it will take AT LEAST 30 mins. to land a 100lb.+ Tarpon. So they will get worn out by most fisherman.
Bottom line is Fly Fisherman as a group contribute the least to general fish mortality by fisherman.