Ghostbuster!

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by Phishphood

Stopped caring about the fish and went to work securing my rods and paddle, then look up to see the fish still belly up and I figured I should go revive it (it's been unhooked and free for almost 5 minutes).

After 5-10 minutes of this BS, I decide it's more than likely a WSB and not BSB, so I gaff it, pull it on to my lap, almost capsize at the weight and then readjust it so it's lengthwise on the yak. I'm still not convinced at this point, so I video call my buddy for confirmation.

He gives me the greenlight, swears at me since he didn't go out with me today, then I'm off to the beach. It's an easy landing with a slightly larger (3-4'?) swell at long period. Off the water by 0915. Weighed it with a handheld scale, measured it with my 'official' work boards, and took a sample of the gonads for work (CDFW).

First and foremost let me begin by congratulating you on a fine specimen. However, there are questions that I'm sure others would like to ask but don't because they don't want to kill your stoke.

So, let's begin at the beginning.

Your thread says

Stopped caring about the fish and went to work securing my rods and paddle,


I will call you out on this comment for one reason and that reason is that you work for the CDFW. Your first and only priority at that time should have been the fish and not your rod or paddle or whatever you were dealing with.

Second thing I'd like to bring up is the following comment, you said

After 5-10 minutes of this BS, I decide it's more than likely a WSB and not BSB, so I gaff it

Really? You weren't sure so you decided the best thing to do was gaff it?

It sounds like the whole thing took place over the course of 10-15minutes.........that's way to long of a time to decide whether or not you had a trophy fish or a fish that is completely off limits.



By the time you're done reading this you'll probably be like, 'who the f*ck is this clown' and it would probably be to late for me to say not to take it personal but I hope this event and my comments served a purpose, not just to you but to everyone else that cannot tell the difference between a wsb and a bsb.

If it makes you feel any better I had a similar experience many years ago but when the fish came up belly up I knew Gaffing it was the last thing I wanted to do. The moment that fish came up I dropped everything and my priority was the fish.........yes, it was a bsb.


Again, nice trophy fish.

[jorluivil]

It looks like someone beat me to the punch

[Whizz Bang]

Not the first or the last time George.

We are on the same page brother, it's far too easy to give the forum "nod, smile, and high-five" while looking at the Fish and intel without actually reading. No comprehension. Good catch.

[GregAndrew]

I would not know where to start a comment on this post (but congratulations would not be on the list).

[Phishphood]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

I would not know where to start a comment on this post (but congratulations would not be on the list).

Well noted. I hope my responses to other comments covers what you would say. If not, then I fully welcome more of what you have to say either in this thread or via PM if you would prefer.

[chancy94]

Thats a FAT slug man congrats! and enjoyed reading your story about the event!

[Whizz Bang]

We are all looking forward to the next 3 page epic you post on the Sheepshead or Garibaldi gaff conundrum.

[Murray]

Great fish and greater attitude and response to others posts. Not very often do I read someone agreeing when corrected. Thanks for your post and enjoy your catch. Now, go out and enjoy creation. It is obvious you respect it and just got caught up in the moment. You can join the rest of us regarding making mistakes. Blessings!

[pingpangdang]

Enjoyable post w/ detail. Hope you continue to post with as much detail w/o getting discouraged of possible critiques.

This thread possibly saved future fish w/ the critiques on how the fish was handled.

It's great we have so many anglers pationate about protecting fish especially when it comes to the BSB....keeps everything in balance.

[govomit]

Phishphood, didn't perform CPR on grandma ? Shame on you.
For the rest I'm with you all the way - hard made bait, hard to ID specimen, adrenaline, confusion, etc. Nobody is perfect in extreme situations, especially without much experience.

Big thumbs up for not having a fish-finder! How strange nobody is talking about fairness in this sport...
You love the fish so much that reviving is your primary goal ? Then leave your FF at home! FF fishing is like drone warfare - you win because of superior technology, not skill.
In the not so distant future we'll be able to just shoot them from the surface. What kind of "sport" would that be ? Like contemporary "hunters" with $$$ rifle scopes - a massacre.
For thousands of years fishing has been an (almost) fair hand-to-hand combat in the ocean. "Progress" has brought so many gizmos as to transform us in meat-harvesting cyborgs.
If you really like nature, think about balance and fairness. And resist electronics.

[FullFlavorPike]

Originally Posted by govomit

. And resist electronics.

Electronics are best used for blasting talk radio in lineup at dawn....

[nudling]

Congrats on your first Phisphood and for handling the constructive criticisms like a champ. We all get excited at times and do things that aren't ideal.

I think I ran into you in Monterey in 2012 -- your kayak is distinctive and I have a pic with it in the background as you were packing up (I was the guy w/the 3 fish and yellow hobie AI).

[momo fish]

Word!!

We should just swim out with a knife and a rope and hunt like the good old primitive days.. Screw those people trying to make things easier.. WTF is wrong people these days!!

Let me know what day works best for you.. I'll bring a video camera.... Wait, I meant a rock and dye to write with..

Originally Posted by govomit

Phishphood, didn't perform CPR on grandma ? Shame on you.
For the rest I'm with you all the way - hard made bait, hard to ID specimen, adrenaline, confusion, etc. Nobody is perfect in extreme situations, especially without much experience.

Big thumbs up for not having a fish-finder! How strange nobody is talking about fairness in this sport...
You love the fish so much that reviving is your primary goal ? Then leave your FF at home! FF fishing is like drone warfare - you win because of superior technology, not skill.
In the not so distant future we'll be able to just shoot them from the surface. What kind of "sport" would that be ? Like contemporary "hunters" with $$$ rifle scopes - a massacre.
For thousands of years fishing has been an (almost) fair hand-to-hand combat in the ocean. "Progress" has brought so many gizmos as to transform us in meat-harvesting cyborgs.
If you really like nature, think about balance and fairness. And resist electronics.

[Pinhead]

GOVOMIT: .....Like contemporary "hunters" with $$$ rifle scopes - a massacre.

Careful here........we ethical kayak'ers can be hunters / conservationists too.

Even with my $$$ rifle scopes - I've never seen a *massacre* on any of my rifle or archery hunts. I hunt ethically, follow the game laws and it's always fair chase hunting, not getting, slaughtering, massacring etc....


Remember unity. Anti's are likely trolling our Forum and already poke at us enough without division among the ranks.

Pinhead Out!

[Phishphood]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

First and foremost let me begin by congratulating you on a fine specimen. However, there are questions that I'm sure others would like to ask but don't because they don't want to kill your stoke.

Really unfortunate as I value this post I think most of all the responses. Please note all my responses/questions here are in all seriousness, not tongue in cheek or attempts at sarcasm.

So, let's begin at the beginning.

Your thread says

Stopped caring about the fish and went to work securing my rods and paddle,


I will call you out on this comment for one reason and that reason is that you work for the CDFW. Your first and only priority at that time should have been the fish and not your rod or paddle or whatever you were dealing with.

While I personally agree with your sentiment re: CDFW employees, I would ask that you understand that to some people a job is simply a job where they can get paid. In my case, you're spot on and I truly failed at backing up part of the reason I signed on. Not debating that one cent. While I would like to say I didn't become completely ignorant about the fish, that is entirely besides the point.

The one thing I would respectfully ask about would be the paddle. For those paddlers who paddle and not peddle, would it not be prudent to have immediate and unimpeded access to the paddle as a safety issue?

Second thing I'd like to bring up is the following comment, you said

After 5-10 minutes of this BS, I decide it's more than likely a WSB and not BSB, so I gaff it

Really? You weren't sure so you decided the best thing to do was gaff it?

It sounds like the whole thing took place over the course of 10-15minutes.........that's way to long of a time to decide whether or not you had a trophy fish or a fish that is completely off limits.

This was probably not stated in the most accurate way. The "more than likely a WSB" was meant to convey the feeling one might get when I've checked off as many marks as possible (belly ridge, black spot at base of pectoral, dorsal fin shape comparisons, slight bar markings (supposed to only be on young?) vs spots) but still have some trepidation about making the final call. At this point I had even talked on the phone with my friend (later videocalled) talking through ID's. Fish was being moved forward/backward at this point in time.In retrospect, unless one is 100% positive about ID, the fish should probably be released as soon as safely possible. I'm fairly certain I've trumpeted that message before, if not here than other outlets, and I believe in it; I fully forgot that message and got caught in the adrenaline rush of possibly/probably having a great specimen in hand.

By the time you're done reading this you'll probably be like, 'who the f*ck is this clown' and it would probably be to late for me to say not to take it personal but I hope this event and my comments served a purpose, not just to you but to everyone else that cannot tell the difference between a wsb and a bsb.

Au contraire, I don't take it as a personal attack, just as a 'really, everyone should know better and act better (compared to knowledge/action taken). And I truly am thankful on being called out on this, not just by you but everyone. Fully agreed with the bolded part (my addition) of your quote.

If it makes you feel any better I had a similar experience many years ago but when the fish came up belly up I knew Gaffing it was the last thing I wanted to do. The moment that fish came up I dropped everything and my priority was the fish.........yes, it was a bsb.

Again, nice trophy fish.

It doesn't really, but thank you. It also doesn't bother me as I know most everyone makes mistakes. Even if they aren't 'just like' or even 'almost like' mine, it's more important to me that we can learn from other's mistakes. I made one, I own up to it. I'm darned lucky it worked out in the end, but that was just it, luck.

I'd like to say my first priority hooking the first (original) BSB was the fish, but my actual first priority was trying to become un-attached to the behemoth, then rescue/revive. My entire mind screamed BSB on that one though, maybe due to the fact that I've seen them first hand on SCUBA and aquariums, with plenty of time to stare at it in the latter setting.

Again, thank you for the well written comment.