Plug this

[Vermonter]

It was a nice fish and that was certainly a school Id like to toss some plugs at but I have trouble believing that was the actual 60. Didnt seem to have the girth one expects of any fish over 50 and didnt seem all that long in comparison to the spear itself, tho I know those guns come in different lengths. Tough to know for sure without any firm reference point to judge size.

[rockyroady]

I've never seen a 60#er in person, probably never will, but I was thinking the same as Vermonter. Maybe the belly/girth doesn't sag as much as I thought it would is because water is supporting it? Whatever, fish is a beauty and it died quick. Give the guy credit for getting down to them, when I was a kid I busted my eardrum and now I can't dive more than ~10 ft. I can see how some disaprove, but I think it it falls under ethical hunting.

[Nebe]

i used to spearfish alot in highschool so let me stop some misinformation right now.. 1st a fish under water looks smaller than it does out of the water... 2nd, you get to chose what fish you kill for dinner, while a rod and reel guy has to cull until he gets something he can legaly keep. 3rdly, there is no catch and release.. you go out and shoot a fish or 2 then you are done. Fourthly and most importantly, if you think that is not sporting, i would like to see someone stand on the high tide line, hold their breath.. run down to the water, cast, reel, hook a fish, land it, then drag it back to the high tide line...... all while holding your breath.

To say spearfishing is damaging to the stocks or that it is going to catch all 'our' 5o 's and 6o's is ludacris. Rod and reel and especially fly fishermen are the real problem and the real murders of the striped bass. I counted 4 dead schoolies float by me and clammer in a half hour period why guys up current were catching them..

[RIROCKHOUND]

Careful nebe;
fly fishing aint all bad, I dont think we should generalize; ultra light tackle is what does the damage, especially in warm water when the mortaolity rate is already high....

[Nebe]

80% of the guys that i see flyfish are using ultra light gear.

sorry i broke my silence

[BigFish]

Almost 36 hours....not bad!

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Almost 36 hours....not bad!

had to add my ten cents..

see ya

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

Careful nebe;
fly fishing aint all bad, I dont think we should generalize; ultra light tackle is what does the damage, especially in warm water when the mortaolity rate is already high....

Agree... Getting a fish in quick and turned around fast on crimped barbs is better for the fish than sporting it with ultra-light gear - fly or spin...

As for Spearfishing - seems sporting to me. As for ethical or not? Well, it's legal...

Sol - I don't think this was a hijack or start of a fight but I can see how this would be a contentious issue.... THanks for the link...

[SAXATILUS]

[To say spearfishing is damaging to the stocks or that it is going to catch all 'our' 5o 's and 6o's is ludacris. Rod and reel and especially fly fishermen are the real problem and the real murders of the striped bass. I counted 4 dead schoolies float by me and clammer in a half hour period why guys up current were catching them.. [/QUOTE]


Eben,

As far as Fly fishing goes I think that was a very un-educated and fairly ignorant statement. Have you ever tried it? I have subdued bass up to 30 lbs fairly quickly on my set-up. I have released all but one fish this year, and take the time to make sure they all swim away. Fly line rates between 30 and 50 lb test and I rarley go lighter than 30lbs on a leader, sometimes up to 50. Fly rods have more backbone than you think. It is all in your skill fighting fish.You really want to challenge yourself? Take a flyrod into the surf. 60 t0 80 foot distance max. Doesn't get any tougher IMHO. Don't knock it cause it's not your thing. I also like to throw plugs and eels. The flyrod is just another tool, and like any tool you have to know how to use it.

[Nebe]

Your totally right, my case of using fly fishing as an example was toatly wrong. RI rockhound has it right by saying light tackle is theone to blame for high mortality.
I do flyfish. not for stripers but for redfish and specs in texas twice a year. its a blast
We are all to blame for mortality..
sorry if i offended anyone .

[SAXATILUS]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Your totally right, my case of using fly fishing as an example was toatly wrong. RI rockhound has it right by saying light tackle is theone to blame for high mortality.
I do flyfish. not for stripers but for redfish and specs in texas twice a year. its a blast
We are all to blame for mortality..
sorry if i offended anyone .

Glad to here it Eben. It takes a big man to admit he might have been a little hasty. If you do fish with a fly rod and like it, and you are not using it for stripers you are doing yourself a great injustice. There is nothing like a good size striper on the fly, and they take them readily. The fly rod is the perfect tool for fishing current and we all know how much stripes love current. Shoot me a pm and I will send you some killer RI striper flies that you will never see in a shop, and man do they catch. I have hundreds. Worst case you can always use some of them as teasers. Some will be wayyy to big for a teaser though.

[CANAL RAT]

Originally Posted by Nebe

i used to spearfish alot in highschool so let me stop some misinformation right now.. 1st a fish under water looks smaller than it does out of the water... 2nd, you get to chose what fish you kill for dinner, while a rod and reel guy has to cull until he gets something he can legaly keep. 3rdly, there is no catch and release.. you go out and shoot a fish or 2 then you are done. Fourthly and most importantly, if you think that is not sporting, i would like to see someone stand on the high tide line, hold their breath.. run down to the water, cast, reel, hook a fish, land it, then drag it back to the high tide line...... all while holding your breath.

To say spearfishing is damaging to the stocks or that it is going to catch all 'our' 5o 's and 6o's is ludacris. Rod and reel and especially fly fishermen are the real problem and the real murders of the striped bass. I counted 4 dead schoolies float by me and clammer in a half hour period why guys up current were catching them..

how nice putting down fly guys like myself. i like to see you fool stripers when there feeding on 4 inch sandeels. also how can a schoolie be more hurt by a single barbless fly than a mouth full of two sets of tremble hooks . as for you guys putting down spear fishing you try aiming under water while holding your breath.i urge you to try all types of striper fishing- fly fishing,spear fishing,surf casting,troll from a boat.

[SolOmoN]

Again .... forwarded from another forum......

(Here is the fish out of water, to gauge the weight. Sure is a cow, eh?

World Record 60.49 lb BI October 05)

sorry I had to resize the immage.

sol...

[Rappin Mikey]

Dang! Thats a big one.

[tattoobob]

Looks like a boat fish to me

[Swimmer]

Would someone kindly show me where in the R.I. law that fishing in this manner is legal. I don't doubt those who say it is, well maybe just a little, but I'd really like to know. These guys that go skishing could have a mask, a mouthpiece, a spear, and multi task while there floating around.

[Swimmer]

One wrong turn and this post could go south real quick.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

One wrong turn and this post could go south real quick.

Yes - lets keep this as discussion, not a flame war please...

Thanks,

John

[SolOmoN]

LOL..... 3 Pages and still going.....

sol...

[snake slinger]

its very legal ive ben check by buy game wardens when spearfishing