Sailfish

[ricus]

I will probably get skinned alive for this question, but what the hell.

I have a few mates the spearfish, and they all tell me that its great, I also have my open water one qualification, so I might just try it some day......

 

My question is this,

Wht do you guy spear sailfish?

I know its a great fish, when we caught them off a jetski, or boat, we always tag and releast sail fish, even with marlin, we never boat small marlin, only 180kg and up,

I am no captain green peace or crao like that, I just want my kids to catch some  decent fish. I have spoken to a few fisher man, and they all agree,

Its just like fishing,or shooting, tons of fish , when ever I go out I will catch and release more fish, maybe keep one for dinner, I know some guys like to catch a few and freez them, but I dont like fish that was frozen,

Ricus

 

[Japie]

Ricus

Just remember that you are not alllowed to spearfish with scuba gear. You can only shoot fish while free diving.

 

[ricus]

Yes I know that, I just do see the point in killing something you are not going to eat.

I dont have a problem we you kill something to eat it, same like shooting a lion, or cheetah, or something like that.....

i just want to know what the logic is behind shooting something you wont use.

Like i said its the same with fishing, catch what you want to consume.

but thats just my 2 c worth

 

[Capespearo]

Hi Ricus,

Everybody is entitled to that choice.There are also plenty fisherman who will NOT release billfish.If I remember correctly the bag limit is 5 per day,so surely they are not under threat like the Steenbras species are for example ? (taking 5 in a day would just be wrong)

I personally have not had the pleasure of seeing one in the water,if I did it would be a tough call to make as they are awesome creatures,but I have eaten sailfish before and it is damn fine tasting,so would in all probability pull the trigger at least once .........

 

[ph03n1xkny]

Ricus, while spearfishing we see so many fish that we do not shoot and rather leave the water with having had the experience of seeing rather than always shooting, Seen as we do not have the opportunity to "Tag and Release" or "catch and Release". We only shoot what we will use.

When a Sailfish or any bill fish has been shot by a spearo, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them.

I Agree with Cape Spearo, it is a matter of personal choice taken by both Spearo's wether to shoot or fisherman wether to release or not, and if i ever had the opportunity i would probably also pull the trigger.

 

[Prowler]

Hi Ricus,

I have spent enough time on boats to say that I agree wholeheartedly with Capespearo in that, not all fisherman are ethical when it comes to the practice of catch and release. There is also an ongoing debate about how many released fish actually survive after release (especially with hard fighting fish like sailfish). 

I am probably more eco minded than most but I would have no problem with shooting a sailfish for the sheer excitement of the hunt but also because it is extremely good eating.

Cheers.

 

 

 

[tkei]

I very much doubt a spearo will have an opportunity to shoot more than 1 sail a day. Killing 1 is no problem in my eye. Sure when fishing, i would and did release, but when i catch/ hook one there is a chance I could mortally injure it, be it hook in gills, tail wrap, hook in eye or it smashes itself agains the boat when being billed. Eitgher way it could die. if I see one int he water whilst spearing and i can get a good shot off, i wuill take it, if i catch the same fish fishing I will in all probability release it (unless hurt). If I keep one I will eat it. Smoked sail is Ayoba, but not bought in a shop, thats just wrong.

 

[Porra Newbie]

Waht timing with this thread, just 10 minutes back I commented on some ones photo on FB which was of 3 sail fish that brought out in one session and the stating that they got another 2 the next day.

I asked if they had heard of "catch & release" is response was that the 3 anglers on board had never caught a saily.

My thoughts :uzi:uzi:uzi:uzi:uzi:uzi:uzi:uzi

 

[jb2]

ricus wrote:

I will probably get skinned alive for this question, but what the hell.

My question is this,

Wht do you guy spear sailfish?

I
I am no captain green peace or crao like that, I just want my kids to catch some  decent fish. I have spoken to a few fisher man, and they all agree,

Its just like fishing,or shooting, tons of fish , when ever I go out I will catch and release more fish, maybe keep one for dinner, I know some guys like to catch a few and freez them, but I dont like fish that was frozen,

Ricus

Hi Ricus

I am a huge proponent of catch and release and I also like to eat fish.

Spearfishers catch and release. Every fish that passes within range and is not shot is considered a release.

In order to understand your question, I have to understand why it is important to release sailfish as opposed to another species like tuna.

Is eating quality a criterion for release?

Does it relate to stock levels?

I am not trying to be hardegat, I am genuinely trying to understand.

 

 


 

 

[ricus]

jb2, i know some people eat sailfish, so if you shoot one and consume the whole thing, well then its ok,

But I was at sodwana the other day and a guy came out with 2 sailfish, why 2?

 just feel that sailfish and marlin does not need to be killed just because its nice to have a photo, when ever we caught sailfish on the boat, we take all possible care not to hurt the fish, we only take a photo,or release the fish, sailfish is worth more points in a comp when you teg & release that when you weigh it in.

 

Like I said, only fish what you can consume, anthing else is just a waste.

 

 

[jb2]

ricus wrote:

jb2, i know some people eat sailfish, so if you shoot one and consume the whole thing, well then its ok,

But I was at sodwana the other day and a guy came out with 2 sailfish, why 2?

 just feel that sailfish and marlin does not need to be killed just because its nice to have a photo, when ever we caught sailfish on the boat, we take all possible care not to hurt the fish, we only take a photo,or release the fish, sailfish is worth more points in a comp when you teg & release that when you weigh it in.

 

Like I said, only fish what you can consume, anthing else is just a waste.

 

Hi Ricus

I understand your suggestion but why does the same not apply to tunas and similar species.

Tunas also make great photos.  I am genuinely trying to understand why some fish are more worthy of protection than others.

 

[ricus]

 Well I think the same principal should be with all the fish, I think the reason why I point out sailfish and marlin for that manner is because of the size and the type of fish(bill).

I had a mate, fishing in Mozam last year, he bragged how he brought over n half of ton fish back home, there is now way how he will be able to finish all that fish before his next trip

So I dont think I should just be bill fish, it should be all fish, 

beu thats my opinion,

 

R 

 

[tkei]

1/2 a ton of fish and the guy should have been slapped with a hefty fine. thought there is a limit of like 5kgs of fish per person.
Crazily, Bill fish are fairly sustainable. Sails are fast growing and hit sexual maturity quite young. Bottom dwellers steenbras, rock cod etc done, so in theory we should keep more billfish and less bottom dwellers. maybe thats why I can legally keep 10 billfish per day. I think I would be slaughtered if i came in at sodwana with 3 bills let alone 10, but I would be within the laws.
Anyone that keeps a fish meerly for a pic and then dumps the fish should be taken out back and slapped repeatedly with the rotting carcass. if anyone keeps a marlin/ sail or 2 and eats it, then fine.
With any fish, respect the fish you killed. waste not, want not.

 

[roryf]

I had always wondered if I would pull the trigger if I ever saw one.I had the opportunity of shooting a sailfish earlier this year.

I was drifting in 30 metres of water,watching my dive buddy coming up from a dive, next to his flashers and as I looked down on my flasher two sails came in.I dived down and without any hesitation I squeezed the trigger on the back one - game on!

I have a friends that only will shoot one a year or will only shoot big ones.I suppose that is up to the individual.If I see another one .... well I am not sure.I took quite a bit of flak from my wife about shooting a beautiful fish,but what makes it different from a garrick or rockcod.It would probably be better to shoot sails than to target fish on the red or orange sassa list? How many sails could you shoot in one day?

I only ever shoot fish that my friends and family could consume and have never sold fish.I don't have a problem with guys shooting any fish,so long as they are within the law and not wasted.

By the way Sailfish is quite good eating.

 

[jb2]

ricus wrote:

 Well I think the same principal should be with all the fish, I think the reason why I point out sailfish and marlin for that manner is because of the size and the type of fish(bill).

I had a mate, fishing in Mozam last year, he bragged how he brought over n half of ton fish back home, there is now way how he will be able to finish all that fish before his next trip

So I dont think I should just be bill fish, it should be all fish, 

beu thats my opinion,

 

Hi Ricus

I think that what you are saying makes some sense. I must stress that I am trying to understand and not judge.

The issue turns on how much fish do you need to take home with you.

I am curious about the elevation of bilfish to mythical status.

I do get  worried when people talk about not shooting a fish because it is beautiful. I am blown away by the beauty and majesty of yellowtail. Every so often you would have a shoal of 4kg fish with an odd one in of almost twice the weight. When you see big guy you can just tell that he is in his prime. This is not a reason not to shoot him though.

I find it easier to braai a 4kg yellowtail since he fits nicely on the grid and cooks through without getting dry. It is better to make kebabs from a big fish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wallie]

We're off to Mozam in Nov. I've made the call that I'll definately take the opportunity to land a saily if presented but only once. We'll definately graze it too - can't wait.

 

[Adrian B]

On the issue of spearing Sailies. Sailies are a super fast growing fish and  they don't generaly congregate in massive shoals making them vunerable to over fishing.

Other than their beuty from a ecological or sustainability point of view it's no differant to eating a Dorado, a Tuna or Wahoo (currently green choices on the SASSI list). Yet ironicaly most anglers put the Dorado, Tuna or Wahoo in the hatch and release the Sailie.

So other than their majestic beuty I can see no reason not to eat one  other than personnal choice (taken by spear or otherwise).

You should be far more worried about the 20 year old Rock-Cod or Roman on the fish counter at Pick n Pay than Spearo's making a dent in the Sailie population