Author Topic: Fighting, landing and releasing large sharks and flatfish: A beginners guide  (Read 51334 times)

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Offline adam

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Very nice post!     :+ cred:
"I once caught a fish thiiiiiiiiss big, now pass another beer"

Offline Willie

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Great post HP :+ cred:  Hope I will be able to use your advice at the and of May
The worst day fishing is better than the best day at office

Offline teez

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 :+ cred:    :udman: :shre: :uarocks awesome,awesome post man ... learnt alot and now have to wait for December to get my monster  :-)

Offline Rookie

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 :win: I'm a couple of months late, but as a rookie, Thank you. :tkx: . :nail:

Offline Big B

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Hey, great advice, I can confirm that getting some elevation can be vital to your strategy, my son lost a fish a few years ago that cut him off after being 45 minutes into the fight, if I think about it now, he would have much more on that fish , if he had elevated himself and taken the ledges out of the fight!
Until today, I wonder how big that fish was
Lets go FISHING!

Offline boepsie

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nice info there  theres some people know that really need to read that


Big fish can be landed by oneself too  but its not easy and really sorts u out 


Landed this 186cm blacktip myself  only had the wife with
Whoooohoooooo

Offline Kent

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nice info there  theres some people know that really need to read that


Big fish can be landed by oneself too  but its not easy and really sorts u out 


Landed this 186cm blacktip myself  only had the wife with
I recognise this chap from somewhere???......
Just GO FISH!!!


Offline Debbie

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great read, thanks  :udman:

Offline RobinF

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This thread may be 'old', but I must give credit where it's due -  :+ cred:

Well done Half-Pint, such an awesome post and thread.
« Last Edit: October 22, 2013, 04:52:57 PM by RobinF »

Offline Half-Pint

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 :tkx:

Offline hornet9

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This was such an informative article for a beginner. Awsome stuff :tkx: (clap)

Offline RobinF

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This was such an informative article for a beginner. Awsome stuff :tkx: (clap)

 :welc:

Offline Marthin

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A question.... when guys catch the 100kg up rays.... how do you drag it back into the water if not by the spiracles?  The small rays are easy enough.  But if u drag a 50kg duckbill/eagle on that flap between the nose and the mouth, it will definately tear.  I haven't landed one that size but have seen it done and seen the release.  On a big duckbill there's nowhere else to hold.

As for the gaff on a beach with a steep dropoff... it's not only your lactic acid build up you need to consider... and a gaff hole by the dorsal is usually much less damage than the average mating scar....

I havent gaffed one either, a fish of mine was gaffed, you couldnt even see the hole after, the guy that did it must have gaffed hundreds of fish in his life.  Given the choice i'd have him do it again, if it's just me and another inexperienced person i'd try and tail it.

As for gaffing flat fish on mountainsides... any advice?  I've also heard of their wings tearing badly.

Very informative post.
Men... what lies ahead on that beach... IMMORTALITY.... TAKE IT IT"S YOURS!!!!!!

Offline travelmember

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And how do you unhook a large flatfish?
I get plenty off the boat when drifting and don't like cutting the line, but having been speared a good few years ago I am reluctant to get too close :blush:

Offline REEFMAN

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Most Rays can be unhooked and moved safely by hooking your hand into their mouths. The only one's who have significant teeth is the Black Pylie (Short tail Stingray) and the Spearnose Skate, which could probably bite your fingers off!
It's quite important not to turn them over upside down, as they suffer organ damage with the inverse weight.


The barbs of the Rays usually exit quite close to the back end of the disc - in the second pic you can see them clearly... stay away from those by holding the tip of the tail (3RD PIC) still so that it doesn't flap around.

Offline travelmember

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Thanks for that - guess I just need to brush up on species ID! (or get the kids to do it :hnthnt: )


Offline Marthin

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Blue rays are fiesty!
Men... what lies ahead on that beach... IMMORTALITY.... TAKE IT IT"S YOURS!!!!!!

Offline REEFMAN

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Blue rays are fiesty!


Yup, the Sharpnose Browns as well! Don't stop flapping for a second!

Offline Half-Pint

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Homie's honeycomb was also a nervy experience! Every time we went near it it would start arching its tail up. Those small one's can apparently arch far enough to stab you will messing around with its mouth :cnfzd

Offline Half-Pint

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Ok I'd like to put this out to the experts there. When aiming to work a fish in a particular direction how does one go about this?

I have heard guys say that if you want the fish to turn and swim right you must pull hard to the left. The fish will then swim away from the tension? Worked for me before.

I have also heard people say you should pull it hard in the direction you want him to swim and once he gets going that way stop pulling so hard and let it swim. Also worked for me before :rotfl

What is the correct method :dunno:

 

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