I didn’t start out too good. The first success I had was with a guide that either didn’t know, or didn’t practice good C&R. The results were lots of grip & grin shots with the fish out of the water for way, way too long.
Since then, I’ve read, I’ve listened and I’ve learned. The general math looks like this… (- air exposure) + (- handling) = Good Release
Here’s me putting that into practice…
A nice shot from Cameron at FIBFest II with Andros South
Ok… so, not everyone has a professional photographer as totally awesome as Cameron hanging out with you all day, so, here are others.
Tom Larimer took this pic.
A pic I took down in Belize
Another pic from Belize with El Pescador.
A DIY Bone from Grand Bahama.
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Tags: Bahamas, Belize, bonefishing, Cameron Miller, catch and release, Conservation, fly fishing, Tom Larimer
I was able to release most of my bonefish with brief lifts from the water. I learned how to do this from reading your posts so kudos to your and your fine work. I was reviving a fish when the guide insisted I let it go due to a circling shark. Needless to say, that fish got wasted… Made me sad. I think guides should get a livewell for safer releasing practices. In the future, when sharks are about I’ll stop fishing there. Thanks for your contribution to bonefish preservation.
Good point, Eric. Thoughts — I love sharks. Where there are sharks there are fish. Sometimes I’ll leave, if it looks like a feeding frenzy. What I do that helps a bit – if I have a fish on and I see a curious shark (they are always hungry. I am too), I’ll take the drag completely off, palm as little s possible to keep from totally spooling the line, and let the bone run. I’ve had a big bone go for 15 minutes — honest — and win. But, I’ve also had small sharks eat my fish between my feet. Part of the deal. All bones get exhausted by being caught. Period. GEt ’em in fast, let ’em go. OK, take a picture once in a while. But, after a time they all become One Bonefish, unless i very large or special. Consider only recording one of three , or four, or…. When you release , they are always in danger — the barracudas, the sharks. We often don’t see the end result. As someone wrote, use the stoutest leader you can that will still allow tricking the fish. I used #15 years ago when it was sill thick.. Yes, often you have to go down, but never below #8, I figure. And ALWAYS barbkess hooks, to slip that hook out, of the fish and your guide’s ear. You WILL NOT lose fish without barbs. Now, should I tell the time a 6′ tiger shark somehow ventured onto the flat I was wading, alone, and decided my legs might taste like chicken? When he circled then charged…
ps What the hell do I know?