Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - Catch and Release

Catch and Release (reply)

Ernesto — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:08:40 +0000

Santiago is also a Gourmet Chef when it comes to cooking Dorado and Tuna ,I was invited to My Friend Sr Peligro's for a Fish dinner and Santiago cooked over a charcoal Grill ,The best Dorado I have had in 17 years of living here in Troncones .Gracias a Chago !

Catch and Release (reply)

allen — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 04:24:08 +0000

I always let them know, in advance, that I will tip for every fish released to offset what they might get at the market. I have not gone out for some time now but $20 usd used to be sufficient.

Catch and Release (reply)

Paulf — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 04:02:25 +0000

He did not say who it was or which boat. He wanted to release but the fish was damaged to much to release. If I find out- will post.

Catch and Release (reply)

Herman — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:08:29 +0000

Santiago does have circle hooks. He also uses J hooks. I have watched good releases on both of the Gitana boats, from both circle & J hooks. I suspect that his successful billfish release percentages are similar for both type of hooks and certainly are in the high 95% range.
He has landed thousands of billfish and it is extremely unusual see a fish that was allowed to take the bait excessively deep. Subsequently, he certainly misses more strikes than that the fishermen that allow the bill fish to swallow a J hook and die.

The description from this thread of the unsuccessful release was probably an intentional kill. Money at the market drives this unethical behaviour. It would be informative to know the identity of the boat/captain that acted as if he would release, but then killed

Catch and Release (reply)

midalake — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 02:23:54 +0000

Hi Paul

First off. They are not catch and release hooks but circle hooks. They were first used by the long line industry. Mainly because they found fish could be released.

But you have to understand with a long line there is no one present to set the hook on a mile or two of baited hooks, and therefore the fish has an unlimited time to digest a bait.

In sport fishing the fish strike and it is a limited guessing game as to when the hook gets set.

Let me just say circle hooks are not a solve all, and traditions die hard. If you want to learn more I have posted a link. Even thought posted a long time ago it is still current. I have included a paragraph from the synopsis.

"More than half of the studies found significant positive
advantages to using circle hooks while the rest found no significant differences between the two hook types, however, four of these studies dealt with flat fishes, summer flounder, and halibut."

Here: http://myfwc.com/media/201154/circle_j_bibliography_4953.pdf

PS Very few boats use circle hooks in Z.

Catch and Release (reply)

roadlesstraveledguyMN — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 01:06:42 +0000

I'm in Z right now using Gitana sport fishing, while they don't use circle hooks they always tag and release sailfish if they are healthy enough to survive. Captain Santiago & Captain Adan have been ranked number 1 & 2 in Mexico for tag release for many years. I also bring them more of the NOAA Fisheries tags when I come down on my trips, here is a link to the Noaa billfish newsletter.
https://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=FRD&id=1199

Catch and Release (reply)

ZihuaRob — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:57:57 +0000

I was talking to a friend this afternoon about fishing. He said when he chartered the fishing and made the deposit he asked for catch and release hooks. When they started putting the lines out, they were not catch in release. He said the Captain said he did not have catch and release hooks and would not not give him his deposit back. He continued the trip and caught 1 sail fish which was filleted and split. He said that he would not go out with the Captain again.

Can you tell us the name of the captain or his boat? Most of them are good enough fishermen that even without circle hooks they know how to catch and release sailfish. Way too many sailfish are being caught not just by sportfishers but by long-line cimbreros, but we have no authorities willing and able to enforce the laws.

Catch and Release

Paulf — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:20:01 +0000

I was talking to a friend this afternoon about fishing. He said when he chartered the fishing and made the deposit he asked for catch and release hooks. When they started putting the lines out, they were not catch in release. He said the Captain said he did not have catch and release hooks and would not not give him his deposit back. He continued the trip and caught 1 sail fish which was filleted and split. He said that he would not go out with the Captain again.