Downtime2

I appreciate your open mindness. I have yet to kill one. Don't really want to unless there is a large amount of money on the line. When one is killed in a tournament, usually the crew splits the meat or it goes to Loaves and Fishes or another charitable organization to feed at the shelters. That is, after the biologists get done with it. If we were to inadvertedly kill one while "fun fishing", one of these would happen. I do belong to TBF and keep up with it. They are a true gamefish and a true rush to catch. We try to minimize the amount of time itis on the line, i.e., backing down when we can, tackle large enough to get the job done fast, reviving the fish properly...etc. I can't speak for all who billfish, only who I fish with. It is a sport I truly love, so, I want to see the population remain healthy.

Xanadu

Good Shit, Fester. You can speak for me anytime.

Bodacious

beautiful words wade :clap

Hammertime

I am alsoa long time member of TBF and always support catch and release of most all species.I appreciate that the Fish House has admitted they made a mistake and will not let it happen again. Sounds like some of the posts on the subjectget it and others simply haven't been there and done it, so they don't understand the problem. It's great that this subject got some attention, awareness and education are what it will take to ensure this species survives. Cudos to the Fish House, still one of my favorite places to hang out.

Captain Woody Woods

to say that the population is in danger is somewhat a bold statement. could it not just be corporate propoganda, or a conspiracy-much like the supposed red snapper shortage? i think so....


i honestly think marlin are just smarter than most other meat fish-hence their higher rank in the social and natural heirarchy in the waters. bigger, stronger, faster, etc. maybe that's why we dont catch as many marlin as we do tuna, dolphin, and wahoo. in fact i dont know of one boat down here in OB that catches more bills than they do meat fish.

John B.

Speaking of the Fishhouse...

is it just me, or is their sweet tea damn good????

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PELAGIC PIRATE

Well said Wade .

Hers's My 2 cents: Lets say marlin taste better than the best fish you ever ate.

Right.....

Now lets say people all over the America decide to start eatting marlin cause they taste so great that everywhere they sell it is a hit.(remeber the Blackend Redfish craze ?)

well ,then with in 1 to 2 years marlin would pretty much cease to exist from a commerical overfishing and extinction. Being that Marlin are already in danger as a by-catch only status(meaning they are not really fishing for them) Then starting to target these pelagic wonders would eliminate Marlin from the food chain in quick order. Marlin are not as abundant as other fin-fish nor do spawn as prolifcally as other fin-fish like dolphin fish or tuna fish. The life span of a blue marlin can be up to 28 years and 1200 pounds according to data , which means they have a long slow growth reaching spawning age at around 225 to 250 pounds.Then add in Years of unchecked and or illegal Harvest and longliningof these fish in previous years and it is easy to see the problem Marlin have.

Acting all tough and saying "Im eatting some Marlin" is just plain stupid in the trouble days for the Marlin.If you reallylove fishing and the thrill of a Marlin charging up your spread after your baits, then how can you justify eating one when they are already on the brink. I understand that fish will die when fishing for marlin and they may get consumed which is fine by me. My beef is not with the few that die and are consumed by marlin fisherman, rather its making Marlin a commercial menu Item . Thats something that the fishery can not handle, so by making an onlinestink about a local place selling marlin we may have stopped future sales of Marlin in that same establishment.

The whole point is:

Lets not Give fish markets a Market :banghead

Captain Rog'

I'll have the blackened bottlenose dolphin it tastes just like red snapper.

Fishforlife2

no go to sonny's worlds best sweet tea. ok down to bizness. I was at the Fish House that night what was odd was the board of specials was missing so i asked my waitress what are your specials tonight she said the normal snapper grouper salmon tilapia but she said Blue Marlin I responded excuse me she repeated Blue Marlin again so I said please give me a minute to think she left and I asked someone else what the specials were he said snapper grouper tilapia and salmon I said what about Blue Marlin my waitress said you have he said no its illegal for us to serve Atlantic or Gulf Blue Marlin so she must have made a mistake.

I hope this clears things up they did not have it. Was a mistake. For the conservers <U>THE FISH HOUSE DID NOT SERVE BLUE MARLIN.</U><U> </U>again I hope that clears things up.