Fly Fishing

ericsong · Newbie Joined: Oct 29, 2006 Posts: 4 Location: socal

hey guys whats bazookaing a fish do? besides launching them back in to the water? any certain reason why you guys do it? just curious thats all

jeremy · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:27 am Post subject: tuna

you must be referring to the "tuna toss" ... this method of release is the best method for these fish providing there is enough water ... i don't think this method would be applicable for trout and salmon or any other species that i know of ..

see.. the little tuna (albies/bonito/bluefin etc..) .. are speed demons ... they will literally fight themselves to death if you let them and the typical slow revival tactics do not work ... it is best to not overfight these fish .. although hard to do because they will extract 150 yards or so of backing from your reel and by nature expend much of their life's energy during the first 2 runs.... but anyway .. get them in .. get a quick photo and then toss them overhead and nose first into the water .. keep in mind these fish travel at high speeds .. so this release method gives them the shock they need to get back up to speed and it is the most common and generally agreed upon "best release" method for the tuna species ..,. again, providing there is sufficient water ... obviously, this tactic would not be used if you landed a tuna on the flat in 2 feet of water ...

i personally only apply this release tactic to tuna species .. i am sure folks would not be too happy to apply similar release tactics with trout, steelhead or atlantic salmon ...

dan-l · Newbie Joined: Aug 22, 2004 Posts: 8

I was cracking up reading that, I told Pete D to do that release with his first albie, and he looked at me like I was crazy, It works though.

jeremy, you put a picture in my head where someone was releasing a fish in shallow water and planting it in the sand, and holy hell would break loose if someone saw you release a steelhead that way. Keep it to the tuna family... man I am still laughing...

jeremy · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject: dan

dan --- seriously .. that would not go over very well in trout or steelhead or salmon country .. "keeping it in the tuna family" is a wise idea .. and hey .. you just triggered a memory .. you were the one who actually taught me the tuna toss .. i was there with pete d that day looking at you like you had 3 heads .... but since then, every albie/tuna fly roder i have ever met does the tuna toss .. so clearly you were right when you told pete to pick the albie up over his shoulder and "toss" it nose first into the water ..... i remember perfectly .. the fish hit the water and darted out of sight .. for that species of fish .. it makes sense .. either way .. it is something of a surprise to see for the first time ..

take it easy dan .. ps. still stripers in maine! probably gonna take a few casts tomorrow after work just for the heck of it .. there must still be some fish working in rhode island if they are still here in maine .. crazy though .. very late in the year, historically .. maybe not for RI but certainly for Maine .. wonder if albies are still popping up at the typical locations ..wouldn't be surprised .. if you hear of anything let me know .. thanks ...

ericsong · Newbie Joined: Oct 29, 2006 Posts: 4 Location: socal

thanks