Good post. With all due respect on your redfish, knowing you thru this medium, I think you would feel differently if you had the same shark problem that we (and Eric) deal with. It’s really crushing for me to see it. We just leave.
I have always used a rubberized net for bonefish, but Eric’s comments ring true. He’s a straight shooter.
A while back we went on a “meat haul” trip for some fresh trout and I just had to take a “hero” shot. Mind you, these fish were on ice and other than sharing with a few friends via text in jest this is the first time I’ve shared this one. Mind you, I was attempting to make fun of all the clowns as these aren’t “trophies” by any stretch. But they ate real well! We caught and released around 50 fish in about as many minutes this day 1/4mile from launch site.
Since we’re on the subject…
I’ve been collecting screen shots of guides and their clients since November and every one of these nearly 250 photos they post on social media is a Texas trout that is over 20" which is over the 15-20" slot. A few of these are over 30" and were also supposedly also released. What do they all have in common? The guys and gals who “respect the resource” and make a living taking clients to catch these fish are either the ones that have intentionally used the Boga jaw as a lip gaff because they think it’s somehow not harming the fish in any way and a perfectly fine method of handling a trout that is being released. Zoom in and you can see what I mean. Most of these are guides here in Texas and their clients who have been taught this method which I call the Sharp Boga Lip Gaff. All you have to do is scroll through social media and you can find several of these every day. I have reached out to many other guys in the industry that are seeing the same thing and many also do this but when I call them or message them they just pretend it’s all good and they are just going with the flow so they don’t piss anyone off and I should be happy they are being released. Some numbskull TPWD biologist got on a podcast and stated that this method does not harm the fish or negatively impact it’s survival after release…but my common sense tells me that this is false information.
Can any of you imagine the lashing you would recieve if you lip gaffed a bonefish, permit, snook, trout or just about any other fish and post it online like you are proud because you are doing the right thing? I really want to know how this sort of behavior spreads and becomes so widely accepted. I feel like I’m living in The Twilight Zone. I know I’m not the only one who sees this DAILY. What say you? Many of these guides when I asked them replied “mind your own business” or “it was not intentional” or some other lame nonsense. I don’t mind being “that guy” that calls people out for this sort of BS, someone has to do it!
If you can’t see what these photos show here’s a sample-
I rarely take pictures of fish and I don’t feed on likes from social media (this is the only social media I’m on). Fish bite windows are not open ended, so I’d rather use the time to catch another one or so than fumble around taking a glamor shot.
What and why?!?
Is this some Tx fad? I’ve never seen anybody use a Boga quite that way and am clearly missing something….ls it that the fish looks bigger with the Boga hidden? First-order morons if thats the case.
I haven’t quite figured it out but it really pisses me off. If you dare mention it you will get dogpiled by all the people who have been brainwashed into thinking it’s acceptable. It’s not only the lip gaff technique but they also hold the fish horizontal and let the Boga free swing from the jaw of the fish. Another one is the lip gaff and karate chop pose where they hold their other hand right behind the gills and the whole weight of the fish is where the skull meets the spine or the one handed vertical Boga lip gaff. They post the photos all the time so I don’t consider it wrong for me to post them here. I have several hundred of these compiled and it’s disgusting.
Maybe after the next global reset, the new top predatory beings will lip grip and bend us until our organs get smashed.
My preferred release method is to lip the fish in the water with the plastic non-piercing fish grip and remove tackle with fish in the water without touching the fishes body. If I take a picture, the extra 5-10 seconds on the grip while in the water has a minimal effect on the fish. Baitfish lasts much longer with minimal handling so I figure the same concept applies to larger fish.
I know this thread is intended to focus on pictures of “the wrong way to do it”, but I would like to see a few more pictures of “the right way to do it” so we don’t miss out on an opportunity for education.
