I took today off from the lake. Yesterday I ended up questioning my choices. I fished 2.5 hours yesterday, and at the start the wind created so much chop I almost left for safety. I was sitting in the front of the boat in the elevated seat, balancing constantly with the swells hitting the boat.
I landed 20 fish and had at least that many additional hookups with the fish getting loose before the boat. The first dozen fish I landed were all planters in the 10 to 12 inch range. Then, something happened and I landed two 15 inchers in a row followed by the above 17/18 inch fish. I was about to head home when the wind died down and I could cast in a different direction.
The fish below took the size 12 Sheep Creek Special and rolled on the surface. It was one of the huge fish raised in the pens at the Pine Cove Marina. I played it from the reel and got it in close to the boat. I wanted a picture of the fish but didn’t want to play it out to exhaustion, risking it’s life. I had difficulty playing the fish, getting out my camera, and simultaneously moving the fish into range while taking a picture.
Unfortunately, I played the fish out so much than when it got in range for a photo, I was able to move it easily into the net. I took a couple of quick pictures that came out poorly, and then got to the resuscitation of the fish. As I was attempting to grasp the fish with both hands, the net rolled, the fish slapped its tail, and it fell to the bottom of the lake. I sat there for 20 minutes, watching the fish lay on the bottom of the lake, belly up, dying. I tried to nudge it with my oar but the water was too deep. I felt like crap.
My choices after taking the above photo of the fish were: 1) to try to revive it and let it swim away; or 2) decide that the fish would not survive and take it back to the marina.
These cage raised fish are created to create trophy fish for visitors. I would have much rather had an occasional fisherman catch this fish, take it to the marina for pictures, have a fantastic meal with it, and then have memories of a lifetime. Dying at the bottom of of the lake, below my boat, seems a huge waste of the fish and project.
Yes, this was a “put and take” fish, destined to be caught and killed. However, I didn’t get the enjoyment of a trophy fish. I had a great battle with a fish and wanted it to swim away. There are 30+ of these trophy fish swimming in the lake right now. If I hook another one, I’ll be happy, and will break it off so it can be caught by others. The time needed to land one of these big fish with a size 12 hook and 4x tippet dooms the fish. I will not do it again.
Tight Lines!