Fishing Forum

[url "http://www.ksl.com/?nid=333&sid=2420125"]Link to KSL story[/url]
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Ya and I caught 2500 lb tuna. In no way did this young man pull in a 551 lb shark. Believe me I know about big fish and a normal man has a real tussle with 200 to 250 lb Yellowfins, my Wife and I go to Mexico and its a real fight and we are normal size, hard to believe. We had a parent on one of our 25 day trips say his 6 year old pulled in a 200 lb Yellowfin, sure the tuna almost made him ski, then the deckhands did all the work.
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I would not say he did not land that fish. I fished for sturgeon in ID starting at the age of 11 and i landed plenty of 6-8'ers by MYSELF. It was very difficult but i did it so i would not cast doubt on this 12 year old landing a fish they could chase in open water with a boat. I landed a 9'er when i was 15 and 140#. That fish was probably approaching 300# and had river current on his side.[]
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I agree with mactuna i didnt see any dteails on how many hours that fight took . Smells kinda fishy to me !!! I just got back from florida and i did go out and my 16 year old nephew couldnt bring up a 20lb plus grouper. And my nephew is a big football player . So it makes me wonder about this story.It takes strenght ,stamina, and skill to bring a huge fish like that in and thats no bull!!!! []
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It all depends...I'm mostly with lunkerhunter2 in saying...don't totally discredit it just yet. I spent a lot of time fishing for sturgeon when I was between 9 and 13 years old, and I pulled in a lot of bruiser sized sturgeon all by myself. However, when I was 14, my family took a vacation to Hawaii, and my dad and I did some deep sea fishing. I hooked into a 6ft 120+lb White Tip Reef Shark, and I couldn't do it by myself...yet when I was 11, I was reeling in sturgeon bigger than that all by myself. If you ask me, the difference was in the tackle being used. With sturgeon fishing, I was quite familiar with the rods and all the tackle that I was using to land those bad boys. The rods/reels were not the over-sized rods and reels that we used in Hawaii. In Hawaii, battling the shark, they had us using these HUGE reels that were bigger than I could get a handle on. It was all just so big, and bulky and awkward that I just could not get comfortable fighting the shark and it wore me down way quicker. So anyways, it all just depends on this particular 12 year olds abilities. I do say though, that odds are against him bringing in such a shark all by himself...
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Come on... he couldn't handle a 20lb grouper????? [unimpressed]
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Sturgeon are not sharks and not as much power, do you all realize what your saying.If anyone touches that rod, its not a record period !
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Inexperience my freind inexperience. I have seen 250 lb guys put on their knees fighting fish using the wrong techniques. I can bring a 50lb black grouper and make it look easy and have someone else fight the same fish and they would look like it was hundreds of pounds.The first 10-15 feet of the bottom is the hardest part of the fight that is were you lose or make your catch. I have fished the ocean for over 30 years and have caught my fare share of biguns. It looks easy on tv but when you dont know what you are doing its hard.
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Lets be real, Ive been on hundreds of multi day trips 15 days or more and all I fish with would laugh at the thought. I let no deckhand touch my pole or I don't use the rail. all of these things are ilegal in the IGFA records, look it up. Ive seen seasoned tuna fisherman die on 200 lbers and they will be the first to tell you bullshit. The Qualifier 105 deckhands would laugh at all of you, this is a first class boat, they no fact from fiction. Remember no one is to touch your rod period. For technique thats a good point so your saying and 11 year old no's technique, doubtful. Ive fished the ocean 40+ years so what.
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Wow! I think its great to catch fish, big fish even greater! I was going to comment on the age and size of both the young boy and fish but it would'nt sound right just like the story.
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Did any of you watch the video interview of the kid on the news story link? The kid talked about techniqe and what it takes to land big fish. He landed a 400# fish when he was 11 so maybe he does know what he is doing! Give the kid some credit
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Read the rules for your selves !

[url "http://www.nzbgfc.org.nz/index.cfm?pageID=13"]http://www.nzbgfc.org.nz/index.cfm?pageID=13[/url]
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[cool][#0000ff]Same ol' same ol'. Every time there is a post about a big fish...of any species...everybody wants to stir the pot and find a bajillion reasons why the story can't be true.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Anybody here on the board ever caught a bull shark? I have. I have caught sharks of many different species. And, they are like trout or any other fish. Some fight harder than others. Bull sharks are not nearly the battlers that makos or threshers are. They are big and pull hard, but with some help from the boat (chasing them) and heavy enough tackle...and good technique...it is not impossible for a 500 pound fish to be subdued by a small person. Not likely, without a lot of help, but not impossible. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Because of the likelihood that the young angler had some assistance, and other people touching the rod, the shark would never qualify for any IGFA records. But, if the state of Florida only cares about the size of the shark, and not the details, then it counts...no matter what. And that is the only record at stake. The world record was caught in Kenya and weighed just under 700 pounds.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is silly to compare a bull shark with a tuna or a grouper or any other fish. Heck, if a bluegill grew to be a hundred pounds, nobody would ever be able to land one. But, every year, there are big fish of many species landed by young people and by frail females and wimpy dudes who don't look like they could bait their own hooks...and usually don't.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Mactuna and I were talking about this (off the board) and we both have a lot of salt water experience. We both find it foolish that adults would subject young people to the potential dangers of big game fishing. Things can go wrong in a hurry when you are dealing with big powerful fish, and that can put both the young angler and the crew at risk. If nothing bad happens, and the kid lands the fish of a lifetime, all is well. But, if there is serious injury or worse, then it was a bad move.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Perhaps the worst part of taking a young person on a boat is the added burden it places on the skipper and the deckhands. They have a tough enough time trying to insure a good safe trip for experienced adults, without having to be babysitters too. I have been there, done that. No tip at the end of the day can compensate for the grief and extra hassle of dealing with a spoiled kid all day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sorry folks. Just had enough of the typical Utah angler mentality. "If I can't do it, nobody can."[/#0000ff]
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You know i wouldnt question the kids catch if there were more details on the article it just makes me wonder. If the kid grew up on the ocean then i will be more convinced that he did do it. Fishermen are great liars and cheaters when it comes to record.
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I'm in South Florida now, and this story and several interviews has been on all the Miami tv stations. The kid was with a guide, on a fairly small charter boat, not a huge party boat! I have had skinny little women land 200 pound bull sharks on 30-pound line, with the drag set at about 15! If the captain chases and follows the fish, as he did in this case. If the captain coaches the angler on what to do, when, and how to put max. pressure on the fish, as he likely did in this case. Well then, that boy, or nearly anyone else could have "caught" that fish. And he was using very heavy tackle to boot. Probably had a fighting belt on, and gimbaled butt on the rod.

Listen to Tube Dude (did I say that? LOL) This is a big catch for anyone, but not a feat beyond comprehension or a great miracle. Just a big fish caught by a young angler, and well-coached by a good captain, who also handled his boat correctly. It was a TEAM effort. The boy is just the one doing all the work with the rod and reel! The boy said his body was burning. Hell mine burns on a lowly 100-pound tarpon, so I know the feeling. But at a younger age, the adrenalin kicks in and the body can do things and last longer than it would under the same strain without the excitement factor.

Give the kid a break.

Too bad he needlessly killed the fish, but that's another matter for another time. I would have drug it into the dock at his age too and said, "look at that!"
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Hell Ya Jim !!!! I Think you are right on Dude !!! Mr. "MacTuna" is a pompous A$$ Give the kid a break !!!! My 14 year old son has landed far bigger fish than I have. And every time I have not interfered just did a little coaching and let the fish gods and him do the battle. And every time he has overcome great odds and landed the fish without my interference. Give the kid a break and drop your arrogance and let him enjoy his great catch!!!
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Tube Dude, I think the world of your posts and reply's, you are a very intelligent and informative individual, not only that you are a great fisherman!! But I have to ask you being from South Florida myself (Miami) how young or old do you personally think someone should be to go out on a charter boat or party boat. The reason for the question is some of the best times of my life were spent on a party boat in the Keys with my father. I was young 6-12 years old, very very patient and loved fishing saltwater. I would have been brokenhearted if anyone would have told me I was too young or too much of a pain to come on the boat. I was in Florida in August last year (07) and I took my eight year old out on a night trip on a party boat, we had a great time and my son caught the most fish of anyone on the boat, the mate had a good time with my son and we enjoyed the trip very much. I never felt he was a detriment or in any danger, we were not going after sharks or anything just small reef species. As a side note a Grouper fights very hard and a 25lb fish fights harder than you would think, a total tug of war!! Anyway how old? Have a great weekend. Sincerely John R.
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[cool][#0000ff]That is a good question, but I suspect that you already know my answer. It is not so much a matter of age as size, maturity, physical ability, fishing skill and the help and supervision of adults along on the trip. Youngsters that have grown up fishing and are reasonably proficient with basic tackle and fishing techniques generally require less coaching, but should not be allowed to "tackle" fish bigger than they can handle. And, that is going to vary all over the map. Some ten year olds are much more physically mature than other twelve or thirteen year olds. It is an individual thing. The species of fish and the type of fishing can be variable too. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I too always wanted to be a part of every family fishing trip. But, there were some situations where I was firmly told that I was not invited. Of course that broke my heart and I was insanely jealous of my older cousins who did get to go. It was even worse when they showed off their big fish after the trips and rubbed it in. In later years I have become more understanding, but the old emotional scars are still there.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My comments about young kids on party boats or charter boats was probably too generalized. If boats are set up to accomodate families, with kids, then by all means bring the youngsters and expose them to the excitement. Unfortunately for dads with younger kids, most serious fishing boats are pretty much adult oriented and simply do not have the system or the patience to deal with the aggravations and potential problems that can come from normal kid behavior. There are too many "attractive nuisances" on fishing boats that can get kids in trouble and create nasty wounds or serious injuries. Plus, most guys that hit the boats do so as a means of getting away from jobs, spouses and kids. When a couple of noisy rugrats destroy the manly atmosphere of a guys only trip, it kinda ruins it for everybody. Having worked on some boats, I can tell you that it is a deckhand's worst nightmare to have to chaperone a couple of rambunctious kids who run around getting into everything...while dad gets tanked up on beer and stays happily fishing on the rail.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Nope. Not discouraging taking kids on boats. In fact, I believe in getting them started as soon as they are ready...and can take a day of fishing without ruining the trip for you. But...and this is a biggie...if you DO bring a youngster (never more than one kid per supervising adult) make the trip about them and not you. If you bring them, assume the responsibility for keeping them under control and away from cantankerous old guys (like me) that might wanna use one of them for bait. Also, be willing to sacrifice some of your own fishing time to make sure the youngster is properly rigged, baited, etc. And, if your kid gets hooked up, drop everything and hang with them until the fish is properly landed and taken care of. Take lots of pictures and give lots of positive reinforcement. Keep the kids comfy and well fed. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you do all these things, and properly educate the kids on boat etiquette and procedures, pretty soon they will be independent and you will have a super fishing buddy for life. Then, when peer group pressure is put upon them to "get involved" in "other things", they will automatically make the right decisions. Serious fishermen don't have the time or inclination to waste their money or their health on things that will keep them off the water. I have seen a whole bunch of situations where a young person's passion for fishing has completely turned their lives around...or kept them going the right direction when the pressure was on.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Kind of a long answer, huh? Who, me?[/#0000ff]
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Yea I thought you would say something along those lines. I agree with you and yes you should not leave your child unattended on a boat!! I believe one of the reasons my son caught so many fish on that trip was as you mentioned I did help him a lot with baiting the hook, checking to make sure he was in contact with the bottom etc.. You are so knowledgeable I have to ask if you have ever taught kids to fish in local programs or just with relatives or whatever and yes I think I already know your answer. I think a bigger issue may be with the new laws allowing twelve year olds to hunt big game in this wonderful state of ours. Just as you said before it will have a lot to do with how responsible the parents are, it just is a little unnerving to think of some young person with a high power rifle and a irresponsible adult as a "guide", anyway that is a whole different discussion. Thanks for your reply Tubedude, hope you have a great 08!!
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I agree with Pat maturity not age matters a lot.I used to take my 6 year old nephew fishing in miami.You have to teach them that means you dont fish and you give them your full attention when fishing. When we get the bonito runs in miami you being from there know how hard they fight. Any inexperienced kid and adult will have a difficult time even with a 10lber. If you teach them the right technique they will do good making adults look bad.I taught my daughter to catch kings when she was about 8 years old. Now she can outfish most adults. Last year we went fishing in miami in may and she outfished me and all my nephews.As of party boats there are a few good ones and some bad ones (kelleys fleet). The mates work for tips so the good ones will be patient and give good advice and will help.Personally i started teaching my family with yellowtails and mangroves and you know they can put up a fight on light tackle.This is what i have done and it has worked for me.Someone else will probably give you a different opinion but if it works for them thats ok too. As for groupers i have caught my fare share of 20 lbers plus. I dont know what kind of groupers there are in the pacific but the gags,goliaths, and blacks that are in miami will put anyone on their arse.Again just my opinion and experience.But they are yummy arent they!![cool]
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