Ocean City toggin

[PaBeerGuy]

Heading down to OC, Md for a last tog trip. My buddy has a house in Bethany so it makes it easier that way. We spend Thursday nite there then run to the boat Friday AM for a 5:30 departure. Just curious if any of you boys on this site have fished with Capt Monty and what I can expect?

[ytuna]

You can expect a great effort on Monty's part to put you on fish. The boat is slow but he knows where to go. Monty is expert at anchoring. He will put you on good bottom. He will leave on time (he will not wait for folks that are late).

The pool will be based on length so that you can release fish. You will be encouraged to release large females.

No short fish and no live fish will be on the boat when you get back to the dock. He takes that stuff very seriously.

You have a shot at a Bertha, enjoy the trip.

[jlrotary]

Great Capt and crew. Slow long ride, but usually worth it. Not much seating room inside, bring a bean bag if you got one. He supplies lead 😉 dunce your guy is slow 😜.

"3rd fin rip"
If you catch a short take the hook and rip the dorsal fin near 3rd spine. This does not grow back and if caught again Monty will tag the fish. So check for rips if already ripped tell Monty and he will tag it, if not rip it and send him or her back.

Good luck wish I could go

[M Rod]

He is going to take a ride on Friday. Bring something comfortable to sit on for the ride. Also be early. Its the kinda trip you want to shove off early and he will if everyone is there. Good luck. If it was a Saturday trip I would be on it. Been itching to fish with him but the weather hasn't cooperated much lately.

[Reelron]

I'll see you on the boat.

[PaBeerGuy]

Originally Posted by Reelron

I'll see you on the boat.

I'll bring a few extra of some of Pa's finest to share if you like.

Originally Posted by jlrotary

Great Capt and crew. Slow long ride, but usually worth it. Not much seating room inside, bring a bean bag if you got one. He supplies lead 😉 dunce your guy is slow 😜.

"3rd fin rip"
If you catch a short take the hook and rip the dorsal fin near 3rd spine. This does not grow back and if caught again Monty will tag the fish. So check for rips if already ripped tell Monty and he will tag it, if not rip it and send him or her back.

Good luck wish I could go

Don't understand the 3rd fin rip, a little slow on the uptick I guess! What exactly is the point of ripping the dorsal fin before tagging it if caught again? Why not tag shorts the first time caught without surgery? Not questioning the practice, curious what the Captain is trying to accomplish. Does it have anything to do with tracking resident fish maybe?

Just watched a 2010 video made by Capt. Monty. May have answered my own questions in the process. Assume the ripping procedure is to validate number of previously caught fish which survive being released. I'm assuming it's a technique to prove or disprove theories about the effect releasing fish has at various depths on mortality rates. Initially I was wondering why not just tag the fish when caught the first time. My guess is ripping the fish's dorsal fin first before tagging ensures it's not double counted each time recovered. That would be my guess. Kudos to the Captain for his efforts, seems like a real class act and operation and someone who actually tries doing something for the health of the fishery as opposed to simply talking about it.

[TheFishSlayer]

Originally Posted by dakota560

Just watched a 2010 video made by Capt. Monty. May have answered my own questions in the process. Assume the ripping procedure is to validate number of previously caught fish which survive being released. I'm assuming it's a technique to prove or disprove theories about the effect releasing fish has at various depths on mortality rates. Initially I was wondering why not just tag the fish when caught the first time. My guess is ripping the fish's dorsal fin first before tagging ensures it's not double counted each time recovered. That would be my guess. Kudos to the Captain for his efforts, seems like a real class act and operation and someone who actually tries doing something for the health of the fishery as opposed to simply talking about it.

Can u post the link?

[MVP]

Originally Posted by dakota560

Just watched a 2010 video made by Capt. Monty. May have answered my own questions in the process. Assume the ripping procedure is to validate number of previously caught fish which survive being released. I'm assuming it's a technique to prove or disprove theories about the effect releasing fish has at various depths on mortality rates. Initially I was wondering why not just tag the fish when caught the first time. My guess is ripping the fish's dorsal fin first before tagging ensures it's not double counted each time recovered. That would be my guess. Kudos to the Captain for his efforts, seems like a real class act and operation and someone who actually tries doing something for the health of the fishery as opposed to simply talking about it.

Capt Monty is a huge advocate for conserveration and having accurate data the marine fisheries can use in determining quotas rather than the flawed system they currently use. if you ever read one of his post he has a PhD in the importance of creating marine habitat. He spends much of his own money and time to create sustain habitat to make sure that generations to come have fish to catch. To answer your question. He has been tagging fish for many many years. These tags are not cheap either. He has probably tagged thousands of fish. This get very expensive. These tags are not cheap either. The ripped fin serves the same purpose of tagging fish without the cost involved.