Blackfish reports

[bulletbob]

Releasing larger fish??.. Honestly, can't say I ever saw that one before. Exactly the opposite. The babies go back, period, everything remotely legal goes in the cooler.. Can't blame guys that might have just spent $150 for a few blackfish.... I have seen in person where party boat crews had those big blue hard plastic DEF barrels filled to the top with cold sea water, and kept pumps running into them, while the water ran down the deck bow to stern, almost the entire trip after the first few fish was caught.. The boat employee was going to sell them alive, as I had already figured, and had ready and eager buyers waiting .. He said each one was worth a minimum of $25, usually more, and this was several years ago... How do I know that? simple, he told me while I fished next to him..

More than anything else, the "live fish" craze, sushi, sashimi etc, has been one of the greatest detriments to tog populations.. Pin hookers the live close to the coast can make a lot of money, if they are good, and know how not to get caught... In my day, blackfish were not highly thought of, and the abundance compared to today is off the charts... Don't know the answer, but as long as a single live 3 pound fish is worth $25-$35, guys will catch them and sell them...bob