Dean Butler in Exxy.
Just read the article by Dean Butler in the latest Bluewater mag discussing his results from 30 odd days billfishing off Exmouth.
Here is an excerpt from the article.
"....As the gig unfolded, we also took the opportunity to claim a few Australian records, as we found plenty on offer. That seemed ok, but apparently we committed the cardinal sin when we wacked the first fish we caught, a small Black, for belly flaps, because we were struggling to find suitable bait. Even worse, we killed sailfish for the same reason.......When you criticise someone for killing a billfish, you're riding the slippery slide of the team that wants to stop fishing altogether......."
He has obviously copped a fair hammering since the trip as he didnt give a report on the fishing at all, just the justification for his/their actions.
Billfish for bait?
Oh dear......
darth
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 20/06/09
Here we go.....
Taking a few fish for potential records....not a problem. Killing sails and marlin for bait. Dont agree with that. Cant see him getting much support here....
squidder
Posts: 457
Date Joined: 03/09/10
Oh Dear
Before you get toooo excited boys and girls don't let this small incident cloud your minds and allow them to overlook the take of Billfish by "Long Liners"
darth
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 20/06/09
Dean Butler
After reading his comment I checked out his website.....photos and video from trips around the world. Worth a look.
www.deanbutler.com.au
Yewiefish85
Posts: 795
Date Joined: 02/01/11
I have also read the article
I have also read the article in question, IMO killing a billfish is killing a billfish, how can it be said that it is ok to kill them for a record claim but not ok to use a part of it for bait?, in Dean's article he states that they ate some of the fish and shared the fillets with appreciated locals outside the usual fish filleting (not billfish filleting) community, personally i don't have a problem killing any fish as long as it complies within the law and is not just killed for a trophy and wasted but that's my opinion
darth
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 20/06/09
Not getting excited....
I just disagree with using billies for bait (to target more billfish)....mainly because there are lots of other options. I can see that in order to make their claims for records he has no other option but to kill the fish (and present it for weigh-in). This doesnt bother me...especially as the fillets were eaten. Just a mild opinion that passes a nightshift at work.
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15653
Date Joined: 29/11/05
grief
The local deckie onboard still gets a bit of grief from it as well. They dropped a really good fish which would have cleaned up a heap more fly records too.
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dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Blacks taste good so that
Blacks taste good so that wouldn't bother me as long as it was going to be eaten. Sails are more similar to Mack Tuna. Not that flash at all. I would rather sacrifice an hour or two's fishing time and purposely catch a Queenie or GT for that valueable belly flap.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
Yewiefish85
Posts: 795
Date Joined: 02/01/11
each to their own, i know a
each to their own, i know a few blokes up in broome that will drive past busting up longtails in the search for mac tuna as they prefer macs to eat over the longtails, personally dont get it but that is what they like
reef-raider
Posts: 65
Date Joined: 04/10/10
just looked at
his website i cant believe how many marlin and sailfish are gaffed through the guts i dont see many fish surviving after this guy has caught them.
Man Overboard
Posts: 957
Date Joined: 16/01/10
If he is killing his legal
If he is killing his legal amount of fish, wether it be Billies or demersals then good on him.
So what if he is using it as bait, or sharing the fillets around.
I have been told that sailfish cook up a treat when smoked, so there you go.