Techniques for safely landing big fish

[ronaultmtd]

Last fall I forgot one of my cardinal rules of safety in kayaking with a big redfish on my line...never, ever lean and reach over the side even in a big, wide and stable Outback-so I just wanted to remind everyone fishing the spring trophy season for cow stripers....don't lean and reach for the striper- keep a rod length of line on the rod and use the rod to bring the fish up against the side of the kayak and if possible use a lip gripper to slide the fish in across the top of your legs, being extremely careful if you have a big Stretch 25 with treble hooks as I sometime do..I do not bring in a green fish- that is borrowing trouble- and I don't eat big stripers- much too strong tasting for my tastes, so I usually keep it in the water with the lip gripper until it regains its senses and can swim away under its own power before I release it- just remember to keep your head in the centerline of the kayak- where the head goes the body will follow and turtling will not ruin your fishing trip-

[john from md]

Good post Ron. It is also imperative to maintain situational awareness when you are in an area where there is boat traffic. Sitting the wrong way when a wake comes along will drop you in the drink real fast.

John

[Pc4sun]

Thank you for the safety lesson. All tips are welcomed. What is a "green fish"?

[Shady]

Most importantly, like you said, let the big gals go!

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[Shady]

Thank you for the safety lesson. All tips are welcomed. What is a "green fish"?

A green fish is one that you reeled in fast and did not tire out in battle. They usually flop around and generally flip a s#^& in your kayak.

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[dsiekman]

I suppose you first have to catch big fish to need to worry about this...guess I'm pretty safe!

Then again, those WP can get pretty frisky.