Northwest Fishing Reports

CHECK THIS OUT!!!!

Its a Grouper. but i think they're probably related to the bass family!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &plindex=0

whoa!

:king:

he lipped that sucker

That fish was 100% illegal. The Goliath Grouper is a protected species making them illegal to fish for and if caught they are not to leave the water at all!!! It's a great fish, but the species was nearly wiped out do to over-fishing.

There are lots of other fish in the grouper family that are legal, Some have big gnarly teeth, some have a mouth like a bass. They are all great eating. But that video could get someone in dire trouble.

Ive seen them C&R them a few times on TV - i doubt theyd make a TV show around it if there wasnt some kind of C&R fishery for em?

Aynways, the bait they used to catch them would be BIG fish in my book!

That was totally insane!!! That fish was ridiculous!!!

I'VE caught LARGEMOUTH that big!!!

NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the biggest bass I've ever caught

cavdad45 wrote:That fish was 100% illegal. The Goliath Grouper is a protected species making them illegal to fish for and if caught they are not to leave the water at all!!! It's a great fish, but the species was nearly wiped out do to over-fishing.

There are lots of other fish in the grouper family that are legal, Some have big gnarly teeth, some have a mouth like a bass. They are all great eating. But that video could get someone in dire trouble.

Check out this page:
http://www.floridaconservation.org/mari ... elease.htm
The fish was legal, but hauling him on board was illegal, and they probably got fined. It would be nice to see them treat the fish a bit better.

Mikey wrote:

cavdad45 wrote:That fish was 100% illegal. The Goliath Grouper is a protected species making them illegal to fish for and if caught they are not to leave the water at all!!! It's a great fish, but the species was nearly wiped out do to over-fishing.

There are lots of other fish in the grouper family that are legal, Some have big gnarly teeth, some have a mouth like a bass. They are all great eating. But that video could get someone in dire trouble.

Check out this page:
http://www.floridaconservation.org/mari ... elease.htm
The fish was legal, but hauling him on board was illegal, and they probably got fined. It would be nice to see them treat the fish a bit better.

When I was talking to a couple charter captains in the Keys, they told me targetting them at all was illegal as of 2006. That's what I was going on. I guess they figured to err on the safe side. My targets for south Florida saltwater fishing are permit and dolphin, but I have to wait until Feb 2009 for my next Florida trip.

Yeah, I've seen numerous TV shows where they target goliaths and bring them on board to measure so they can get the weight calculations before they release them. I can't remember where they were, but I doubt Roland Martin would film and air and illegal fishin excursion (although, I can't stand that guy - his show is like one big long info-mercial).

That's why I like Bill Dance. His show still pimps different products, but he reminds me of my grandfather and seems pretty modest. At least they show him catching a dink every now and again.

Drewp wrote:Yeah, I've seen numerous TV shows where they target goliaths and bring them on board to measure so they can get the weight calculations before they release them. I can't remember where they were, but I doubt Roland Martin would film and air and illegal fishin excursion (although, I can't stand that guy - his show is like one big long info-mercial).

Could be older footage. Besides how reliable is Roland Martin? The fishing pole that looks like a bazooka, remember that one? He is trying to garner as much income as he can right now because his marina on Lake Okeechobee is going under. The lake is so low that unless they get a hurricane this year, every marina there will be out of business next year.

On a personal level, Roland Martin is a great guy, one of the best. Had an opportunity to talk with him a few times back in 1989 when I was fishing the St. Jude Classic.

Bill Dance, is a jerk and so are the whole lot from that Memphis Bass Club!!! My partner and I had a run in with that clown at Flowers Lake in Mississippi when he was filming one of his TV shows (infomercials) and we were on the hot spot in a club tournament and him and his film crew tried to horn in 'cause he was getting skunked. It got very nasty. He almost got a severe butt-whipping from Ollie, my partner. I get ticked just thinking about it. Millington Bassmasters rule the South!!!

Here is the official enforcement statement from the the state of Florida: http://myfwc.com/docs/2007_Goliath_Grou ... tion_2.pdf

You cannot take them onboard for photo ops because of their size, it damages them thus by definition it is considered harvested even if released.

I tried to watch the video and got a message that it is not available...try back later.

Maybe they pulled it.

cavdad45 wrote: Could be older footage.

Could be...though it didn't look old. Roland is by far the worst on name checking his sponsers - I know it's their job, but I find him the most annoying. I'm sure he is a great guy - I'm sure most of them are. You can catch anyone on a bad day and make a snap judgement based on that.

anyways....whoops on the thread tangent.

I'd love to be snorkeling down there and see that thing looking at me...

Just kidding.

Cool video though, pretty cool that those things just live right in 20 feet of water right near bridge pilings...

cavdad45 wrote:

Drewp wrote:Yeah, I've seen numerous TV shows where they target goliaths and bring them on board to measure so they can get the weight calculations before they release them. I can't remember where they were, but I doubt Roland Martin would film and air and illegal fishin excursion (although, I can't stand that guy - his show is like one big long info-mercial).

Could be older footage. Besides how reliable is Roland Martin? The fishing pole that looks like a bazooka, remember that one? He is trying to garner as much income as he can right now because his marina on Lake Okeechobee is going under. The lake is so low that unless they get a hurricane this year, every marina there will be out of business next year.

On a personal level, Roland Martin is a great guy, one of the best. Had an opportunity to talk with him a few times back in 1989 when I was fishing the St. Jude Classic.

Bill Dance, is a jerk and so are the whole lot from that Memphis Bass Club!!! My partner and I had a run in with that clown at Flowers Lake in Mississippi when he was filming one of his TV shows (infomercials) and we were on the hot spot in a club tournament and him and his film crew tried to horn in 'cause he was getting skunked. It got very nasty. He almost got a severe butt-whipping from Ollie, my partner. I get ticked just thinking about it. Millington Bassmasters rule the South!!!

I've stayed at Rolands resort. It's a nice set up, but the guide we got ripped us off. We paid 250 bucks for a ride on his new triton and watched him hit every hole to catch every fish.

I've heard the same thing about Bill Dance. Not a pleasant guy to deal with.

Makes you wish that you had just rented a boat and bought a bucket of shiners and done it yourself doesn't it?

so that was a bass its looked weird what kind is it??

It's not a bass. It's a Goliath Grouper.