First it was Kevin Logie’s 49.24-pound cow striper that hit the scale at Paulie’s Tackle Shop in Montauk last Wednesday. Then on Friday evening, Glen “The Sandman” Grothmann marched a 51.68-pound striper into Paulie’s. Back up-Island on Saturday, Matt Ehrlich hoisted a 52-pounder onto the scale at Saltwaters Tackle in West Islip. Those three fish, and others in the 30 and 40-pound class left no doubt that big bass had settled into Long Island waters. Boatmen also celebrated the arrival of the big girls, with a 50.3 pounder winning the Suffolk Marine Striped Bass Tourney on Sunday, and a 54 pounder hauled aboard a charter boat in the Montauk Rips last weekend.
Kevin’s fish, which he made several failed attempts at releasing, was caught in the Sag Harbor area but weighed at Paulie’s because Tight Lines Tackle in Sag Harbor is closed on Wednesdays. The big fish fell for one of Larry Welcome’s North Bar Darters in a bunker pattern.
While many anglers have the best intentions in trying to return these big girls, the reality is that it is not always possible to execute a healthy release. Unfortunately some of these fish succumb to the effects of lactic acid buildup and are unable to be revived. The reality is that releasing these big fish, especially in the surf, often requires conditions that allow the angler to get in the water with the fish and walk it until it regains enough strength to swim off on its own. This is nearly impossible to do if there is any kind of surf running that does not allow you to get beyond the wash. There are also difficulties associated with releasing big fish from some jetties and other rocky perches high above the water.
There are things you can do to improve the chances of a healthy release. First and foremost is minimizing the amount of time the fish is out of the water. The best release is not having to remove the fish from the water at all. If you want to take measurements or a photo of the fish, have those tools within immediate reach, get it done quickly, and get the fish back in the water.
Always have a pair of pliers within reach to expedite the removal of hooks, and crushing the barbs of your hooks can be a big timesaver in removing hooks.
Matt Ehrlich’s 52 pounder fell to a fresh bunker chunk in the Fire Island Inlet area on Saturday. Glen’s cow also fell to a bunker chunk while he was trying to collect some bluefish for shark bait on the sand beach at Napeague Friday evening.