10-09-2004, 03:22 PM
In my humble opinion the sportfishes around our local Southern Cal waters don't stand a chance and stainless hooks do not improve the situation. I went fishing with a guy the other day and witnessed un-believable electronics. The GPS, Radar, and depth finder were in an overlay so that all functioned together(with the auto pilot). To determine the exact position of a distant sportfisher sitting on a hot spot, you simply fired up the radar, asked the radar to place the sportfishers' position into your GPS waypoint list. Next time as you passed the jetty on your way to that spot you simply asked the auto pilot to goto that spot and it took you back to within 20 feet of the the location. Stainless steel hooks are the scourge of the catch and release program. Any fish hooked "deep" and released with a SS hook in its' belly is done for.I suppose SS is OK attached to lures but still I have seen those large Mexican Groupas inhale an 8 inch plug all the way down.Yes, I release 90% of all the fish I land, especially the larger than normal ones. I want my grandkids to enjoy the great world of fishing. The way things are going there won't be any fish left. Thanks for listening!
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