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Post by tarponmania on Jun 20, 2012 9:32:27 GMT -5
So the locals are upset with the way the PTTS is running their tournament. I think they just want us fishermen to get out of their town. Do you think a happy medium can be found to make both sides comfortable with the handling of the tarpon? I doubt it and fear the end of the PTTS is near.
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Post by ddavids on Jun 20, 2012 14:06:57 GMT -5
This was posted on the PTTS Facebook page. It addresses some of the behavior of the "Save the Tarpon" group that came out to protest this past weekend's tournament. Unbelieveable...
PTTS Participants and Supporters,
First and foremost this letter is to thank and commend all the participants of the Skeeter Tarpon Cup Championship and the Reactor Silver King Classic. The class, tact and restraint that was exhibited during the tournament on Sunday was top notch. We are honored to have such mature and professional competitors.
Secondly we would like to especially thank the release teams that did such an amazing job releasing these tarpon healthy while trying to avoid the onslaught of harassment brought on by the Save The Tarpon supporters. These guys were verbally assaulted and personally attacked for the full 5 hours of the tournament on Sunday and reacted calmly and never faltered on their task at hand.
A big thanks to Chris W., Chris M. and crew for coming out and doing everything they could to protect the weigh boat and camera crews so we could carry on with our events.
To all our participants and their families that did not compete in the Championships that came out by boat and on the beach to support your peers, thank you. We are all in this together and it is great to see all the unity that was displayed by our PTTS family this weekend.
To our faithful sponsors, as always, thank you for your continued unwavering support this season. We look forward to the future!
The actions of the Save The Tarpon supporters were childish and immature to say the least. The uninformed opinions, rude gestures and personal attacks on our competitors, camera crew, friends and families were uncalled for and go to show what kind of characters they have. They have proven that they are irrational and impulsive. Their utter hypocrisy and peaceful protest turned tantrum was combatted by utmost dignity by everyone involved with the PTTS and we are proud and eternally grateful.
We do recognize that everyone has a right to stand up for what they believe in and we respect those of the Save The Tarpon supporters that did handle themselves in an honorable fashion, as we noticed not everyone behaved inappropriately.
With this being said the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series will adapt, we will adjust and we will overcome to make the 2013 season the best yet and we will continue to do so for years to come, the PTTS is DEFINITELY here to stay!!!
Sincerely,
PTTS Staff
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Post by ripnlip on Jun 20, 2012 17:14:12 GMT -5
That's good to hear. I'm looking forward to participating in the tournament next year for the first time. I thought maybe I missed my chance. I'm glad you're still planning on 2013!
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Post by baitman on Jun 21, 2012 12:51:39 GMT -5
The problem here is that many fishing tournaments, the fish are killed yet can be eaten, sold to fish houses, etc. where as tarpon are not edible fish. So these huge fish are being caught, dragged to the scales with the hope that they survive. And if they don't, then what do you do with them? Can't eat 'em. Mount them on your wall?
I'm not saying I'm against the sport of tarpon fishing, but I can see how some zealots can get their feathers in a ruffle over this.
Maybe the answer is not so many tournaments over that short course of time? Less fish would be potentially killed. Move the tournament around to different areas on the coast? NOt all in Boca - though I know Boca Grande is tarpon city.
The PTTS & WPTTS are great tournaments with a lot of participation & spectators. I would hate for that series to go away because of this.
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Post by ddavids on Jun 21, 2012 13:02:48 GMT -5
If you go to www.saveourtarpon.com they have a lot of info on why they are against the PTTS. I googled it because I wanted to get a better handle on the two sides of this controversy. As with any controversy, facts tend to get twisted to benefit each party. Fishing is a sport, just like hunting, just like football, just like basketball. People get hurt and in some cases die. Animals get hurt & in some cases die. They are a sport. If you don't like them, then don't play. I think the Save our Tarpon group is a bunch of rich folks who have nothing better to do with their time then find some "cause" to get behind. Unfortunately this time it is tarpon tournaments. I guess all I can really say is GET A LIFE! |
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Post by fl1964tba on Jun 21, 2012 13:36:13 GMT -5
First of all it's www.savethetarpon.com just to clarify The practices that the PTTS uses to weigh in the tarpon is killing these fish. Plain and simple. A huge percentage of tarpon do not survive after being put through the demands of a weigh in. Read the facts - they are proven. This is an unethical practice and this tournament series needs to be banned. As far as myself being a "rich folk with nothing better to do with my time" is just crap. I am a hardworking small business owner who stands up for what I believe to be right. |
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Post by ripnlip on Jun 21, 2012 19:06:59 GMT -5
I personally have landed 64 tarpon this year. I've lost at least a dozen to sharks, and probably a few from exhaustion. The point being, no matter what-depite your best efforts-you are going to lose a percentage of landed fish. As for them going to waste, nothing in the ocean goes to waste. Sharks, crabs, and hundreds of other species love the free meal. Tarpon anglers are the best stewards for conservation in Boca Grande. They truly understand the fishery and protect it as much as possible. If you actually watch the weigh in, they use extreme care in handling and reviving the fish. You're hardworking small business would probalbly not do so well without the exposure the PTTS brings Boca Grande-they put it on the map. Without the tourist coming in tarpon season it would be nothing.
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Post by steveo on Jun 24, 2012 9:44:05 GMT -5
80 - 90% of the tarpon caught during the PTTS do not survive. That's a fact that is pretty well known with all the fishermen down there.
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Post by ddavids on Jun 24, 2012 15:32:07 GMT -5
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Post by ripnlip on Jun 24, 2012 15:58:27 GMT -5
Thanks ddavids, that was a great link! As far as 80-90%, I'm a guide "down here" and lip gaff fish for photos. That number is at least 2 times to high. I don't know where your information comes from, but it is flawed.
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Post by ddavids on Jun 24, 2012 19:54:21 GMT -5
My info comes from several of the guys who fish the PTTS.
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Post by ripnlip on Jun 24, 2012 20:35:38 GMT -5
I wasn't meaning your info, I meant the post before yours ddavids.
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Post by steveo on Jun 25, 2012 9:48:27 GMT -5
I've fished the PTTS and I've been a spectator. I've seen them try to get the fish back in action. But they are so fatigued after being caught, weighed in, etc that they are no match for the sharks that then stalk them. If they are even able to swim at all. I've talked to a lot of the fishermen down there and they have told me that many of the tarpon do not survive. And like I've said, I've seen it with my own eyes.
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Post by tarponmania on Jun 25, 2012 17:06:27 GMT -5
I agree with baitman - fishing is a sport. The animal you are "hunting" is going to die under most normal circumstances. I don't see what the big uproar is about. Survival of the fittest - if the tarpon can't swim good enough after being weighed in & gets eaten by a shark, well so be it. That is how nature works.
As far as the PTTS subjecting these fish to unnecessary conditions that are leading to more tarpon deaths - well it can happen while fishing this tournament, it can happen fishing another tournament, or it can happen to fisherman Bob who is out for the day with his son tarpon fishing. Tarpons or any other fish is going to tire out after the fight. Some make it & some don't. Again - this is life.
And like ripnlip says, who is really getting accurate #'s here? Because many don't agree with these Tarpon savers. Many who are out there fishing for tarpon on a regular basis.
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Post by reelmoves on Jun 26, 2012 8:55:42 GMT -5
I personally have landed 64 tarpon this year. I've lost at least a dozen to sharks, and probably a few from exhaustion. The point being, no matter what-depite your best efforts-you are going to lose a percentage of landed fish. As for them going to waste, nothing in the ocean goes to waste. Sharks, crabs, and hundreds of other species love the free meal. Tarpon anglers are the best stewards for conservation in Boca Grande. They truly understand the fishery and protect it as much as possible. If you actually watch the weigh in, they use extreme care in handling and reviving the fish. You're hardworking small business would probalbly not do so well without the exposure the PTTS brings Boca Grande-they put it on the map. Without the tourist coming in tarpon season it would be nothing. 100% agree with your statements |
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