tbone
Master of The Zebco 202
Posts: 48
|
Dogfish
Apr 12, 2005 22:30:21 GMT -5
Post by tbone on Apr 12, 2005 22:30:21 GMT -5
I was wondering what people do when they catch a dogfish (bowfin) . I was talking to a couple of guys this week who told me to kill them if I get one. Not sure what I think of that. I have picked up 2 of them at black, and they were let go. I looked on the net and nothing was said that they are bad for the fishing in any lake. One dogfish ripped the back hook off my rapalla. Strong fish
|
|
|
Dogfish
Apr 13, 2005 8:45:14 GMT -5
Post by ridgrunner on Apr 13, 2005 8:45:14 GMT -5
Strong is an understatement. I think they give smallmouth a run for their money as far as best fight for thier body size. I have the trashed spinnerbaits and twisted net to argue my point. I don't like the idea of killing them for no good reason. What happened to "catch and release" These fish are just trying to get a meal like every fish we enjoy catching which for me is any fish that will pull my string. I think their harder on equipment then on the other fish spieces. Just my opinion.
|
|
|
Dogfish
Apr 13, 2005 10:12:42 GMT -5
Post by SteveABass on Apr 13, 2005 10:12:42 GMT -5
The NYSDEC has nothing bad to say about the Bowfin. My vote is to enjoy them while we can. It's like catchng a piece of history... toss them back so other people can enjoy them. Here's the DEC wwrite up: The bowfin is another of New York State's living dinosaurs, having been here for the last 60 million years. They are large fish, averaging 18 to 24 inches in length and growing up to 11 pounds in weight. Bowfin are so distinct in appearance they are unlikely to be confused with other fish species. They have a massive round head with heavy plates on the cheeks, a large mouth loaded with pointed teeth, a rounded tail and a long, wavy dorsal fin. There is an oval black spot at the base of the tail, and their fins are often bright green with some orange highlights on males. Bowfin have a limited range in New York State. They live in Lake Champlain, the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and its larger tributaries, and a few other large water bodies in Central New York. Similar to bullheads and longnose gar, bowfin can live in waters with low oxygen levels. Their modified swim bladder is lung-like, enabling bowfin to gulp air at the water's surface. Spawning occurs in May and June. Adult males build nests by biting and tearing out leaves and stems of rooted vegetation. After the eggs hatch, the young attach to nearby vegetation with the aid of an adhesive tip on the snout. Male bowfin stay and guard the eggs and young for up to several weeks. Although bowfin put up a good fight when hooked, only a few anglers fish for them. Juveniles make interesting and colorful specimens in a fish tank.
|
|
|
Dogfish
Apr 13, 2005 13:49:02 GMT -5
Post by HipKat on Apr 13, 2005 13:49:02 GMT -5
The only thing I've heard is to cut the line and let them drop back in the drink.....
|
|
tbone
Master of The Zebco 202
Posts: 48
|
Dogfish
Apr 13, 2005 20:51:57 GMT -5
Post by tbone on Apr 13, 2005 20:51:57 GMT -5
Not a bad idea. Hipkat
|
|
|
Dogfish
Apr 16, 2005 6:17:23 GMT -5
Post by dale3fan3 on Apr 16, 2005 6:17:23 GMT -5
The only thing I've heard is to cut the line and let them drop back in the drink..... This is what I do if any of my hooks are to deep in the mouth and it will hurt the fish to remove it! It willl rust out in a day or two anyway so why kill the fish I dont eat them. I usually carry a pair of cutters so i dont loose a whole lure but there have been occasions
|
|
|
Dogfish
Apr 16, 2005 11:16:27 GMT -5
Post by HipKat on Apr 16, 2005 11:16:27 GMT -5
I do the same thing. I'm all catch, photo and release unless I KNOW I'm cooking up fish that day.
|
|
moparfan
Master of The Zebco 202
Posts: 32
|
Dogfish
Apr 16, 2005 12:51:13 GMT -5
Post by moparfan on Apr 16, 2005 12:51:13 GMT -5
I'm strickly catch and release except for crappie and an eye once in a while!
|
|
|
Dogfish
Apr 19, 2005 8:43:17 GMT -5
Post by O2BFishin on Apr 19, 2005 8:43:17 GMT -5
Just read SteveABass post on Bowfin. If the DEC info is correct, I caught a lunker last year on a 6" minnow that I was free floating. I didn't measure it, but it was well over 24 inches probably more like 28". It was my one and only look at a Bowfin (I'd have been more than a little shocked had I not read a discription someone posted on the BL forum last year, so hats off to you guys!). It was so distinct, I knew right off what is was. Thought I was bringing up the bottom of the lake! I was a little disappointed as I thought it was gonna be a BIG pike. So, is anything over 24" actually big for BL Bowfin?
O2BFishin
|
|
Buzzz
Master of The Zebco 202
Posts: 28
|
Dogfish
Apr 26, 2005 9:42:14 GMT -5
Post by Buzzz on Apr 26, 2005 9:42:14 GMT -5
I was wondering what people do when they catch a dogfish (bowfin) . I was talking to a couple of guys this week who told me to kill them if I get one. Not sure what I think of that. I have picked up 2 of them at black, and they were let go. I looked on the net and nothing was said that they are bad for the fishing in any lake. One dogfish ripped the back hook off my rapalla. Strong fish strange as they look, some people eat them critters. Here is a link to two recipes I found: www.landbigfish.com/recipes/recipes.cfm?fish=Bowfin
|
|