absolutely wore out the reds today… landed about a dozen hogs and broke off just as many. Not one pup, all bigger 20+ inch fish. So I have this 30+" beauty I just landed in my cheap plastic lip grip I just picked up last week. Got him back in the water real fast and before I could release the grip (was holding the tail with one hand and the grip in the other) he shook free and took off with the dam thing in his mouth… think he could shake free from it or is he doomed? It was only 10 bucks or so, plastic, and pretty light. Hate to see a fish die that wouldn’t at least have the dignity of seeing my frying pan.
that sucks…
Think good thoughts, he’ll shake it and make it:smiley: And if not, it will feed an osprey, or eagle, or dolphin, or the crabs. A lot more of them go to natural causes than we hurt. At least that’s what I tell myself when I have a gut hooked short:roll_eyes: What can you do but your best.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
I have one of those plastic Fishgrippers and love it. Unfortunately, if that is what he took off with, he has a nice lip attachment because those things stay on pretty darn well. I use it on the kayak. It has a wrist lanyard that I always put on first.
Ha! very true. I’m picking up a net this week…
I bet the look on your face was “priceless” when that happened.
06 200 Bay Scout 150 Yam
Early on I let fish go with a cheap grade boga type grip. Was like $30. Dumb in hindsite, but I didn’t know any better or at least didn’t think clearly about it. Had a 27" red shake me and go down with the grip in his mouth. That red still haunts me. It was dumb to do, but I wish he’d have shook it, me drop the grip, and he swim off. Lesson would still have been learned and he’d been fine.
I hope he shakes it and lives to be fat and happy! I hate releasing a “maybe he’ll make it” (overslot guthook, whatever) fish.
Vinman
19.5 Triumph, 115 HP Honda
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
sswamembership@gmail.com
yep… had i had the lanyard on it wouldn’t have happened. Oh well… with all the hook-ups today we have no shortage of reds in our waters. They were non-stop on the entire falling tide. get out there!
quote:
Originally posted by DoubleNI bet the look on your face was “priceless” when that happened.
06 200 Bay Scout 150 Yam
Ha! My thoughts exactly!
quote:This fish is likely dead but... pretty good of you (IMO) to bring the question up for discussion. I often use one of those lip grips. Plastic, no rust and they usually come with a lanyard. I immediately replaced the lanyard that came with it with something that worked easier, stronger and was goof proof. When I use mine I leave the fish in the water, even if I grab a picture. The lip grip just lets me remove the hook free and not mess with his protective slime.
Originally posted by dontmissFLyep… had i had the lanyard on it wouldn’t have happened. Oh well… with all the hook-ups today we have no shortage of reds in our waters. They were non-stop on the entire falling tide. get out there!
Its crazy you posted this because i was watching roland martin today and saw him picking bulls up with a boga and wondering if a fish has ever swam off with a boga.
why not just use your finger and thumb to hold him like the bass boys do?
I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE FISHING AND WASTED THE REST OF IT!
What did u catch them on?
Cliff
2006 pioneer 197 SF 150 4s
I use the lanyard, and have hooked a section of old foam pool noodle to it as well. If I goes in with the fish attached, I still have a chance at getting it back.
John
1996 Sunbird Spirit 170 - 112 Johnson
15’ Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro
had a couple dozen mud minnows and 3 blue crab that we quartered and soaked under a dock on a 1/4 jighead. Started out with the minnows which worked quite well. they would soak for maybe 3-5 minutes before the were picked up. Once we moved over to the blue crab I dont think the crab was even able to hit the bottom before the reel was screaming. I’ve had many days of picking up 30-50 pups with a hog here and there but yesterday was ridiculous. Everything was over slot. I HAVE to learn to tie some better knots. At one point we broke off 5 in a row. very frustrating…kinda 
Lost a 30lb Boga at the jetties years ago when a buddy of mine let it slip out of his hand. I was pissed about what would happen to the fish, not about losing the Boga. Lanyard is a good idea , BUT if you put a big ass float on your grabber, even if a fish gets away with your scale/gripper, it will eventually force him to the surface. Its worked for me once already. I recommend a float and a lanyard. I have a big float on my 30lb and a giant float on my 60lber. I know how you feel, it sux. But dont sweat it, he will feed one of God’s other creatures.
Go back he may be in the shallows.I bought one of those dog leashes on a spool.I tie mine on it and it works great.The handle is on the T top pole and i just pull off what i need.It goes back in the handle when finished.Try it.Works great.
Stonoman
Several years ago, I had a medium sized spottail shake my 15 lb bogagrip out of my hand. I got in the water and felt around for almost an hour with no luck. I came back the next day with scuba gear. After almost an hour of groping around in the murky 6 foot deep water, I felt something brush my hand and low and behold, it was him still on the boga! I tagged him and let him go apparently OK. My wife thought I was nuts until I broke the surface with the fish.
quote:
Originally posted by titan1why not just use your finger and thumb to hold him like the bass boys do?
I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE FISHING AND WASTED THE REST OF IT!
This. It’s a redfish, not a shark. You can lip him.