Who Shoots These

[David Biron]

Wondering who shoots these fish.

1. Barracuda over 15lbs
2. Jack Crevalle
3. Cubera Snapper

I have seen alot of photo's of these fish and from what I've been told neither is very good table fair. The larger cuda are often implicated in cases of cigutera.

So.. I've been wondering who shoots these fish and why.

 

[Pav]

Never seen any of these in UK waters! but I've watched Barracuda on holiday snorkelling. I caught one spinning and was pleased to get if of the hook and return it without experiencing its teeth. I understand the "toxins" in the larger Barracuda is the problem with eating?

 

[Amphibious]

I have shot a few large Cuda over 20lbs, tasted ok. kind of like Tofu, tastes like whatever you cook it with. usually pass on them these days.

 

[feign]

I have seen video of guys that shoot the cudas to cut them up as "burley" to attract the big pelagic fish.

Lee

 

[crusty]

Yep Spanish Macks just love cuda burley


Crusty

 

[David Biron]

So far just a couple reply's on Cuda speared for burly. How come there are so many pictures of people holding up Cubera Snapper if they are poor table fare?
Rooster fish is another where the fishermen seem so proud of their catch and when I talk to people about their taste they say "not to good a eatin fish".
Tarpon is yet another.....

Maybe I'm missing somthing .. but the main reason I fish is for somthig to EAT!

I've been known to shoot a skate from time to time.. and the darn things are quite tastey if properly prepared.

What am I missing?

 

[Oldsarge]

Tarpon and Roosterfish fight like the dickens but are usually "catch and release" because of their poor reputation on the table. I can cook 'cuda and make it enjoyable but our Pacific species don't seem to have any problems with ciguatera. My own preference is what is called "eat and release" that is to say I fish and throw back until it's close to time to go in then keep one for dinner!

 

[BatRay]

What is ciguatera?

 

[Bill McIntyre]

What is ciguatera?

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap36.html

A friend in Hawaii who shoot uluas uses a cig detection kit developed by the University of Hawaii on any fish over 25 pounds.

 

[Shadowkiller]

Ciguatera poisoning is caused the accumulation of toxin produced by dinoflagellates in fish, which is then consumed by humans.

Weirdly enough, Cig is not a constant or predictable factor, with some fish such as Barracuda having the toxin in one island of Fiji, and the next islands Cudas being Cig free.

Almost any large predatory fish species can carry it in tropical waters.

Here in Oz there is a ban on Chinaman fish, Red Bass and Paddletail because of their predisposition as Cig carriers.

 

[BatRay]

That's not good!

 

[miles]

Hiya

David, not everybody spears fish simply as a means to put fish on the table. Spearfishing is a sport and there are many who simply enjoy the HUNT far more than the meal!!

Similarly, you mentioned that you enjoy skate wings (they DO taste GREAT!!). How-ever most spearo's here frown upon taking them as its not sporting, rather considering them to be pets, much like turtles and dolphins.

It all comes down to what YOU enjoy. No matter how bad a fish tastes, there's ALWAYS somebody that'll enjoy it. As long as there is no wastage of fish, i don't fore-see anything wrong with it.

Regards
miles

 

[sickbugs]

jack crevalle (we call all of the similar looking ones horse-eyes down here in barbados) are a very popular dish, and honestly, they taste great once u cut out the red meat. same for cuda.. everyone likes them..

 

[David Biron]

Miles... with regard to your quote

"Not everybody shoots fish to put food on the table".

Killing animals for sheer sport is what prompted conservation measures in the first place. I can only hope few spearo's share your opinion given that we tout ourselves as practicing the most selective and eco freindly form of fish harvesting.

All the people I fish/ associate with take animals for food. To kill an animal for sheer sport is WRONG. Perhaps you should join the line fishermen and learn to release those animals you do not wish to consume.

With regard to skate's being pets.... maybe you are confusing them with stingray? I have never seen skate in the petting area of a large aquarium.

If I were in an area wheer tourist were feeding these animals .. I surely wouldn't shoot one.

My point is ... when I did shoot a skate.. I ATE IT !! I found a recipe for skate wings and it really was a nice treat.

We are the ambassadors of conservation and selective fish harvesting.. the emphasis is on selective which I believe has nothing to do with killing for mere sport.

My brother took a tarpon by spear once.... he brought it to an old spanish lady and together they made a nice Fish Soup. I don't think he's taken another since because there are so many others he would rather EAT!!!!

 

[Bill McIntyre]

All the people I fish/ associate with take animals for food. To kill an animal for sheer sport is WRONG. Perhaps you should join the line fishermen and learn to release those animals you do not wish to consume.

I've seen this one fought out so many times and in so many places that I should no better than to get into it, but no one ever accused me of being smart.

David, if all you want is food, surely it would be a lot cheaper to go to the fish market. One year I totaled up all my expenses for boat payments, insurance, gas, mantainence, spearfishing equipment, etc. and my cost per pound of fish was in the thousands of dollars. I didn't repeat the calculation in subsequent years because it was so depressing.

I don't shoot fish that won't be eaten by me or my friends, but I suspect that I'm in it partly for the sport, and I suspect that you are too.

 

[ROBERT REYES]

My Dear David
What do you mean?, Barracuda is a delicacy on some places, I got insulted in Venezuela for chumming with one, Jacks are eaten with great passion on Dominican Republic just to mention one place, and anyone who shoots freediving a Cubera Snapper out of a cave is got my respect.
Normally what is a trash fish in some places is highly priced in others.
Lisa ( mullets) for example, Awa(milk fish) are trash fish in Mexico, and very welcome in Hawaii, Parrotfish is another example.
In a trip to Louisina aI went with some guys from Florida, they had an awesome boat just to fish Kings, we were told not to think of cleaning any on the "tuna/wahoo" cleaning table, so we would not be laugh at.
Anyways, fish are fish, We all like diferent things,I love trigger fish, some people dont even know you could eat them, I made ceviche once with it, some friends still dont believe that awesome ceviche they ate was oceanic triggerfish.

 

[David Biron]

Bill - If by sport you mean the physical challenge and benefit.. Heck Yeah. That is the main reason I no longer scuba dive. I enjoy the physical aspect of freediving. I can marvel at hundreds of beautiful creatures ... from starfish to sea cucumbers to whale sharks.... at the same time benefit from the physical exertion.. all while providing some tastey treats for my family.
The sport to me is not blasting a big fish just because it swam in front of me! Visual catch and release works for those with modest self control.
The Hell Divers will shoot practically anything that moves just because they can. I will not fish in their tournament for this reason alone. Spearo's are the first to say "We're selective" .... what exactly does this mean? We only shoot the big uns.... or .... we take only what we need .. implying ..what we eat.
You are right to say buying fish at the market would be ALOT cheaper than spearing them ... and that there are other reasons we spearfish. At least for me.... killing a fish because it's big and it swam in front of me isn't one of them.

 

[David Biron]

Well said Roberto!!

Most people snub their nose at skate .. and I like em. Just hate cleaning them. The point is... I won't shoot a big Jack Crevalle if I'm not planning on eating it. Same for the Cubera snapper... unless your willing to share your recipe with me. From the begining .. people learned to fish as a means of gathering food. I see no point in shooting fish with no intention to consume!!
I fished a tournament on the gulf where Barracuda was an allowed specie. After everyone weighed their fish... most were looking for a way to dispose of the carcus. It was disturbing to the point .. the tournament directors discussed dropping the fish from the following years list of allowable species. Unfortunately this didn't happen. A couple large Cuda were donated to the tournament organizers who inturn cooked (fried ) the fish and served it to competitors at the awards banquet. Surprisingly .. the fish was quite nice to eat. I wouldn't kill one because their are others I prefer over the barracuda. And they will literally stink up your boat !
I just think it's bad practice to kill fish in the name of sport just for the sake of killing. Taking a fish for chum is OK.... you are actually feeding smaller animals in the ecosystem. I'd rather chum with a cuda , than chum with a triggerfish. The fish isn't shot ..just to be admired and then discarded at the end of the day... unless of course .. you have crab/lobster traps that need to be baited
I guess there are more people than I had imagined who eat. Cuberra, barracuda and Jack !

 

[Amphibious]

"You Kill it, You Clean it, You Cook it, You Eat it"

Always worked for me. my little "Do I really want to shoot another fish today?" mantra......

 

[Luis]

"You Kill it, You Clean it, You Cook it, You Eat it"

Always worked for me. my little "Do I really want to shoot another fish today?" mantra......

Alheluya Amphibious! Great quote!

...And David, Cudas are very good if cooked properly, maybe one of the best "Ceviches" :t (A raw fish dish!) That I've tried was made with a huge barracuda (18 Pounds), and about the Ciguatera, always ask the locals, It was my first concern when I saw the boat's cook fileting the fish... And they gave me this primitive pearl of wisdom (That has always worked for them) "If the fish fights hard:martial ... Means that it's healthy and you can eat it with no concerns... If fights too little and doesn't swim fast... Don't eat because is a sick animal and :yack you'll get sick too":crutch It sounds like a grandma quote but so far people in Can cun follows this and you don't see many locals poisoned by ciguatera.

Jack crevalles... Different story... Not very tasty but a great shot! I do enjoy killing those ones, they are good fight, strong and fast and whenever I have one in my shaft I fantazise about it beeing a huge tuna... I kill it, I clean it... I cook it (Very spiced because the taste is not my favourite ) I eat a little bit and feed my friends:friday , my staff or I give the clean filets to people in the village where I rent the boat... I make sure that my catch never gets wasted:naughty ... But I must confess that as a spearo I find the chase very exiting and enjoy it... As a head chef in one of the most sophisticated restaurants in my city, I have fishmongers delivering fresh salmon from Alaska, Sea bass from Chile, King crab from the northern sea, and the most delicate fish that money can buy... But I still enjoy much more a humble triggerfish, parrot fish or Jack C. That costed me a 6 hours drive from my city, gas, tolls, night in the hotel, boat rent, tip to the sailor, food and beverage for 2 days.

I think that the last time that I came back home with 8 pounds of fish filet in my car's trunk I spent about $600-700.00 USD For that little treat. I can tell you that this sport is a bit more than "Bring fish to the table" Maybe that makes me a bad person... But damn!! Feels great to land a nice shot in a fish while freediving!!!. Please take no ofence in my words but that's the way I feel and I think that most spearos feel the same.

Best Regards!!