On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 14:57:57 -0400, Eisboch
wrote:

LaBomba182 wrote:
Subject: Monster Shark Tournament
From: Eisboch

Anyone following this series on ESPN?

Yes.

The tournament took place this summer at Oak Bluffs in Martha's
Vineyard. 150 boats were entered, several owned or crewed by friends of
mine. Great job by ESPN. Two friends crewed on "Magic Lady" that ....
well, I won't spoil the finish for those of you that are watching the
series.

It's a kill tournament.

One boat even got penalized for bringing in a Blue that's under size. Dead of
course. No excuse for that.

Total waste of fine animals.

Your friends should rethink their priorities.

What they do for sport fishing or hunting is their business. For me,
occasional cod and tuna fishing is the limit although I did crew on a
catch and release shark tournament a few years ago. Exciting, but not
my bag.

I have a mixed opinion on tournaments. In one sense, they can be a
lot of fun and it's a way for a lot of people to participate for
prizes.

On the other hand, I have to believe that "kill" tournaments aren't
the best type of tournament to run.

I am very much in the catch and release tournament camp - limit the
number of boats, place judges on each boat and have a tournament -
like tagging fish or placing radio locators, etc.

Xtreme Billfish system is the best - every catch is released, every
one has to be tagged and every catch is measured by an impartial judge
from a different team.

I think they have the best system and it should work well in a shark
tournament.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717