GT popping history

[Peter McConaghie]

I'll second that Mark!

[Aaron Concord]

Graham,

That was probably the best summation of the evolution of our angling culture I have ever read.
PERIOD!

I'm with Mark and Peter................10/10 mate. 10/10!

You hit the nail on the head and drove it in 6 inches with one hit of the hammer.

We are steadily becoming a 'deeper' need-to-know bunch.  All of my selling and writing on the subject of fishing has been accepted better from a learning and knowledge sharing angle.

Brilliant piece Graham.

Cheers,

Aaron.

[Graham Scott]

thanks guys,

The challenge now is to bring as many fishos as possible up thru the levels, but letting them enjoy every level on the way. You can't just yell at people to catch and release, or get involed in green zones.If someone wanted to keep a GT on my boat I would let them. I would also talk about how rare they are, how priviliged they are to catch one...and how sad I am to see a dead GT...We have a responsibilty to offer support and guidance. I was in the thick of the GBRMPA rezoning, which taught me a lot. No matter how crazy the views expressed,they were their genuine belief. They weren't wrong, they just might not have enough understanding...and in some cases a lot more understanding.

[Graham Scott]

For the record, no one has wanted to keep a GT so far

[Al Morrison]

Graham,

Brilliant summation.

Lets not forget that not all geographic populations are developed to the same degree. We on this site are the very priveleged few who can afford the luxury of specialist tackle (oh and internet connections and PC"S !) and the intellect to spend time making life hard for ourselves for personal reward - whatever that may be - respect, kudos, bragging rights, satisfaction, teaching etc etc. When i say making life hard - I mean that often easier fish are available, tasty fish, but we have moved through your ages and can now focus on the hard targets. There are still many people in the world out fishing for which the FOOD age is still in existance and GT's are food. I think culturally we are lucky to be at the economic stage where we have leisure time, we have disposable income and can focus on taking our pastime through this development.

The stages you describe are absolutely spot on - and different countries and different fish within those locations are all at different stages.

As a pom living in Australia I am still amazed at how THE prized European sport fish - Carp, are vermin in Australia. Carp are of course food in many parts of the world, revered in others and vermin in yet more places.

We are indeed at that most developed stage of GT fishing evolution - and the learning experience is brilliant - and as some chap once said - with great knowledge comes great responsibility (Roosevelt was going to say it but Spiderman did!). It seems , as is displayed on this site, it is a pleasure by those who have reached enlightenment to witness others "get it" and jump on board.

Now running off to find out about Maslow.

I'll throw out another train of thought for the GT sports development. I think we would all agree that much of the recent refinement in GT fishing has come from Japan. As an ex marathon runner, it was no surprise that success wise, japan was one of the most succesful nations - at what is arguably the most brutal athletic pastime known to man - running 42 kms for fun - because it takes focus, dedication, mental strength, etc etc. Culturally we are lucky to have a race of people in the right mindset to take on the challenge of GT' fishing and focus in on it. I see a parallel there.

Of course, it could also be that its late Friday night and James Boag is messing with my head.

[Paul Vogl]

Hi Al

Some great points there, particularly around the fact we are in a fortunate position economically to regard GT's as sport only. This sport has the ability to change mindsets and have a very positive financial impact in those areas. The first step is educating people that we like doing things the hard way and will pay for the privelige. It's the old "Whats in in for me", that we need to show.

Its ironic that locally in WA, one of our great sportfish, the Australian Salmon, is caught by the tonne to be used as cat food at 30c/kg. Imagine the difference in income both personally to the fisherman and to the local regions if a mindset change was to occur.

[Peter McConaghie]

Paul,

Very interesting points indeed and there's a lot of merit in that maxim, 'who shares wins'.   Per my ealier post, have attached a photo of Barry Cross' poppers from the late 80's.  As you can see, they certainly did the business!

[Mark Harris]

I suppose this also brings up why we are all so keen on catch and release policies for GTs but often do not put the same emphasis on other species? And often those other species are in greater need of protection (GTs are far from rare as we all know).

There have been pictures of massive dead tuna of different species posted here and (almost) nobody even raises an eyebrow. Imagine the reaction if that were a 50 kg GT?

I have personally witnessed boat captains who religiously release every GT caught, think nothing of killing 15 under-sized Amberjacks for example.  The first time I caught a Mahimahi with the same captain I had to almost plead my case before he gave in and watched me  release the fish.

What in the history and evolution of GT fishing has made them so sacred?   I am of course delighted that they are, but are we a group of anglers practicising illogical double standards?

[Al Morrison]

Mark,

I realise this is off-track, but perhaps the lack of eating quality is one of the prime movers here? I've never had a skipper fight me over putting a GT back, but a YFT or Spanish mackerel - I've definitely had to be a tad more forceful to have them go back. admittedly that is largely in areas that would be considered 3rd world. I think the nearest analogy is with sailfish - these were wholesale butchered in Guatemala and Costa Rica until the US anglers recognized the value of them alive and spent an age "buying" the fish to release them and generating the knowledge that others here have mentioned - the overall economy then booms as a complete industry springs up around one species of fish. Malaysia is similar - its not so long ago (less than 15 years) that Sails were trawled there. Now it is turning into a world class fishing location where relatively novice anglers can, very cheaply catch lots of sail fish. Neither are spectacular food, but both a great sport - and local economies are getting hotels, resteraunts, guides, specialist tackle (witness the Kaiser sailfish rods specifically made for Rompin) etc..

Perhaps its the realization that we can only eat so much - so once you have caught a few trout, spaniards, etc - you are either heading home or putting things back - in which case - why not have a blast with the most spectacular strikes and hardest pulling beasts in the sea - who just happen to love living in pretty nice places too.

It comes back to the ages - we have got past that food stage, need a challenge and the non food fish is actually a harder target than many decent eaters.

As paul stated - in the areas still in the "kill em all" for food stage - we need to educate to lower the killing to the minimum needed to support humans. In the more affluent areas - its full steam ahead with the development of technology etc.

Lets face it - good anglers will ALWAYS be ahead of not so good anglers. Technology only closes that gap when it is limited in its availability, once everyone has it - only the fish lose out,  if fish are returned they in turn learn and the cycle begins again.

And that is why we are here - to close those gaps.

Getting back on track. The PILI lure I believe was made back in the early 80's in Hawaii - thats the earliest reference i can find online. They are resin lures - so I am pretty certain someone copied a wood one. I still cant find any earlier references though,

And now an excerpt from the Hawaii Fishing News.

100-plus
Weight                Angler Location                      Date
Ulua 100 lbs 8 oz Isaac  Makapuu Point, Oahu 1958

In the old days of trevally fishing from shore, it was extremely rare for an angler to be able to conquer big reef predators like the 100-lb ulua. Isaac used a split bamboo/hickory pole measuring 12 feet in length, a Pflueger Templar 500 reel and 80-lb test linen line.
I guess this wasnt a popper though !

Another quote from the Hawaii news;
"Giant trevally, locally known as ulua, are the prize of Hawai'i's shorecasters. Many exceptional fish have been caught-some in the 150-lb range. The giant of them all, a 191-lb monster, was speared by Al Gadow from Lahaina, Maui on January 14, 1980. On the same dive, Al reported seeing a larger ulua that escaped"
Check out this list and then look at the tackle....... 13 ft beach rods for 150lb GT's.
http://www.hawaiifishingnews.com/100plus.cfm?order=ID

[Graham Scott]

Hi Mark,
I agree with Al, the double standard has developed, I believe because GT's were not part of the "Food Age"
AL' Interesting your news quotes from Hawaii. Those captures sem to be from the "competition age"...thats why they are in the paper, which I presume doesn't go on to say "and they had a great feed of ULUA".
The fishing Ages frequently all exist at the same time and as many have pointed out we need to understand where other countries and culture are at before we try to impose our views.

[Ed Miller]

The beginnings of top water Gt popping come from the invention of the resin popper with a urethane core, in Hawaii by the inventor Peter Dunn-Rankin in 1982.This is where the history began in which it was copied by Japanese anglers and others.It is all documented in Hawaii Fisshing News and Saltwater Sportsman.