Going through the article one of the picture mentions that Marlins under 300lbs should be released.
Big Game is a completely different scenario, the captain of the vessel is primarily responsible for the so called hunt. On charter fishing trips the captain advises the angler what he can keep or release.
In the US Virgin Islands and also British Virgin Islands it is completely prohibited to fish. If caught fishing the boat is confiscated and the perpetrators are legally charged to the fullest extent. I was reading one article on this and it was really saddening to know that a old couple who had a fishing line in the water were prosecuted even though they did'nt catch fish. Their boat was confiscated the wife was later released on bail and the husband is still languishing in jail because they don't have money to pay the fine which is in too many thousands of dollars.
In certain states and places a licence is required to fish. In North America you even have rules as to what size and type of fish you can catch, also how many of one particular species you can catch or keep.
Every angler should have a weighing scale and a broad sling capable of weighing the fish he wants to catch. To avoid further delay when he catches a fish so that he can weigh it and release it immediately. Also a camera so that he can photograph the fish for record purposes.
If you can spare a moment just visualize about commercial fishing, take a walk in the fish market, fishing harbour and see the number of fish that is processed in some fish factories. The comparison will show that big game fishing is next to nothing compared to commercial fishing practices.
The fishes caught by commercial fisherman is innumerable (so many fishes are killed by the second / minute / hour).
Why is a angler catching a few fishes prosecuted when commercial fishermen are respectfully going about their business daily ?
So my dear friends don't feel sorry for that fish. Feel sorry for us anglers when we get fined or prosecuted for going after a few fishes. United we stand, divided we fall.
