TWO QUESTIONS- Tarpon, Sharks and Spearfishing

[outlawaggie]

Are there any other fish not worth trying to eat?

Can somebody explain when (if ever) it is safe to eat barracuda? I've heard that fish under a certain size are safe to eat, but over that size (which I don't recall) you run the risk of ciguatera toxicity.

I heard about getting sick from 'cuda but I was told it only applies around coral reefs. I've never heard of ANYONE getting sick from it here in Texas. All I know is I've eaten 'cuda every Barracuda I ever caught...anywhere from 2 feet long to about 3.5 ft long. Had it fried, grilled and blackened. It's best fried if you ask me... its a little to flaky for the grill. Anyway the point is i've never had any problem with it. It's a very mild tasting fish.

FYI, there are several fish that are ILLEGAL to spear. Here in Texas you can only spear Non-Game Fish which is basically any fish not on the list below which came from the TPWD website http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/fishgenrequire.phtml#1

Game Fish (includes hybrids or subspecies of fish on this list):

Bass: Guadalupe, largemouth, smallmouth,
spotted, striped, white, yellow
Catfish: blue, channel, flathead
Cobia
Crappie: black, white
Mackerel: king, Spanish
Marlin: blue, white
Pickerel
Red drum
Sailfish
Sauger
Seatrout, spotted
Sharks
Snook
Spearfish, longbill
Swordfish, broadbill
Tarpon
Trout: brown, rainbow
Wahoo
Walleye

 

[kaborkian]

FYI, there are several fish that are ILLEGAL to spear. Here in Texas you can only spear Non-Game Fish which is basically any fish not on the list below which came from the TPWD website http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/fishgenrequire.phtml#1

Game Fish (includes hybrids or subspecies of fish on this list):
Cobia

I clipped some...

What??!? No Cobia? Remind me to stay in Louisiana...

FWIW, about 3 weeks ago, we dove (spearfished) with about 30-40 5' or so blacktip's circling. They would consistently swim up to look, then turn away 20' away or so, and they NEVER came near the platform we were diving. It was a bit "errie"...but we still took fish.

http://www.geocities.com/kaborkian/DSC00921.JPG

 

[outlawaggie]

I clipped some...


http://www.geocities.com/kaborkian/DSC00921.JPG

Nice haul.

 

[archman]

If you leave state waters (9-12 miles) you are no longer subject to their fisheries laws, just the federal ones. Hence all the folks in Texas that motor to a distant oil rig and shoot just about anything they want (i.e. cobia).

Regarding tarpon "aggresiveness", this is the first time I've ever heard of it. Despite their size, I don't believe them to be dangerous at all, unless one bonks you with its tail. They're more of a gentle giant. But like other folks said, they're a pain to clean and not particularly tasty. Personally I'd get pissed if I saw someone shoot one... there's no reason for it.

 

[outlawaggie]

If you leave state waters (9-12 miles) you are no longer subject to their fisheries laws, just the federal ones. Hence all the folks in Texas that motor to a distant oil rig and shoot just about anything they want (i.e. cobia).

Regarding tarpon "aggresiveness", this is the first time I've ever heard of it. Despite their size, I don't believe them to be dangerous at all, unless one bonks you with its tail. They're more of a gentle giant. But like other folks said, they're a pain to clean and not particularly tasty. Personally I'd get pissed if I saw someone shoot one... there's no reason for it.

That's what I thought.

Archman, What year are you at A&M? I'm '96. Do the aggie divers have any trips planned? I love to go with some other Ags.

 

[archman]

Archman, What year are you at A&M? I'm '96. Do the aggie divers have any trips planned? I love to go with some other Ags.

Sea Aggie class '95. Our College Station club has several trips every semester. Our next one is this weekend, at the Comal River. For aggie diver information, check out our website.
http://scubaclub.tamu.edu/home.htm

 

[Rice]

It's fine to shoot cobia in florida.