PDA

View Full Version : Then and Now, Whew!



Tony Buzolich
06-15-2009, 05:39 PM
A friend just brought over a couple of video's he'd purchased at one of Sacramento's finest fly shops all about fishing for tarpon.

The first video is excellant called "Chasing Silver Andy's Return" with Andy Mill of course, but the sleeper was the second video simple titled "Tarpon".

"Tarpon" flaunts it's production as the first of modern fishing films shot in the wilds of 1970 Key West. Authored by Richard Brautigan, Thomas McGuane, and Jim Harrison with original music and script by Jimmy Buffet.

Well, 1970 doesn't seem so long ago to some of us but this piece of film looks like it was taken in another century by the actions and dress of the actors.

"Colorful scenes of Key West from another era --- with treasure hunters, smugglers, eccentrics and even hippies" :) :) :) Remember those good old days you guys? Yah, hippies!

Judging by the long hair, madras shirts, and lack of casting or poling platforms on the boats, this is really a piece of nostalgia. The movie had all of the feel of an old porno film and the only thing missing was John Holmes or Ron Jeremy.

Sadly, some of the worst scenes really got us laughing. Nervous awe struck might be a better word for it. We couldn't believe some of the party boat footage as sharks and assorted other fish were immediately gaffed and blugeoned to death with clubs as pretty girls stood watching. Gawd! What would PETA and Greenpeace say about this if it was to happen today. This was soooooo outrageous it was rediculous but was obviously accepted but only a few years ago. On the docks back at the marina permit by the dozens are being thrown onto spikes for picture taking, again with pretty faces of smiling girls. Absolutely insane practices by today's standards where catch and release is now the norm.

This video really did have some great early years tarpon fishing in it too. Big fiberglass rods, big Stu Apte type flies, and big tarpon too, some hanging by their jaws in rows as proud fishermen kneeled in front of them for pictures.

What a difference a few years make with how we look at things and how we see our enviroment changing. I guess as I get older I see things that didn't seem so long ago. But, as we grow we need to recognize what resources really matter and are worth fighting for. Nature, and all that it offers is not unlimited. Water, fish, wildlife of all kinds are worth fighting for.

I'm by no means some tree hugging enviromentalist going off on a rant. I like eating fish once in a while. I also was raised to only take what I needed and never waste anything. Today, we don't "need" very much of anything.

This film brought to light some old practices that were pure waste. I wonder what they ever did with all those huge tarpon hanging on ropes at the docks?

Rick J
06-23-2009, 06:59 AM
My wife and I visited Catalina Island this spring - first visit there and the stories and pictures of the early fishing on the island was very similar. Albacore were trash fish but still killed and tossed in mounds on the beach to bring the seals in for a feast so folks could watch. I get the sense that nothing hooked was ever let go!!! There were statements such as "unlimited resource" that sadly are not

Darian
06-23-2009, 08:47 AM
I used to take an Albacore trip on occasion in SoCal and caught plenty of fish over the years. everything caught was gaffed. However, in my case, at least, barbequed Alabacore was wonderful. Many of the fisherman didn't eat fish. So, much of their catch was given to relatives and friends, I suppose. Current limits on pelagic fish (like Albacore and Yellowtail) appear too liberal in California.... :neutral: There was a general feeling that the oceans resources were unlimited. :neutral:

There're still places and cultures within this country where everything caught is kept.... Long range trips party boats out of SoCal to Guadalupe Island bring back Yellowfin Tuna flash frozen and stacked up to 100's of pounds on the deck is just one example. Not sure what I'd do with a fish that big.... :confused: I'm not sure what is done with those Tuna but, in the past, it was possible to trade in catches of that nature to a local cannery for canned fish.

I recall photo's/videos of commercial fisherman using short bamboo poles with a short, very heavy line and feather jig hauling fish over the side as fast as they could. Even with all of that, nothing sweeps the oceans like commercial seiners/trawlers. Down in the Sea of Cortez, it's not uncommon to see purse seiners illegally fishing. The result is observable, first hand. Recreational fishing immediately slows or stops and remains slow until a new batch of whatever fish they're after moves in. :neutral: