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WARNING: MORALIZING ALERT

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StriperZ

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OK, so I usually hate it when people do this, but I feel like I have to.

 

We humans share the water with nature. Boat Owners, you have to watch out for slow moving nature. Sadly, a juvenile Mola-Mola (ocean sunfish) was killed by a boater today. Completely unnecessary. I have watched it 1000 times over, the boat is simply a floating living room and you go out to drink and screw, or fish, but you remain oblivious to the other types of creatures that you may not realize are there.

 

Please tell everyone to keep an eye out for the sunfish, they like the surface, they do not swim fast, so please keep an eye out for them.

 

Note the huge gash on the left side of the fish. I wish my picture was better. A propeller nailed it. They look like a hunk of driftwood in the water.

 

Thanks for letting me rant!

 

1815996

Failure + A Good Excuse != Success
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"]If they're one foot under the surface ,,ya ain't gonna see em [/b],,,,but you'll feel em .

I hit one years ago entering Woods Hole , by the time I knew what happened ,it was way too late !

 

What he said.

 

I've had a few near misses with them over the years. Never saw them until the last moment. Never hit one, but it was close.

The Sultan of Sluggo

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Same thing goes with leatherbacks. Tough to see in chop and twice this year I've "spooked" em while moving. Also rescued one this year caught in a lobster pot line in Nantucket Sound. Massive beast. Didn't seem to care if I was trying to help or not as it was flapping at me like crazy.

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I've hit two sunfish over the years, and my buddy cracked his transom on one last year. Sometimes you just can't see them if you steaming, and they're not flapping. I guess the skin is mildly toxic, but the flesh is supposed to be palatable. No thanks on my end.

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I almost hit one last Monday in CCB. I was cruising back to the ramp at about 25 mph. No floppy fin in the air, nothing. I missed it by about 3 ft. I really don't think I could have done anything different, the fish may have been too low in the water column for my boat to hit it, but it would have been close! We all need to be aware, I agree, but in some cases I think that it is impossible to avoid them unless you are willing to add hours on to your trip to drive slow and have a spotter up front.

"I would rather be on the water and catching nothing than at home and catching nothing" - ME
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Alpha my understanding of the post is that when we are out in our boats that we be more aware of what is around us swimming that may not be able to get out of the way of a boat under power.

 

Many sea creatures get harmed by boats under power each year and with out question they for the most part are never intentional. These sea creatures include whales,turtles,ocean sunfish , none of whom deserve the fate this may bring when they get hit by a boats motor.

 

I believe it was good message for all who travel our waters during the year for what ever reason. The message of caution could save the life of just one of these sea creatures and that for me is a good thing :D

Life member M.B.B.A #509

Life member Izaak Walton Fishing Association

Life member Cape Cod Canal

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What is unnecessary is this post. Obviously it was an accident. 

 

Of course it was an accident, I was just ranting because I hate to see it. It was very very sad. I never said some one ran over the mola on purpose. I have seen seals and whales that have been hit as well.

Failure + A Good Excuse != Success
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The one fish in the ocean even a Tiger shark won't eat.  Crabs and lobster will though..  Did you at least poke a hole in it so it would sink and other boaters wouldn't have to deal with it?

 

Yes. I gaffed it, and dragged it out of the channel and seemed to sink, but I can't speak to it staying sunk.

Failure + A Good Excuse != Success
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