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General catch and release policy

• STRICT CATCH & RELEASE OF ALL BILLFISH & SHARKS
  
• RELEASE OF ALL BAITFISH & TABLE-FISH AT SOLE DISCRETION OF GUIDE & SKIPPER
• CATCH YOUR LIMIT & LIMIT YOUR CATCH FOR ALL PRIZED MACKEREL & DORADO, AGAIN AT SOLE DISCRETION OF GUIDE   
• FOR SALTWATER FLY GEAR ANGLERS, LIMIT OF 2 BILLFISH PER
  ANGLER TO LIMIT STRAIN ON THE SAILS
  
• NOT ALL BILLFISH WILL BE BOATED FOR PICS TO ENSURE THE HEALTHY RELEASE OF BILLFISH
  
• TIME TAKEN TO REVIVE A BILLFISH WIL BE AT SOLE DISCRETION
  OF GUIDE
  
• ANGLERS TO PROVIDE AMPLE SUPPORT FOR BOATED BILLFISH
  TO AVOID SKELETAL DAMAGE
  
• BILLFISH TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND LIKE “LOADED GUNS”. BILL-CHAFED AND STABBED HANDS, AND BILL-WHACKED ARMS AND FACES ARE ALL ACCIDENTS THAT CAN OCCUR IF YOU’RE NOT FOCUSED. BE WARY OF SUDDEN WILD JUMPS AT BOATSIDE.
  
• BILLFISH DEEMED UNFIT FROM FACTORS SUCH AS BLEEDING OR
  AFTER A LENGTHY FIGHT WILL NOT BE BOATED FOR PICS. INSTEAD BOATSIDE PICS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENSURE THE HEALTHY RELEASE OF BILLFISH. AGAIN THIS IS AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF GUIDE.

Conservation Segment

Bluesails Sportfishing has always been aware of the impact that big game fishing can have on the marine environment in general, and on the health and mortality of billfish in particular. We therefore make a concerted effort to ensure that this impact is kept to a minimum, while still enabling our clients to enjoy this adrenalin-filled sport. We hope that the experience of catching and handling your very own Sail or Marlin will help you to appreciate the incredible beauty of these fish and increase your awareness of the importance of a safe and healthy release.

We have included the following articles as they contain important information.

LACTIC ACID BUILD-UP

“Physical exertion from a particularly long fight causes an oxygen deficiency in a fish’s tissues. This forces its muscles to function without oxygen, which in turn causes lactic acid to build up in the muscle tissue & diffuse into the blood. This subsequently causes the blood pH to drop. Even slight changes in pH can cause disruptions of metabolic processes that may ultimately kill the fish.

If an angler avoids handling the fish & releases it quickly, its blood pH usually returns to normal & the fish survives. But while fish may appear alive after a long flight, when they are released the imbalance in the blood chemistry may kill them as much as three days later. This is why, with any species, it’s important to choose the right tackle for the job & get the fish in as quickly as possible”. Article, Sport Fishing Magazine, Feb’05