Paying The Taxman Round 1

Paying The Taxman Round 1

This is a reblog of an old post from Throwing Loops. I thought about after watching a few videos that have been doing the rounds about fish being lost to bigger fish. There’s a follow up coming, so watch this space…

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

bluefin_treavally_seychelles_shark
Bluefin Trevally after a Lemon tasted him.

I doubt Ben Franklin would have ever thought his depressingly true quote could ever be applied to fishing. But like that yearly income statement there are few things that hurt like a good fish getting eaten while on the line.

While this may be a foreign concept to the majority of freshwater fly fisherman (there are, however, some seriously toothy fish in the wilder fresh waterways of the world) it is a very real and sometime fairly commonย occurrenceย for the saltwater fly fisherman. With so many different types of hungry and angry fish out there that are armed with a fearsomeย arrayย of teeth, it is simply a matter of time before a regular brine thrasher has a fish taken by the ‘taxman’.

Rex Fey and the left overs from the lunch of a 6ft Barracuda!
Rex Fey and the left overs from the lunch of a 6ft Barracuda!

I absolutely abhor the sinking sensation that comes with the sudden and strange heavy thump on the rod possibly followed by some head-shaking and an inevitable dead-weight that needs to be cranked up.

Whether its barracuda, a shark dogtooth tuna or some other serious predator making light of your catch, it annoys one. Especially if the fish being eaten is a trophy fish. I get very upset if I can’t release certain species. It leaves a sour taste and I know I am guilty of causing that fish to enter the foodchain a little earlier than nature may have intended.

Will I stop because of it? Never.

bluefin_treavally_seychelles_shark-2
But like paying SARS, you just have to harden up and realise that the taxman will have his due.
blemon_shark_seychelles
Lemon Taxman cruising the shallows in search of his next pay date!
Jeremy
Rob Stokes and Graeme Kearley look on as Rob Jeremy Stewart shows off a bit of his trophy GT!

ย 

ย 

ย 

ย 

Leave a comment

RELATED ARTICLES

SHOP MISSION MERCH

Subscribe to our newsletter and get all the latest to your inbox!