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What is the prefered method of "popping off" a spaniard that you don't want to keep? I've heard the term on here alot but am not sure exactly how to do it. If I happen to get in on a spanish chew down, I want to be able to release the small ones without killing them.
That term refers to kings brought in fast,very green and once it's close to the pier,let it go so the fish has maximum energy. As for spanish,once you pull it out of the water,it's dead. That's why there is no size limit on them,15 and done no matter the size.
Thanks John!
Some of the 'keychains' (small spanish about 12" FL) may survive being caught IF you can release them quick enough and without touching them AND you are using a single hook jig or lure.
One method is to allow some slack in the line when they are slashing their head back and forth. Sometimes the jig will just fall out.
Another is to keep needlenosed pliers in your back pocket (at the ready),
and quickly reel the fish up to face level and place the rod against the rail and grab the leader.
Just reach out with the pliers and grab the BEND of the hook and with a flick of the wrist release the fish which falls back into the water head first and quickly scoots off.
But IF they are hooked deep, or 'torn up', or you have to grab them, they are as a good as dead :(
You can easily find someone to give them to, but remember 15 is still the limit.
I remember last year I caugh t TINY ling, he was like a pound or 2, he hit a surf spoon and got a treble deep, he never made it back to the rail :(, but anyways,spanish are very diffcult to release man, macrel are koinda like shark, once they quick swimming, there dead, macrel are just a bit more certain