09-20-2003, 10:39 AM
[cool]Hey, mykys, welcome to our playpen. What a question for your first post. I hope you did not post this from your laptop computer, while being towed out to sea by something huge...wondering whether or not to cut the line.
I started out a couple of times to try to put together a list of records for species caught from float tubes. That is impossible at this time, because there has been no organized effort to collect such records. I hope to correct that within the next few months.
As I am sure you will agree, the total size of the fish is only a part of the equation in what makes a fish too big to successfully handle from a flotation craft. Other factors are the depth of the water, how the fish fights, the tackle you are using, your physical stamina, water and weather conditions and probably several more.
I have firsthand knowledge of sturgeon over a hundred pounds being subdued from a float tube. I also know of salmon and stripers over 50 pounds...as well as numerous big catfish in that range. In salt water, there have been yellowtail over 40 pounds and white sea bass over 50...maybe bigger, but I have not heard of them. The kayakers are better equipped to handle the biggest fish, and they rack up some monsters.
There are a lot of big fish you would not prudently attempt to catch from a craft with thin-walled air chambers. The alligator gar...which gets over 200 pounds...is one example. Smaller but also dangerous would be muskies and even northern pike. And, forget all but the smaller species of shallow water sharks with small teeth. Although I have taken some big bat rays from a float tube.
What it comes down to is the strength and fighting style of the targeted species. Out in the salt water, many of the fish have a tendency to dive into rocks when hooked. Even a five pound calico bass can wrap you around the kelp or swim into a rocky hole if you do not have the "lift" to stop the run. On the deck of a boat you can apply lots of pressure. In a float tube, a hard run against a hammered down drag will pull you over. You have no leverage and nothing but the flotation of your craft to keep you from being dragged under.
On the other hand, you can hook big sturgeon or catfish from a tube, and if you have the time and patience you can wear them down. Of course, if you want to land them and keep them you will have a better shot if you kick into the shallows and get out of your tube for the final ceremonies. I have landed a couple of big flathead cats from a float tube, but the job is better done from solid footing...where you can lead the big fish into shallow water for the conclusion of the battle.
The same is true with big salmon and stripers. If you have a big enough net, you can scoop them from your tube. But, again, the job is easier and less dangerous if you move in to shore first. Big halibut...ditto. Anything up to 15 or 20 pounds can be manageable, but after that you risk having a big strong fish smack you around a lot while you are attempting to either release it or add it to a bag or stringer.
Many big fish specialists carry the "lip gripper" tools to help subdue and control larger fish. Some of them have nasty spines and sharp gill covers that can slice and dice both you and your flimsy craft. The better you can immobilize the larger fish, the safer your final moments with themwill be.
I have heard tales of guys hooking up to large tuna and even striped marlin. But, I do not have reliable evidence that any real "big game" species...of any size...have been successfully landed from a tube or kickboat. Again, there have been quite a few documented successes on big game species from kayaks.
So, theoretically, there are no upper limits on the size of a fish that could be taken from a float tube. In reality, the chances of whipping a monster are slim...based upon the limitations of lift, mobility, speed, range, size of tackle that can be used, etc. Also, many big fish require assistance to be landed even from a boat. If you try to subdue a large fish by yourself, in a float tube, you need to be good...and lucky...and good and lucky.
When you get back from your ride in with the Coast Guard, let us know how you did with that biggun.
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I started out a couple of times to try to put together a list of records for species caught from float tubes. That is impossible at this time, because there has been no organized effort to collect such records. I hope to correct that within the next few months.
As I am sure you will agree, the total size of the fish is only a part of the equation in what makes a fish too big to successfully handle from a flotation craft. Other factors are the depth of the water, how the fish fights, the tackle you are using, your physical stamina, water and weather conditions and probably several more.
I have firsthand knowledge of sturgeon over a hundred pounds being subdued from a float tube. I also know of salmon and stripers over 50 pounds...as well as numerous big catfish in that range. In salt water, there have been yellowtail over 40 pounds and white sea bass over 50...maybe bigger, but I have not heard of them. The kayakers are better equipped to handle the biggest fish, and they rack up some monsters.
There are a lot of big fish you would not prudently attempt to catch from a craft with thin-walled air chambers. The alligator gar...which gets over 200 pounds...is one example. Smaller but also dangerous would be muskies and even northern pike. And, forget all but the smaller species of shallow water sharks with small teeth. Although I have taken some big bat rays from a float tube.
What it comes down to is the strength and fighting style of the targeted species. Out in the salt water, many of the fish have a tendency to dive into rocks when hooked. Even a five pound calico bass can wrap you around the kelp or swim into a rocky hole if you do not have the "lift" to stop the run. On the deck of a boat you can apply lots of pressure. In a float tube, a hard run against a hammered down drag will pull you over. You have no leverage and nothing but the flotation of your craft to keep you from being dragged under.
On the other hand, you can hook big sturgeon or catfish from a tube, and if you have the time and patience you can wear them down. Of course, if you want to land them and keep them you will have a better shot if you kick into the shallows and get out of your tube for the final ceremonies. I have landed a couple of big flathead cats from a float tube, but the job is better done from solid footing...where you can lead the big fish into shallow water for the conclusion of the battle.
The same is true with big salmon and stripers. If you have a big enough net, you can scoop them from your tube. But, again, the job is easier and less dangerous if you move in to shore first. Big halibut...ditto. Anything up to 15 or 20 pounds can be manageable, but after that you risk having a big strong fish smack you around a lot while you are attempting to either release it or add it to a bag or stringer.
Many big fish specialists carry the "lip gripper" tools to help subdue and control larger fish. Some of them have nasty spines and sharp gill covers that can slice and dice both you and your flimsy craft. The better you can immobilize the larger fish, the safer your final moments with themwill be.
I have heard tales of guys hooking up to large tuna and even striped marlin. But, I do not have reliable evidence that any real "big game" species...of any size...have been successfully landed from a tube or kickboat. Again, there have been quite a few documented successes on big game species from kayaks.
So, theoretically, there are no upper limits on the size of a fish that could be taken from a float tube. In reality, the chances of whipping a monster are slim...based upon the limitations of lift, mobility, speed, range, size of tackle that can be used, etc. Also, many big fish require assistance to be landed even from a boat. If you try to subdue a large fish by yourself, in a float tube, you need to be good...and lucky...and good and lucky.
When you get back from your ride in with the Coast Guard, let us know how you did with that biggun.
[signature]