Florida experiences a large influx of migrating marine birds during the winter months, including terns, cormorants, gulls, gannets, and white and brown pelicans. It’s during this time, when water temperatures drop and bait fish get scarce, that anglers have the highest chance of encountering these birds. The best way to avoid hooking a bird is by checking twice before casting your line, but if by chance you do hook a marine bird, or one gets tangled in your line, I have found an easy technique to deal with the task of releasing them safely.
Keep your rod tip down, and if possible, keep the bird down on the surface of the water while you retrieve your line; if they are flying they are much more difficult to retrieve. Once you have them close to you, you may need someone’s help, depending on the type of bird you have encountered. Be careful to avoid the bird’s beak, and be extra careful to not man-handle it; they don’t survive harsh treatment. If you feel threatened, it’s best to throw a towel or shirt over the bird to cover its eyes and head. Fold your arms or hands over the bird’s wings, being especially careful of their neck, and watch out for their talons and beak. Once the bird’s quieted down, and either untangled or unhooked, be sure to check the bird for other hooks or lines, and always look for other dangers in the area before releasing it.
One’s sense of accomplishment, when releasing a snagged bird, can be very strong when done correctly, and you can become a hero, instead of a zero.
TIP PROVIDED BY: Capt. Rodney Smith, fishing guide and author of Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon
www.rodneysmithmedia.com
irlcoast@gmail.com
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