Thread: i caught a gull

got into a rather strange situation today. there wasnt anybody that had answer for me on the pier. im standing there with an ly on the end of my line :fishing: and a gull or whatever they are flys right into my line. he falls into the water. im gently pulling on it hoping that he'll fly off. nope. one of his wings is tangled somehow and he cant fly. i didnt know what to do. the guy next to me says im suppose to pull it up, put a rag over his head and untangle him and let him go. say what ? if i'd reeled that bird in it may have broken his wing. i wasnt going to do that. i didnt see anybody with a net so i just cut the line. figured he'd work his way out of it somehow. he was just floating around in the water with the ly in tow about 20 feet behind him. i fixed my pole and turned around to cast and he was gone. so, what are we suppose to do when something like that happens ?

I have always just reeled the bird up and taken the hook out. If you point your rod tip straight at the bird as you reel you put less pressure and don't run the risk breaking his wing. I mean I was part of pulling a hook out of one of those beautiful Ospery's we get out at the pier, which most people wouldn't even attempt due to the risk of getting hurt, but I believe the health of the bird is the most improtant thing in a situation like that.

Yep we do it all the time unfortunately. Just kind of a hazard with so many birds around. Happens on the beach too. That's why its a good idea to have a towel, and a good pair of gloves around. I haven't had to try it with a osprey ever, but we unhooked and released a big pelican the other day. At least there is usually someone to help on the pier. We usually try to net it if we can, but those big pelicans just won't have it sometimes. I have also had to do it with a blue heron, now that was fun lol.

I agree, try taking it out of the bird.

I hooked a loon last winter sheepshead fishing. That thing pulled about as hard as a jack crevelle. After the long battle of him diving, flying, and walking on the water, we got him unhooked. He wasn't one bit hurt! They're pretty strong for their size.

I hope it worked out OK for you and the bird.
It happens to everyone who fished sooner or later.
I have even occasionally seen 2 gulls on one line!

[glow=red,2,300]Ordinarily cutting the line is the worst possible thing to do for the bird.[/glow]
Even without a hook in the mouth or body.
They may fly off just fine, but the trailing line is a slow death sentence.
It inevitably tangles more around the birds body...


and eventually gets hung on a branch pole, wire or other fixed object...


Soon the bird will starve to death.
Fishermen get a bad rap for that. :spank:
In fact releasing ANY fishing line into the environment (broken off or discarded) is not a good practice.

Under your circumstances it's easy to understand the dilemma, but I agree with the above,
and most fishermen would risk the broken wing (which is VERY, VERY rare over the prospect of letting the bird go with a hook and line attached.
Just handle the bird gently, yet firmly and both of you should leave the incident none the worse.
Kindof like this...


Maybe someone on the pier could do a complete short video of the capture and release process?

Hope this helps!

wow. that pic of the bird in the tree.... hope mine ends up ok. at least i know now.

Thyno, sounds like you didn’t have any help and did what ya could.

Here are a couple shots of the Osprey; don’t try this alone, too much pissed off bird for one person; need three or four folks and a towel is mandatory for him to crush!

When the hook isnt in them, and they are just tangled. I reel them up and let them bite my index finger. When they do, I grab the top of their beek with my thumb. That is how I hold the gulls while untangling them.

It looks like I have been very lucky when it comes to the birds, every bird I have had to deal with got loose before I got them over the rail.