Is it me or is this scary?

not on my pristine kayak ! No longer a stinkboat fisherman with a cooler and livewell, and they usually spit up bits of spearing or grass shrimp anyway. I only fish Gulp on bucks for weaks and fluke until the fall when I surfcast for anything that will hit a lure. As for weaks, first one I catch I paddle home!
You fillet on your kayak while afloat??? Regardless, slitting the stomach doesn't make nearly as much as a mess as the entire filleting job, and since it seems you don't even bleed the fish, you'd be working with some pretty bloody fillets.

Once again, lost intel opportunity. Yeah, you can guess what the majority of what breakfast has been, but every once in a while you glean some critical data of stuff they don't/can't regurgitate for future reference...
 
filet on the yak? Lol, No way. I can count on one hand the times i pulled out a knife on my yak. (Usually just to change a rig.). I don’t bleed any fish, just put them on a stringer and back over the side. They are often still quite lively when i get home and filet in my shaded driveway. Like i said before they usually spit up whatever before i interrupted their meal so I might switch from a white curly gulp minnow to a pink shrimp gulp. And i quickly “chum” with whatever was spit up. U motor guys have to remember that a yak fisherman has a top speed of 5 and a lot slower towing a stringer. Easy to keep fish alive. Plus i am rarely out more than three hours and back to clean a fish and hop in the pool for laps.
 
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filet on the yak? Lol, No way. I can count on one hand the times i pulled out a knife on my yak. (Usually just to change a rig.). I don’t bleed any fish, just put them on a stringer and back over the side. They are often still quite lively when i get home and filet in my shaded driveway. Like i said before they usually spit up whatever before i interrupted their meal so I might switch from a white curly gulp minnow to a pink shrimp gulp. And i quickly “chum” with whatever was spit up.
Yes, but things like crabs or larger bait fish do NOT get regurgitated so you're missing a complete picture.

Let me give you a specific example, while cleaning a bunch of BSB in the fall of 2022, I found the fish in the first pic below in multiple, larger fish. Had to ask "the gang" what is was and turns out it was a rock gunnel. Adjusted my rubber bait to a be more, small eel-like and bailed larger fish on the next trip.

Your choice, a simple stomach slit after finishing filleting or continuing to fly partially blind...

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Where i fish its all “rainbait” spearing grass shrimp and peanuts. I liveline snappers when big enough to catch. Autopsies unnecessary.
 
I know many people that use Gulp and other artificials with some great success. At first it was used because of convenience and price. Now prices are up I see many switching back to fresh and/or frozen baits. I have always used fresh and/or frozen. I just prefer it over artificials in most situations.

I would guess that the cheap plastics found in many places are not biodegradable and certain products are (Fishbites, possible Gulp). I’m not sure what kind of testing they do, but I’d love to see some data. I also think certain species are more hardy then others and would be able to survive with a stomach full of man made products while some will not.
 
I would guess that the cheap plastics found in many places are not biodegradable and certain products are (Fishbites, possible Gulp). I’m not sure what kind of testing they do, but I’d love to see some data. I also think certain species are more hardy then others and would be able to survive with a stomach full of man made products while some will not.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I sent inquiries to Gulp (Berkley) Fishbites. The Fishbites reply is posted. Gulp (Berkley) never replied for whatever reason.

If you are looking for data, Fishbites may supply it. Try Gulp. Maybe you'll get a reply.
 
I think i have been in my local two tackle shops just four or five times in the last 8 or 9 years. I don’t need guidance as I fish from the same three local launches. I have enough gulp to last me several years. The convenience of screwing the lid back on the container and leaving it in the garage withe the kayak and tackle can’t be understated. Nor can returning defrosted Spearing and Squid to the freezer. Shorts i return invariably don’t swallow the gulp and often don’t damage it at all. Not changin’ nothin’.
 
I won't buy, collect, or re-freeze either lol ! Plastics all the way ! Gottsta keep dem oil companies in business what with this push to green emergy !
 
SPEARING are easy to collect, i wouldn’t buy it… fresh SQUID freezes very well… cellie…

perhaps the these synthetic worm can be made from vegetable oils, surely then it will be natural and easily degradable…

frozen squid on standby, Fried Calamari, delicious… 😋
.
 
Vegetable oil ! Hmmm. Never that much of a fan of fried calamari and have it as an appetizer fairly often. Little necks or cherrystones on the barbie, stuffed clams, mussels, virtually any crab meat, scallops, now you're talking !
 
Does the info in this thread make you re-think the use of plastics???

At least, if you have a favorite, push the manufacturer for data on digestibility???

I have used Gulp and Fishbites. I’m going to ask. In the meantime, despite the cost, I may go back to spearing.

Same thing with bucktails. Pork rinds are no longer available. I may use bucktails like Capt. John Paduano uses.

Better question: Do they naturally dissolve overtime & not simply breakdown so as not to create micro-plastics in the fish as well as the water. Keep it out of the food chain for both fish & man.

I rarely fish soft plastics. Primarily a bait fishermen. If I'm going to use artificals I stick with metal lures as much as possible.
 
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Yet no one has brought up the marriage of circle hooks with natural bait. Interesting. (Yes, just stripers. (SO FAR)
 
I won't buy, collect, or re-freeze either lol ! Plastics all the way ! Gottsta keep dem oil companies in business what with this push to green emergy !
That is your way. Others may want to consider if using plastics is something they want to continue to use.
 
Fish bites are what I was sold last time I bought, they seem to be a little safer. But on another note not nearly effective as Gulps
 

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For all of you who drank the Koolaid and want to do the "right thing", send me your Gulp!. Pink and white in smaller sizes preferred.
 
something of this kind should be brought up with legislation, not just to ignore it as certain peeps do…

Lead was a big thing too at one time… cell…
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