Release Flags, catch flags, Marlin flags, etc.

[redneck7]

Somebody lay out all of the "rules". I've been on boats where they raise them if the fish is merely hooked...others only once they're leadered. Some fly upside down vs right side up to differentiate release vs retained fish...others have different color schemes for each. Some raise the flag in the stream and run home showing off...others only inside the inlet...others only inside the marina.

I know it's all personal preference and there darn sure aren't any actual rules pertaining to this, but I was just thinking about it earlier and was hoping for a consensus on this oh so important subject

[JAGSARE1]

If you catch a fish, fly the flag.

If you "catch" the fish but decide to release it instead of keeping it...fly the flag upside down. For example, you hook and catch a wahoo and lose it because the line breaks...don't fly the flag. Another example, you catch a wahoo and get it to the boat and then decide wahoo tastes like meatloaf and you don't want to keep it...but you made the catch, fly the flag upside down to signify a release.

For billfish. You can fly 1 flag(correct species) and then red tag flags for each release. For example, you catch 10 sailfish and release them all, you can fly 10 sailfish flags upside down or 1 sailfish flag right side up with 10 red release flags under it.

Have I confused you enough?

[blueh20pc]

Ryan,

The flags are pretty, lots of colors and such.

They also signal to NCDMF that you need to be inspected at the dock.