Dolphin / porpoise accidentally caught trolling?

[John_DeWitt]

While fishing near an offshore oil rig south of Alabama a dolphin took one of our baits. We did not harm the animal and successfully released it. The dolphin was part of a large group that were hitting all of our trolled ballyhoo and biting off the tails of the baits behind the hooks. My question - Is this common? Of all the people I've talked with, NO ONE has ever heard of catching them or even of them taking bites out of trolled baits. Could they have been acting like a bunch of teenagers and daring each other to take risks? Or am I giving them too much credit?

Thanks for your time.
JD

[Rob_Sheppe,_Web_Site_Produce]

I'm going to assume your talking about the "flipper" dolphin. Though not common it does happen. I have read accounts of it happening here in the west central Florida coast from time to time. In fact, they can be very aggressive and keep you from landing your catch. I would think most times they misjudge the hook and end up on our lines.

[Jack_Nelson]

My father fished tuna in the days before the purse seiners, with that picturesque technique of chumming and fishing from racks hung over the side. He said occasionally they would hook a porpoise, but there was never any argument. Despite all the excitement of the feeding frenzy, they would just lead the dolphin to the rack by the leader, stick their hand in the dolphin's mouth, and remove the hook, not even worried about getting bit. They used barbless hooks, which made it easier,of course.

[Steve_Saitman]

John, when fishing for halibut out of Dutch Harbor Alaska we caught Dolphin. The Captin instanly cut the line (it was faster than a speeding bullet) he acted as if this happened enought that he knew exactly what it was.

[BJ_Baker]

Do they put up a good fight?