What's the law on a bird getting tangled in a line? No hooks in it but it flew into my line and got it's wings tangled. I was casting at rip-rap and it took off. I reeled it in and netted it. Pretty sharp beak on it. I cut the hooks off the crankbait just to make sure it didn't get stuck, carefully avoided the beak and removed my line. Beautiful bird released unharmed...I think it is a Snowy Egret.

I don't know about the law but a good trick is to put a hat or something over their heads -- they calm down and can't peck at you -- I wish I figured that out years ago with my X.

Got plenty of practice with gulls back east -- now those are some nasty birds.

Tastes like chicken!

Done that a couple of times too with gulls.

We just went through this a few days ago, fishing a little lake nearby. Seagulls would not leave our topwater alone. I told my partner to jerk the bait away, but a seagull got it anyway. Hooked it in the wing. I threw a life jacket on top of him/her, and held her head, while my partner unhooked it. We released it and it flew away, apparently o.k.

But my worst experience with birds happened a few years ago when I saw this dang Comorant stuck in an illegal Mexican gill net at Falcon (U.S. side). I dislike them but didn't want to see it suffer. So, I took pity, pulled in the net and started cutting it out of the net while it was pecking me(hard!)on my shoe. I finally got it undone and threw it out, and the dumb bird dove down and got tangled in the net again. This time, I said, "so be it".

I don't think you can weigh it in...

Unless it ate the barfish on your line first.

I accidentally hooked a Blue Heron out at Grapevine in one of the night tournaments right by the walk way for Scott's Landing Marina. Several witnesses thought I did it on purpose and got a little upset. It looked like a kite flying around until we were able to reel it in and release it. After every thing was said and done the bird flew away and the people on the dock left in disgust. I never meant to do it but the whole situation was kind of comical at the time.

Pretty much the same thing I went through. I threw the lure and the bird took off in it's direction...thumbed it back but it was too late. People on the shore were pretty disgusted and as soon as I took the pic I drove the boat out away from shore for some room to work and so I didn't get blown into the rocks.

A blue heron is quite a bit bigger and I would have hated to deal with that. This little thing was pretty cool about the whole thing...for an angry bird.

I caught a duck and didnt know it until my line started skyward, this was a non-native duck probably intentionally introduced by locals, so this wasnt a good thing. But after it got to about 20 feet up the hook came loose....thank goodness, I did not feel like fighting with that dang bird!

One other time, It was dark thirty and i had been fishing an area where the bass were thick and breaking surface. It was so dark I was throwing where i heard splashes or could see ripples (barely). I threw out and felt something, which on top water at night, means fish right?

Well i set the hook like i was trying to turn it inside out. Felt a strong pull and heard a large splash. I am fighting and fighting, luckily w/65#braid. I continue fighting for a while, but it feels wierd like its very big but sluggish and its staying down. I think "gotta be a big blue cat". And the fight lasts several more minutes, and at this point im thinking even tho its a cat its gonna be a trophy!!!!!!!!

I get it to the side of the boat and turn on my visor light. as I am beginning to reach over the side, my light hits it. OHHH SH......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well im sure youve all guested it by now... Its brown, hairy and has very large front teeth and now im holding my rod over my head, sitting on the deck reaching over and the darn thing sees me. Well that friendly little beaver wasnt very friendly. He came charging up at me, as if he knew it was my fault.

Well i grabbed my knife cut my line at the reel and gave him a wack with the pole. Sorry guys, he was scarring meee!!!
So he got my lure and a knot on the head for his troubles. i suffered a mild coronary for mine!!

i think i would have done 2 things in your situation deputy.

#1 pissed all over myself
#2 crapped my pants.

An accident. My partner on Fork this year made a cast with his Senko and commorant flew by and kept going with it.

I think I'd have a new winter hat

LMAO!!! I can hear em now!! DONT BUY YOUR CARS THERE! LOL!! some people have a hard time distinguishing animal from human life! LOL!!! I would have been rolling in laughter and been right there with you getting "the looks!" LOL!!!!