Super User Tuckahoe Joe Posted September 11, 2012 Super User Posted September 11, 2012 It sounds like a lot of you guys practice 'catch and release'. Does anyone keep/eat their fish? I see most of the people at the lake I go to putting them back but I've been keeping mine. My point of view is that money is pretty tight right now so I figure every fish dinner equals less money spent at the grocery store (plus they taste delicious). I mean, Im not poaching. All my fish meet size requirements/catch limits. Does anyone else keep their catch or is this frowned upon by the bass fishing community?
bleedingshrimp Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 I don't eat them because they fish better than they taste. I'd much prefer catfish, crappie, or various other panfish. But now that I think about it, I do have a strange sort of fondness for the bass. Regardless, I'd happily share some bass and hushpuppies!
Super User SirSnookalot Posted September 11, 2012 Super User Posted September 11, 2012 Your fishing licence give you the right to do as you wish with a legally caught fish of any species. I personally keep no fish I catch, but if it meant a meal for a needy person I have no problem in giving them the fish. However, I will not give a fish to people that horde them all. 2
Super User Tuckahoe Joe Posted September 11, 2012 Author Super User Posted September 11, 2012 Ok. That makes me feel better about it then. And as far as hoarding fish goes, thats definitly not me. I usually only catch 2-3 and actually have yet to catch my limit.
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted September 11, 2012 Global Moderator Posted September 11, 2012 Your fishing licence give you the right to do as you wish with a legally caught fish of any species. I personally keep no fish I catch, but if it meant a meal for a needy person I have no problem in giving them the fish. However, I will not give a fish to people that horde them all. Those are the people that drive me crazy, the ones that go out to "fill the freezer." Selective harvest is a vital part of a healthy fishery, and by that I mean going and catching a few that are close to limit size (just over 15" here) and having them for dinner. I know as long as someone is following the limits it's well within their right to keep what they want but I can't help but wonder how much of it ends up getting lost in the freezer and thrown away a year or two later? That's really the case when I show up at the river and see someone unloaded 2 limits (10 a person) of big blue or flatheads out of boat.
TrippyJai Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 Those are the people that drive me crazy, the ones that go out to "fill the freezer." Selective harvest is a vital part of a healthy fishery, and by that I mean going and catching a few that are close to limit size (just over 15" here) and having them for dinner. I know as long as someone is following the limits it's well within their right to keep what they want but I can't help but wonder how much of it ends up getting lost in the freezer and thrown away a year or two later? That's really the case when I show up at the river and see someone unloaded 2 limits (10 a person) of big blue or flatheads out of boat. Here in Ontario Canada, you are allowed to keep up to 5 bass at a time (if you have the sports fishing lisence) and that includes the ones in the freezer. If you've caught 4 the day before and haven't eaten any of them, you could only keep 1 fish the next outing. Not many people know this and those who do and proach will continue to break the rules. For me, my mom alway asks me to bring fish home, but I never do it because I fish in local ponds and lakes and I feel its important to put every fish back as these places are very heavily pressured. Not to mention the goose crap in there and they carry E Coli and that can get you sick. If I were to keep fish, a couple of good eating size would be ideal. Release the big ones so it keeps the gene pool going and let someone else have a chance to catch that fish too. I don't really mind people keeping fish aslong as they keep what they are suppossed to and release the big ones back
Super User Bankbeater Posted September 11, 2012 Super User Posted September 11, 2012 I will keep catfish, crappie, and bluegill, as long as, they are legal. Bass go back in the water.
Super User K_Mac Posted September 11, 2012 Super User Posted September 11, 2012 Tuckahoe the overwhelming majority of us practice catch and release when it comes to bass. Some like you, keep all legal fish, others are religious in their opposition to keeping any bass; most of us keep far less than we legally could if we keep any at all. It really depends on the water and the size of the fish for me. Keeping a few smaller fish in a lake that can benefit from selective harvest is healthy for the ecosystem. Keeping any fish in some waters is unhealthy. Keeping anything over 14" is not something I do. A fish that has reached that size has survived the odds and may grow to be one worth coming here and bragging about. Those bass fishermen who return their catch to the lake you fish do so to protect the future of the system. Keeping legal fish is your right. Making an informed decision regarding harvesting fish is your responsibility IMO. One final thought; all states to my knowledge have possession limits on bass, in addition to creel limits, as has been mentioned. Keeping a couple bass to eat from a public lake is one thing, filling the freezer is another. If you need the meat there are many other species that are better able to meet your need in my view.
Super User deep Posted September 11, 2012 Super User Posted September 11, 2012 Your fishing licence give you the right to do as you wish with a legally caught fish of any species. I personally keep no fish I catch, but if it meant a meal for a needy person I have no problem in giving them the fish. However, I will not give a fish to people that horde them all. X2. I don't recall when was the last time I kept a bass; but I do and will give them to needy persons who'll ask for one nicely enough. What I will never do is kill a trophy bass; or even a big bass. It has beat a lot of odds to get up to that size, and it deserves respect and needs to be protected.
Super User MarkH024 Posted September 11, 2012 Super User Posted September 11, 2012 Out of all the fish in most of our freshwaters, LMB has got to taste the worst (IMO). I wouldn't even consider taking bass to eat just because of that. Put me on a honey hole of Eyes and the fryers going to be going. I do like perch and crappie too. When I fish Lake Michigan I take my limit of salmon, however they don't taste nearly as good as Alaskan salmon. But if bass is your thing..then you have every right to take your share. Pains me to see 5lb LMB getting sliced up though Take the 2 lbers if anything. Quick story....2 years ago a man was questioned on a lake by DNR while ice fishing. Had over a limit on him..so he got fined. They went to his house and he had 2 freezers filled with over 200lbs of LMB and panfish fillets. All of it was confiscated and he got slammed with fines. It's a shame too because the lake he got caught on, is a wonderful bass fishery but the past 2 years has shown a significant loss in size and quantity due mostly to winter kill. But guys like that who are taking more than they can eat in a season deserve to be exiled from fishing forever. There is no excuse for hoarding.
hooah212002 Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 I've had a number of locals ask if I kept the fish when I tell them what I caught, only for them to scoff or laugh when i say no. I bass fish for the sport of it, but if I were to catch a legal walleye and I had a way to transport it (which i never have), i probably would because I've heard they taste pretty good. I would also like to try crappie patties and it would be even better if I caught them lol. But like I said, i never go out with even the thought of keeping any fish.
LunkerLust Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 I have never taken a bass, catch and release only. For people that do I would say PLEASE take only smaller bass, 2 lbs or less, to make up a meal. From what I've read, all southern bass above 5 lbs are egg laying females, that translates to northern bass over about 3 lbs are the main egg layers as well. To insure the life and quality of your lakes, catch and release the larger bass that you get, have your banguet on a limit of smaller bass, along with trout, crappie and catfish.
North Ga Hillbilly Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 Fishing for food is a noble way to feed a family, your doing a great thing. I will say, if you can find a way to get on some cat fish or crappie theyll prob taste better, to me atleast. NGaHB
NBR Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 Nothing at all wrong with keeping a legal number of fish for the table. I never keep larger fish from about 1 1/2 #'s up. I don't think they are as tasty and I hope they will spawn some more fish. I've bass fished for over 65 years and God knows I caught and eaten more than my share. Now I only keep the few that I've hurt real bad. I don't think bass are nealy as tasty after they have been frozen as some other fish, (Think walleyes, bluegils, perch, crappy, catfish) so If I'm going to eat fish it will be the day I catch them.
Texfisherman Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 I practice C.P.R. on bass........ Catch, Picture, Release. 1
BassAssassin726 Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 I personally dont keep anything I catch. But If youre obeying the laws and limits then I have no problem. What I cant stand are the bucket brigades that keep everythng from a 1 inch bluegill to a 5 pound bass. And when you say something all of a sudden they dont speak english or look at you like you have 3 heads. They leasrn real quick when you get on the phone with DnR. 1
Super User MarkH024 Posted September 11, 2012 Super User Posted September 11, 2012 I personally dont keep anything I catch. But If youre obeying the laws and limits then I have no problem. What I cant stand are the bucket brigades that keep everythng from a 1 inch bluegill to a 5 pound bass. And when you say something all of a sudden they dont speak english or look at you like you have 3 heads. They leasrn real quick when you get on the phone with DnR. Nice to know that not much is different between IL and PA. Some of the things people eat from these waters have got to be toxic, so their loss in the end I guess.
BassAssassin726 Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 Nice to know that not much is different between IL and PA. Some of the things people eat from these waters have got to be toxic, so their loss in the end I guess. Dude its terrible around here. Bucket brigade everywhere. I caught one at my secret quarry spot and watched him put 2 three pounders in his bucket. I told him to throw them back, he refused so i kicked his bucket over into the water when he wasnt looking. I told him If i catch him again hes gonna have a problem. HAvent seen him since. Like I said I have no problemn if youre obeying the law but that quarry is my secret honey hole. Theres only 7 of us that fish it and we actively try and take care of it. We build cover with trees and 2x4', cinderblocks, we do selective harvest and its working. Im not about to let some ass nugget ruin our honey hole. 1
TNBassin' Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 It sounds like a lot of you guys practice 'catch and release'. Does anyone keep/eat their fish? I see most of the people at the lake I go to putting them back but I've been keeping mine. My point of view is that money is pretty tight right now so I figure every fish dinner equals less money spent at the grocery store (plus they taste delicious). I mean, Im not poaching. All my fish meet size requirements/catch limits. Does anyone else keep their catch or is this frowned upon by the bass fishing community? We eat them, but when the freezer is stocked up, we toss them back. We never keep probably more than 3 out of our limit if we even hit our limit. Can't beat a good fish fry.
mod479 Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 Dude its terrible around here. Bucket brigade everywhere. I caught one at my secret quarry spot and watched him put 2 three pounders in his bucket. I told him to throw them back, he refused so i kicked his bucket over into the water when he wasnt looking. I told him If i catch him again hes gonna have a problem. HAvent seen him since. Like I said I have no problemn if youre obeying the law but that quarry is my secret honey hole. Theres only 7 of us that fish it and we actively try and take care of it. We build cover with trees and 2x4', cinderblocks, we do selective harvest and its working. Im not about to let some ass nugget ruin our honey hole. ^^^^Awesome way to lay down the law my friend. Catch, photo, and release if you want to consistently catch quality fish in your waters. Bass taste like crap compared to so many other freshwater fish anyways. 1
RobertBG Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 I never kept a bass till one night after work.I managed to hook a nice 22 incher through the gullet on the last cast,by the time i got him in the light to get the hook out I knew he was doa.and I'm not one to feed the sea gulls so to the table he went,and man what a meal Mind you that this was on MY private lake........as in I own it.Out of season or not from now on if I have doubts of a fish making it he is table fare if on my property,end of story. On public waters (I RARELY fish them)I would still probably keep a mortally wounded fish,but that has yet to happen. 1
wademaster1 Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 bass are great tablefare if prepared properly; i've kept quite a few along with cats; crappie; gills; shellcrackers or whatever else; if it's legal then theres nothing wrong with keeping whatever makes you happy; i dont condone wasting fish though; also, it sometimes helps alot to remove fish of certain species; good fishing to you
CoBass Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 Most of the larger waters where I live are managed for trout and or walleye so if I want something for the table those are the species I target. Most of the bass fishing I do is on small ponds where keeping legal sized fish (15") would have a negative impact on the fishery so I release all bass I catch. Like others have said, there are other species that taste better so for me keeping bass isn't even a thought.
Super User Tuckahoe Joe Posted September 12, 2012 Author Super User Posted September 12, 2012 thanks for your oppions everyone. dont worry. im definilty not filling my freezer. i think the most ive caught has been 3 (all about 12-14 inches) and they've all been eaten the day of the catch. for those of you that say bass doens't taste good, i dunno. i guess my girlfriends just a phenomenal cook. i wanna try crappie and bluegill but i have yet to catch any.
rb56 Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 It sounds like a lot of you guys practice 'catch and release'. Does anyone keep/eat their fish? I see most of the people at the lake I go to putting them back but I've been keeping mine. My point of view is that money is pretty tight right now so I figure every fish dinner equals less money spent at the grocery store (plus they taste delicious). I mean, Im not poaching. All my fish meet size requirements/catch limits. Does anyone else keep their catch or is this frowned upon by the bass fishing community? when i go and catch 2 or more that are 2 lbs.+ i will keep some to take home. it's usually a meal alone, i have two sons living with me but they usually eat out due to work and school. that leaves me and dylan...80 lbs. of hound. i fish for more than just the fight with a fish. i spend several dollars on gear, travel wear and tear, fuel, so when i catch enough, for me to get a meal from it is fine with me. not to mention i love bass.
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