"god's Groceries" Fishing To Feed The Needy

[LFT]

One of my Twitter friends made a post using the term God's Groceries. A light bulb went off. There are families in my community who could really use the food that fish provide. Has any one done this in their area? I want to start a program like this in my area and I think there are many people at church and work who would be up for it. Do you have any suggestions?

[LFT]

Woops! Big G!

[TNBassin']

That would be awesome to get some local anglers together and hold a big community fish fry a couple times a month to help people less fortunate. I would maybe make up some flyers and go to local sporting goods stores, or BPS, Gandermountain Etc, and as if you can post them to "recruit" people to take part. Or maybe run an ad in your local paper, or contact local fishing clubs to see if they will get on board. This is a great idea, and I may see what I can do to get something going like this in my area. 

[LFT]

That is a great idea! Making it a whole community event instead of just a few people from work and church. I am right by Lake Michigan and have quite a few charter captains that may want to join it!

[TNBassin']

Events like that usually get a little press, which in turn attracts more and more people to the cause. You could even hold some local tournaments that would benefit the needy, homeless shelters, animal shelters....the possibilities are many.

[sharpbbd]

Sounds like a great idea. God is good to many, and we could all help the less fortunate.

[BassThumb]

Do you have any suggestions?

 

Catch and Release.

 

Your local lakes and rivers aren't grocery stores.

[fadetoblack21]

Catch and Release.

 

Your local lakes and rivers aren't grocery stores.

 

I never did understand this mentality. People claim that deer hunting is good for the population because it thins the heard and keeps them from overcrowding. Why is it not good for the fish population as well? I understand that over fishing is harmful, but that is why we have creel limits.

 

I do practice catch and release a vast majority of the time, but I also like to take some home to eat every once in a while. 

 

As to the original topic, I think its an interesting idea and worth a shot.

[Bluebasser86]

I really wish they would start to utilize the Asian Carp to feed people at homeless shelters. Seems like one of the best ways to combat them and get some use out of them. They're supposed to be pretty good to eat and I would think they would be a good, cheap source of protein for them also. 

[LFT]

Thank you guys so much for your ideas and support for the idea! I have a few friends of the family that run a Chinese restaurant and have been able to do some pretty amazing things with carp. I personally haven't had much luck with making them tasty, but I'm sure many anglers would be happy to see them out of the lakes and they are pretty fun to catch too! 

[Oldplug]

What you better do first is make sure you can do all this in your state. You might also run into trouble about taking and keeping a lot of bass. Remember catch and release us a big thing in this sport. I practice it. I only kept 6 crappie last year 2 catfish and no bass. I am right here on the lake and I do catch a awful lot of bass and more than my share of those over 4 lbs. I think it is my duty to preserve that. If you want to use fish to feed people you should do like they do some places in the Ozarks. They catch clean carp and grind the meat up with pickle relish and other spice and make sausage out if it. It s really good eating. It sure would help in control. Besides that carp can be a real thrill to catch.

DEER!!!! Around here deer are First class pest. And a danger in more ways than one. They destroy everything. My wife has personally has hit three times by deer. Notice I said BY DEER. Not by her not watching. A lot of times you pass them then they decide to run and get across the road in front of you. Last week I counted 14 in one small spot feeding by the road. We have a big problem with them. I have a large ornamental garden that contains about 100 varieties if Hosta plants. All summer long there is total war between me and the deer. I can control them but it requires gallon and gallons of spray,game camera,410 pump shotgun and loss of sleep. Then there are the summer people who think they are cute to see and ride around in golf carts all evening looking at the deer and fawns. If I see a fawn I tend to stay away from it. A enraged doe is a very nasty thing that can stomp you tramp you and beat you to a pulp in a minute without no prior warning.

[slonezp]

In some areas deer hunters have participated in similar programs. As of late there have been problems from certain organizations trying to stop shelters from serving wild game because it hasn't been properly inspected.

 

Beggars can't be choosers, unless you live in the U.S.

[Fishes in trees]

God's garden is a good idea - in theory.  In practice, I believe in selective harvest - I really do.  I have no problem with you catching a few fish - of any species -  to eat.  If you catch a bunch of bass or whatever fish to eat all the time, or every time you run into a bunch of fish - well, the title of"meat hog" comes to mind, and that is being kind.

 

I don't think that that is the most enlightened way to fish or that it is the best thing for the resource over the long term.  I have a really big issue with catching a bunch of game fish and then giving them away.  Game fish are controlled by limits, number & size limits, for a reason.  To keep a limit of game fish (or more) every time out becomes at the very least greedy and self centered.  As opposed to resource centered, which is the side of the fence that selective harvest is on.  Basically,when you keep a bunch of fish to feed other people you aren't being selective any more.

 

 My question then becomes, "What are you really feeding here?"   Are you feeding a bunch of people who may or may not be hungry, but didn't catch the fish, and thus didn't earn the right to consume the fish?  OR  Are you feeding your own ego, telling yourself that you're a great fisherman,  that you can catch a bunch fish whenever  and care so little about them that you just give them away?  That son, is a genuinely fair question.

 

Basically my point is the game fish population, nationwide, is a resource and I don't see any reason to decimate the resource, just to feed poor & needy people.  There are other more efficient and less resource decimating ways to feed poor & needy people.

 

This rant applies to game fish, those fish protected by statutes, conservation departments, and by the vast majority of fishermen's sense of right & wrong.  It does not apply to Asian Carp or snake heads.

 

Should you desire to feed poor & needy people fish, become an asian carp specialist.  Feed as many carp to that section of society as you can.   Feed so many that you make a dent in the carp population.   Now that would make you a hero, not only in my book but in lots of peoples books.  If your fishing ego needs feeding, now that would be an honest socially  and politically correct way to feed it.

 

OK - rant is done now - thanks for reading

[RAMBLER]

God's garden is a good idea - in theory.  In practice, I believe in selective harvest - I really do.  I have no problem with you catching a few fish - of any species -  to eat.  If you catch a bunch of bass or whatever fish to eat all the time, or every time you run into a bunch of fish - well, the title of"meat hog" comes to mind, and that is being kind.

 

I don't think that that is the most enlightened way to fish or that it is the best thing for the resource over the long term.  I have a really big issue with catching a bunch of game fish and then giving them away.  Game fish are controlled by limits, number & size limits, for a reason.  To keep a limit of game fish (or more) every time out becomes at the very least greedy and self centered.  As opposed to resource centered, which is the side of the fence that selective harvest is on.  Basically,when you keep a bunch of fish to feed other people you aren't being selective any more.

 

 My question then becomes, "What are you really feeding here?"   Are you feeding a bunch of people who may or may not be hungry, but didn't catch the fish, and thus didn't earn the right to consume the fish?  OR  Are you feeding your own ego, telling yourself that you're a great fisherman,  that you can catch a bunch fish whenever  and care so little about them that you just give them away?  That son, is a genuinely fair question.

 

Basically my point is the game fish population, nationwide, is a resource and I don't see any reason to decimate the resource, just to feed poor & needy people.  There are other more efficient and less resource decimating ways to feed poor & needy people.

 

This rant applies to game fish, those fish protected by statutes, conservation departments, and by the vast majority of fishermen's sense of right & wrong.  It does not apply to Asian Carp or snake heads.

 

Should you desire to feed poor & needy people fish, become an asian carp specialist.  Feed as many carp to that section of society as you can.   Feed so many that you make a dent in the carp population.   Now that would make you a hero, not only in my book but in lots of peoples books.  If your fishing ego needs feeding, now that would be an honest socially  and politically correct way to feed it.

 

OK - rant is done now - thanks for reading

Good post. I think you hit the nail on the head. There are many ways to feed the hungry. Go to any soup kitchen, or charity food distribution and you will find they all need you time or money. Your efforts will be much more appreciated than handing them a half dozen to dozen raw fish.

[tomustang]

In some areas deer hunters have participated in similar programs. As of late there have been problems from certain organizations trying to stop shelters from serving wild game because it hasn't been properly inspected.

 

Beggars can't be choosers, unless you live in the U.S.

Reminds me of prison roadkill meals. Inmates ended up getting sick from wild animals and sued. Good ole FDA

I remember my wife tried to bring homemade food to a homeless shelter before and they refused it because it wasn't store bought.

[TNBassin']

Maybe just host a local tourney to benefit the needy.

[200racing]

you would have much better results going with trotlines and hoopnets for generating a significant consistent amount of protein for a food bank. 

[LFT]

I genuinely appreciate the reasons why some do not agree with this idea and you have brought up some very important points. There are a few things that I should have communicated better. I would not simply focus on bass, there are a variety of species that would work for a program like this, including carp. The goal I have for this in my head is not to supply a soup kitchen or food bank in the area, it is to help a few local families and widows. I am very happy for I Love Bass' "rant" because the post does bring up issues that local fisherman will have with the program. The question of "What are you really feeding?" is a legit question. It is in no way about my ability to fish, if so, I wouldn't need other fisherman to help me with this. 

I am familiar with the Donate a Deer program. There are a few hunters in the area that participate in the program. I checked with a few people at church who are looking into the regulations with providing food that is not FDA approved. 

This is an idea that needs refining and the pros and cons that have been presented really help with the process!

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

How does that say going, "Give someone fish and feed them for a day!! SHOW THEM HOW TO FISH AND THEY WILL NEVER STARVE"!

 

Snakehead/Catfish/Crappie fish fries are awesome though!

 

Jay-

[jhoffman]

Im not sure how it is where you are but most waters here its not recommended to eat more than one meal of fish per month due to mercury content.

[slonezp]

How does that say going, "Give someone fish and feed them for a day!! SHOW THEM HOW TO FISH AND THEY WILL NEVER STARVE"!

 

Snakehead/Catfish/Crappie fish fries are awesome though!

 

Jay-

My mother has a refrigerator magnet  that says "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and get rid of him for the weekend."

[Bladesmith,]

This is something I have done for years. There is an over abundance of crappie in our lake. It isn't unusual to catch 50 or 60 slabs in a days outing. I'll fillet them all out and take some around to the elderly, and single moms in the community. I'll tell them I caught more than I could eat and offer them some fillets. Many of the people in my community will not accept charity but if offered in this way I can provide some high protein food without offending anyone (not to mention the homemade cookies that come my way on my birthday). There is always a way to go about things without harming the resource.