Tennessee Bass Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 Friday i caught a 5-6 pounder and let it go. Everyone said to eat it or mount it but i wanted to let it get bigger. Did i do the right thing in your opinion? 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted October 26, 2015 Global Moderator Posted October 26, 2015 You're going to get a lot of different opinions on this one. A bass that size is terrible to eat, probably one of the worst tasting fish out there. You can get a replica of a fish that will look better (IMO), and last longer than a skin mount, plus you or someone else may have the chance to catch it again even bigger. I get no satisfaction out of killing a fish just to be able to point at it on my wall and say "I caught that!" A good picture or two, couple measurements, and they're on their way and I can still relive the experience through the pictures. 9 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted October 26, 2015 Super User Posted October 26, 2015 I'm not a game hog but I keep bass to eat. I keep the smallest ones that I legally can . Its one of the reasons that I do a lot of fishing at a lake with a slot limit . I caught a large bass there earlier this year that was gill hooked and bleeding badly . I tried to release it but it floated and struggled on the surface , so I filleted it . It was delicious with flakey white flesh . 1 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted October 26, 2015 Super User Posted October 26, 2015 I think you did the right thing. Let the big ones go to get bigger and make babies that are more genetically apt to reach that size as well. I don't usually keep anything over 15" to eat. You still get plenty of meat off of them, and you're not effecting the population in a negative way since there's more smaller fish than larger ones. 3 Quote
Tennessee Bass Posted October 26, 2015 Author Posted October 26, 2015 I think you did the right thing. Let the big ones go to get bigger and make babies that are more genetically apt to reach that size as well. I don't usually keep anything over 15" to eat. You still get plenty of meat off of them, and you're not effecting the population in a negative way since there's more smaller fish than larger ones. That is exactly what I was thinking. The only other reason that made me unsure was if someone else caught it and keeps it but hopefully they will let it go too. Quote
IntroC Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 Take a picture and let them go, put the picture in an album and when you get old and gray you'll always have those memories. Your grandkids will love them too. I have a few different fish mounts and they really don't do anything for me anymore. The only fish I would mount at this point would have to be a state record. Otber than that it all pics. When your used to keeping those big fish its hard to let the first few go. It gets easier to the point you love watching them big girls swim off. You get a real sense of satisfaction. Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted October 26, 2015 Super User Posted October 26, 2015 That is exactly what I was thinking. The only other reason that made me unsure was if someone else caught it and keeps it but hopefully they will let it go too. It's quite possible that someone might, but you've just got to live with that. Have hope that the next person that catches it, does the same as you did and let's that big girl live to be caught another day. Quote
GetJigginWithIt Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 The only thing that really matters, do YOU think you did the right thing? If you are OK by it then it does not matter what anyone else thinks. 8 Quote
lanzbass Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 There are days we keep them and other days we don't ... Either way is right by my book ... Remember... Man shall not live by bread alone ... Quote
Derekbass02 Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 If I caught a fish that size I would release it. Quote
Josh Smith Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 I don't keep them because I don't consider them eating fish. Same reason I don't actively hunt for coyotes, though I will shoot them if necessary. If I could shoot coyotes without permanently harming them, I would. I can catch bass without hurting them, so I do. Predator vs predator is fun. Killing is for food. I keep panfish, crappie, and catfish, and I kill small game and sometimes deer. Josh 2 Quote
Jtrout Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 I would let it go. Did u get any pics of it? Quote
d-camarena Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 At one of the rivers i fish ive caught the same 6lbder many times. Im glad people have released her. And then an ******* caught her on live bait and took her to eat. Sad story Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted October 26, 2015 Super User Posted October 26, 2015 I have had the same thing happen while catfishing only with little ones. Someone will ask me if they can have it if I don't want it. I usually just shake my head and put the fish back in the water. Quote
Tennessee Bass Posted October 26, 2015 Author Posted October 26, 2015 I don't know exactly how much it weighed (no fish scale) but that was my guess. Do you guys have a guess on the wight? Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted October 27, 2015 Global Moderator Posted October 27, 2015 I don't know exactly how much it weighed (no fish scale) but that was my guess. Do you guys have a guess on the wight? Hard to tell from the picture but the fact that it's a smallmouth makes it even more important to release the big ones. They grow slower than largemouth so it takes even longer for a smallmouth to get big. Did you get a length or girth? That would help as much if not more than a picture. Quote
BassMaster17 Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 i always let my big bass go, and even if i was catching to eat, the smaller bass taste way better than large ones. and if you want a mount really bad just take measurements and pictures and get a replica. Quote
Joe H. Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 Yep. You did the right thing. That's what pictures and replica mounts are for. Also: Bluebasser is right on, a fish that size won't taste good anyways. Last weekend my friend and I kept one 2.5 lb smallmouth. In my opinion a 1-3 lb smallmouth is the best bass to eat. Even then, we would never keep more than two or three from a lake with a good bass population like trinity. Quote
Joe H. Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 I don't know exactly how much it weighed (no fish scale) but that was my guess. Do you guys have a guess on the wight? Could be four or five. Measurements would help. Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted October 28, 2015 Super User Posted October 28, 2015 I release all largemouth bass regardless of size. Quote
fishblitzer Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 You released a fish so that someone else can have that same joy in the future when they catch it. Think of it as giving someone a bit of happiness. That is how I look at releasing a big fish. Quote
Dye99 Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 I fish twice a week usually, sometimes 3 times, usually catching a 3-5 pounder a week among all the other smaller ones. Now even with the 1-2 tournaments I do a year and a bank fishing days during the season I usually keep, Nothing. Catch and release helps keep our lakes filled with large fish. Besides, when I decide to eat fish, I go throw the meps around for trout. Quote
etrout72 Posted November 17, 2015 Posted November 17, 2015 You definitely did the right thing. You have the memory and gave somebody else the chance to make one as well. Quote
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