(POLL) Do you catch and release or keep fish?

[EGbassing]

My dad says that the people on here that spend so much time fishing do it because they like eating fish. He doesn't believe that you guys actually spend the amount of money and time on fishing that you do just for the enjoyment of it. So I know most people probably keep some crappie or catfish or something from time to time, but how many of you actually keep all (or most) of your fish, and fish just because you like eating fish? I have to prove that I'm not insane for dropping $100 on a new SLX.

 

I've never kept a freshwater fish because I would be nervous eating them out of the ponds around here.

[ratherbfishin1]

If I fished for the food I certainly would not be bass fishing. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Tell your dad he is wrong. 

[slonezp]

It's much cheaper to buy fish at the grocery store.

[EGbassing]

 

2 minutes ago, slonezp said:

It's much cheaper to buy fish at the grocery store.

Understatement of the century award goes to... ?

[MN Fisher]

Need another option

 

 . Fish mainly for fun, but take some home occasionally

 

That's what I do - and it matters not the species with a few exceptions...I don't eat Carp, Northern is also one I pass on.

[EGbassing]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Need another option

 

 . Fish mainly for fun, but take some home occasionally

 

That's what I do - and it matters not the species with a few exceptions...I don't eat Carp, Northern is also one I pass on.

Added.

[clh121787]

Ill keep a limit of small bass and spots ocassionally.  Any accidental catch of sand bass or crappie or catfish most often gets eaten. I keep zip locks and fillet knife in the boat.  Love eating fresh fried fish

[MN Fisher]

Voted

 

Of course you realize we've already had this discussion...

 

 

[FryDog62]

Bass - all C&R.  Will keep walleyes, perch, crappies and 22-24 inch pike.  

[ohboyitsrobby]

I keep pretty much any crappie or walleye I catch. I'll keep a few spots every now and again. I rarely keep largemouth though unless I feel they're gonna die anyways.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I river fish alot and our rivers have an abundance of Largemouth around 1-2lb range, we keep them regularly. DNR shocks our rivers regularly and encourages keeping them

 

Edit:I voted keep all, but technically it's keep all under a certain size.

 

These are from yesterday, kept about 10 this size. 

[Joshua van Wyk]

I never keep freshwater fish. When I go to the beach once a year I keep all the fish I catch. 

[greentrout]

they all go back ... big ones get a quick pic. if the unhooking was fast ... owner or state says take the little ones out..done deal .... 

 

live in an area where there is bountiful seafood restaurants from the high end down to rustic settings .... all good...and tasty ....

 

nothing against those who keep 'em and eat 'em .... 

 

good fishing ...

[Glaucus]

I pretty much exclusively fish for bass and I'm completely catch and release.

 

If I want to eat something, I'll buy it. 

 

I do this for fun because I love it.

[scaleface]

I'm not voting because there needs to be a fourth option .

[bassh8er]

We keep mostly crappies, but not every one we catch.  Some gills, but prefer crappie.

 

dont catch many walleye in NE, but when we do, they aren’t headed back in the water.

 

All bass are released.

[EGbassing]

28 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I'm not voting because there needs to be a fourth option .

Which one?

13 minutes ago, bassh8er said:

We keep mostly crappies, but not every one we catch.  Some gills, but prefer crappie.

 

dont catch many walleye in NE, but when we do, they aren’t headed back in the water.

 

All bass are released.

Wouldn't you say you keep some fish rather than keep all fish then?

[N Florida Mike]

It seems like this is around the 10th time Ive answered this question, but I'll bite again.

I dont keep bass over 17'. I will occasionally keep some in the 12-16 inch slot to thin the herd in the home lake. I like filleted bass, as does my family. We get a lot of saltwater fish too, between my son and me, and I'd rather eat sheepheads, flounder, redfish, etc. , more than bass. But if we need some quick filets for the table it usually doesnt take long in my lake.

[scaleface]

25 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Which one?

I  voted B . 

[EGbassing]

2 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I  voted B . 

Ok, I meant which one did you want me to add though?

[gim]

I used to keep more fish than I do now but that is probably because I used to target better tasting fish too. I quite simply just don’t target panfish or walleyes very often anymore. I mostly just bass and muskie fish and they all go back. I occasionally keep a small pike for pickling but even that kinda sucks because of the slime and bones.

[scaleface]

6 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Ok, I meant which one did you want me to add though?

B is all right . For some reason I read it wrong .

[Tlauz]

I never keep bass.  If I want fish I will usually keep a few Northern Pike and take the bones out of them.  I usually catch plenty of them while I am bass fishing. 

[Bluebasser86]

I don't eat any of the fish I catch. I wish I liked to eat them but they don't taste good to me. If someone fishing with me wants to selectively harvest some fish, I'm fine with that though. 

 

I'm pretty odd when it comes to fish I guess. I don't like most fish but I do like sushi and things like seared ahi steaks or sandwiches.