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

[txchaser]

I'm only keeping fish if it's from a pond that needs culling.

[Catt]

Selective harvesting ?

 

[nascar2428]

Got back into fishing eight years ago, haven't kept a fish of any species. Strictly catch and release for me.

[Jleebesaw]

I'm in the keep some category. I keep a couple limits of bass a year if I get some 12" fish biting. I dont keep big ones. I eat a lot of perch, crappie, bluegill, walleye, and even northerns sometimes. I dont like messing with northerns though. They smell bad, they are slimy, and they are a pita to clean. They taste good though.

[wcjohnson]

Voted catch and release - To me, bass don't taste to great. The smaller ones are okay, but still not my favorite. Last weekend I was fishing near two older guys who were throwing back the 1-2 LB'ers and keeping the bigger ones. It kind of bothered me to see them catch a 6-7 lber and just toss it on the bank like it was nothing ?

[NittyGrittyBoy]

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/catch_and_release_bass.html

 

Just leaving that here...

[J Francho]

Most of the waters I fish benefit from catch and release, and I don't care for the taste of bass.  There are other species that I occasionally keep.

[NYWayfarer]

Bass, LMB or SMB, never. I used to keep them if I hooked one so deep it wouldn't survive. That hasn't happened in years though. Last time it did I noticed an Eagle watching me nearby. I left the Smallmouth floating and was treated to the sight of the Eagle taking him out of the water in flight.

 

Now other species of fish are a different story. I keep Trout, like this limit I took on Saturday.

 

 

 

I also take Yellow Perch. Like this which was one of three eating size fish I caught on Sunday.

[EGbassing]

13 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

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. 

Nice fish! Are those spotted bass? I think I can finally tell the difference between those and largemouth now. ?

[Mn_Moose]

I don't eat bass. Only Walleye Northern Pike and Perch. Well, Crappie and Bluegill too!

[kenmitch]

Bass are always catch and release. I kayak fish and camp out solo for the most part. I'm not really sure what would happen if I was lucky enough to hook into a world record spotted bass on a trip up north. My nets large enough to hold one and keep it alive for the short term, but I'm not sure how long it would survive in the end. I guess I'd have to make a whole lot of noise, wave my arms, and hope to attract the attention of a fellow boater. I won't stress over it as it'll most likely never happen, but have thought about what I'd do. 

 

I've had a brand new fillet knife under the back seat of my truck for a couple of years now. It's in mint condition still sealed in the original package. 

 

I came close to busting it out in in June of 2017 when I was up north on vacation. I caught a bunch of bluegill that I one by one threw back as they weren't worth the hassle to me. I wound up catching a couple pound channel cat and thought about it, but wound up giving it away to a fellow camper that wasn't having any luck. I really just wanted a photo of me holding the cat. I wound up catching another one later on in the day that was slightly bigger than the last one and did the same thing again as I just wanted another photo. At dusk we were both fishing the bank and I was down to my last 1/2 a worm and hooked into a much larger one which he helped me land, took a photo or two, and a 30 second or so video of me landing it. It was 6lb 3oz and I asked him if he wanted it and he decided that he already had enough so we let it go. The next day he regretted the decision as he said the other 2 were mighty tasty.

 

There's nothing wrong with keeping and eating the fish you catch. Way back in the day when I was a we little lad my parents would take us camping and we'd catch and eat the fish. I'm not really much of a fish eater anymore so I just throw them back.

 

 

[ike8120]

I don't keep any bass, only if it is a trophy. I will keep trout to eat.

[kenmitch]

3 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

Last time it did I noticed an Eagle watching me nearby. I left the Smallmouth floating and was treated to the sight of the Eagle taking him out of the water in flight.

I had the same experience with a bluegill that I threw back and the poor guy didn't make it. I'm not a bird guy and it happened pretty quickly so not sure which bird of prey it was in the end. I'm leaning towards a Osprey, but it was a really cool experience seeing it happen in real life vs on tv.

[Steveo-1969]

I am 100% catch and release because I don't like to eat fish. And like many members here I have thousands of dollars invested in this sport. Shoot, thousands of dollars invested in rods and reels alone!

 

If your dad is reading this: "Hey dad. Give your son a chance to show you why he loves to bass fish. You may get hooked too and find a pastime you can enjoy together for years to come!!"

 

My father didn't fish, but some of my fondest memories are fishing with my son.

[Sphynx]

Bass are for fun, crappie, catfish and trout when available are definitely on the menu however. 

 

[PourMyOwn]

I'll keep a bass if I know it won't make it-otherwise I only eat perch, crappie and bluegills.

[GreenPig]

All crappie, hybrid bass, and spotted bass that I can fillet go home. Once a year I catch 50 bass under 12 inches out of my pond and fillet them. Pops is questioning your sanity over a $100. I thow lures that cost more. 

[J._Bricker]

@EGbassing, I went with “B” as my answer. C&R for bass for me, and I have no problem with anyone who chooses to eat their catch. Now salmon, steelhead, trout not to mention an ahi tuna steak and halibut make it on my plate. And fish tacos are screamin’....

[texan875]

Freshwater LMB are amazing to eat. I’ll keep every one that comes in the boat, no matter what size. 6 inch fillets all the way to 10 lb pbs go in the bag.

[Spankey]

I don’t really eat fish. I’ve tried different species.

 

I catch and release smallmouth and largemouth bass. I don’t have the desire to kill one or see one killed. I’ve had a few die on me over the years. I found a home for them. 

 

Trout are a different story. I caught and given away 1,000’s of them. I know many of people over the years that enjoy eating them. I enjoy catching them so a lot of gratification there. 

[Dwight Hottle]

I don't fish for bass for eating purposes. I'll keep perch & walleye to eat along with some saltwater fish as well. 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, texan875 said:

Freshwater LMB are amazing to eat. I’ll keep every one that comes in the boat, no matter what size. 6 inch fillets all the way to 10 lb pbs go in the bag.

I hope you're joking. I keep the occasional 1.5-3lbr - but the rest go back. Smaller and it's not worth filleting, larger and they get too 'gamey'.

[ratherbfishin1]

1 hour ago, texan875 said:

Freshwater LMB are amazing to eat. I’ll keep every one that comes in the boat, no matter what size. 6 inch fillets all the way to 10 lb pbs go in the bag.

Taking a 10 pound bass really doesn't seem right.  That is the fish of a lifetime and by releasing it you will give others the same opportunity to catch it.  The fish will also go on to produce offspring with a greater probability of becoming a trophy.  

 

I mean this with all due respect, its up to you to take it if you want but just consider letting others have the same opportunity on the big girls. Tight Lines!

 

[texan875]

For those concerned, yes it was a joke. The only time I think I would ever eat LMB is if I had to, not because of choice. 

[ratherbfishin1]

4 minutes ago, texan875 said:

For those concerned, yes it was a joke. The only time I think I would ever eat LMB is if I had to, not because of choice. 

You totally had me.  I was like, "If this guy is good enough to be catching 10 pounders you would think he would know enough to not keep them." ?