Catch & release or keep?

[dickenscpa]

I'll throw my hat in the ring. I C&R 100% of the time myself because I'm purely into the sport side of fishing. I also take the barbs off almost all my hooks. For two reasons 1) I had a boss I used to go fishing with while in high school and it was easy on the fish and easy to unhook and 2) I'm casting in a boat with a 4 yr old casting too and if either of us get hooked it's easier on my son. I may lose a few fish but 80% of the fun to me is just being out there on the water and spending time with my son.

I love eating fish, but prefer farm raised fish's taste as opposed to local lakes and rivers. Plus I'm too lazy to clean them when Kroger is 4 miles down the road. I'm not too crazy about the taste of bass anyway, especially big bass. I don't however have a problem with someone who keeps fish to actually eat as long as it's done legally. I don't know anyone personally though that actually catch bass to eat.

Now I do crave the taste of deer and it's not something you can go down the road and buy at the supermarket. In Tennessee it's illegal to sell deer meat. I love to bow hunt. I'm not real successful (LOL!) but the president of my company will throw me some scraps every now and then. LOL!

[grimlin]

The thing that really gets to me, is when I'm fishing at a dock with another person or even a few other people, and I'm the only one catching bass, they always see me release them, and ask if they can have the next one..

 It puts me in an awkward position, I always say no, but I'm a nice guy and dont' want people to think i'm an a-hole..

To me, if I was going to keep fish, it takes away the fun if you dont' catch it yourself..

Does this happen to you guys when fishing around others?

Absolutely.

It has happened to me on a number of occasions over the years and yes it is very awkward.

I have a few places where I fish alongside of poor folk.  I'm talking cane poles and straw hats.  I will always share a few eatin' size fish with them.

Other than that, like you I just say "nah, I'm just here to keep in shape for a big tournament that's coming up.  It's bad luck if I keep any fish"  Then I just start yammerin away about all my superstitions.   They sorta look at me funny as they slowly take backwards steps.  

Works like a charm  

;D I'm gonna try that next time,although it's gonna require me to tell a white lie about fishing tournaments since i don't fish tournaments.But who cares.

[-t0pwater.fish#n-]

always catch and release for me, bass do not taste too great, blue gill is supposed to taste amazing when fried

[Catt]

Ill cook y'all some bass and I promise not only will you love it,

You will not want to eat any other fish ever.  

[-badhabit-]

Ill cook y'all some bass and I promise not only will you love it,

You will not want to eat any other fish ever.

If you got the fish fishing in my boat you would need all of that nutrition to re-coop from that long swim and even longer walk back with the fish to your truck ;D ;D

[Catt]

Ill cook y'all some bass and I promise not only will you love it,

You will not want to eat any other fish ever.

If you got the fish fishing in my boat you would need all of that nutrition to re-coop from that long swim and even longer walk back with the fish to your truck ;D ;D

Yea but you'd still love the fish I cook  

[-badhabit-]

[amfyoyo1]

I never keep bass. There are too many fish out there that taste better.quote]

Going against the trend of this thread.

You must not know how to fix a bass for excellent eating. I have cooked almost every land locked game fish in the US. I rank Bass in the top 5.

I don't keep the big ones but to never "keep bass" is narrow minded. You end up over populating your water and stunting their growth. Looking down on someone that does keep a catch for the enjoyment of their family is self-centered.

Pursuit of happiness. I'm happy eating a great meal that God gives me.

[GatorBK]

I keep them in overpopulated ponds but I let the big healthy females go ,  People have questioned my keeping of bass,  but when they look like this one I caught yesterday I feel justified in keeping them , Its a sad thing when bass get overpopulated

Thsi is the result of a catch and release only pond after several years

[Fish Chris]

Hey amfyoyo1, I mostly agree. Of course, just to reiterate; Every fishery is different. Their are certainly places with high recruitment, which are subject to over population, and what's cool is, these are the places where a good meal is much easier to catch anyway :-) Nice how that works, huh ?

But then their are places (unfortunately, not enough of them, cuz these are the places with HAWGS !) with low recruitment, where it is probably detrimental to keep any bass.

I know it's human nature to try to over simplify things, but fisheries are just too dynamic, and variable, from one to the next, to make any broad rules, like "100% C/R", or "catch and kill a limit every time" that will cover all lakes.

If a guy is truly concerned with the fish in his waters, he will study that fishery, and follow specific practices, that will help that particular fishery the most.

Peace,

Fish

[tallydude]

I never keep bass. There are too many fish out there that taste better.quote]

Going against the trend of this thread.

You must not know how to fix a bass for excellent eating. I have cooked almost every land locked game fish in the US. I rank Bass in the top 5.

I don't keep the big ones but to never "keep bass" is narrow minded. You end up over populating your water and stunting their growth. Looking down on someone that does keep a catch for the enjoyment of their family is self-centered.

Pursuit of happiness. I'm happy eating a great meal that God gives me.

Clearly you've never had my cooking. But I'm not landlocked- I have the bounty of the ocean ahead of me. Bass cannot compare to dolphin, yellow tail snapper, grouper, or fresh tuna. Aside from that, I'm not keeping ANY of the fish from the freshwater here in South Florida :'(.

[Fish Chris]

I hear ya' West Palm Dude ! Can't wait for some fresh grilled Tuna, and some Halibut sandwiches :-)

Oh, and hey you guys, when WPD said "Dolphin", he wasn't talking about "Flipper" :-)

Yes WPD, Mahi Mahi is awesome on the grill too !

Peace,

Fish

[greentrout]

The only fish that are allowed to be kept anywhere around me are ones that may have swallowed the hook and are bleeding. It does happen once in a while I don't eat any type of fish or seafood myself anyway.....(beef & pork only for me...... no yardbird either).

When I was a guide in the 80's I had to allow the customers to keep one fish if they desired by my employers rules and sometimes it broke my heart because of my love for the sport. Big fish spawn big fish. I have only had two fish mounted and that was over 20 yrs ago (11 3/4 & 12 1/2).

I do hope that if someone does keep fish that they choose to keep only fish 1 lb - 3 lb so that the larger fish will multiply for their children's children to enjoy just as they have. Now that bass fishing has become "cool" and the sport has grown so rapidly it has had a negative effect on the bass population in the more high pressured lakes/rivers. As someone who has fished only for bass for close to three decades I have noticed the decline in the bass population first hand here in FL.

A picture with a nice frame is much cheaper than a mounted fish and gets a lot more respect from me.

"A picture can be worth thousands of baby bass in the future!"

just my .02

thanks for the honesty about what you believe to be the decline of the bass population in florida. i've got my thoughts of why but it's interesting to hear from someone who is there, been there and done that, and sees first hand what is going on. sounds like florida is not the mecca some think it is for the bass. good fishing to all.

[amfyoyo1]

[JRL]

I practice C&R all the time.

I have no problem with people keeping smaller fish.  Like 1 or 2 pounders.  

Anyone who questions weather C&R works can look at Stick Marsh.  Its not a big lake, everything gets released, and its loaded with 10 pounders.    

What I would like to see is size limits imposed similar to other game fish like snook, grouper, redfish, etc... (to protect breeders).  Like no harvesting during the spawn.  And all fish over 3lbs are to be released.

[jacksize]

i have only kept 1 because i was begged to. i release because i'm out there for the fight and the chance for bragging rights with my buddies. (curretnly i do have the right) my personal opinion is to each their own. down here in so. florida water is more than plentiful. (compare to vegas where i moved from) the amount of bass is incredible. for those who fillet & release in public lakes, hope they like the taste cause most of the waters i would not swim in. i do have a real big complaint when it comes to private lakes. i'm thankful and is fortunate to be allowed to fish in a few private communities.  shame on the ones that take from these lakes. one, you are disrespectful and two, it only takes one  >@^&%*()&^% to ruin it for everyone. hope they get a hook up their @*(%^.  >

[Guest avid]

As someone who has fished only for bass for close to three decades I have noticed the decline in the bass population first hand here in FL

I'm not going to dispute your personal observations, but if you look at the tournament bag weights they have actually gone up n recent years.

I think sometimes us older guys look back at the "good ole days".  I know I do.  

I also don't believe that harvesting bass is the reason for any declines you may be seeing.

First off, all lakes have their cycles.  They are better some years than others.

Second.  Surveys of top bass locations in the country, continue to name several Florida locations at the top of every list I have seen.

Third.  The impact of the '04 hurricanes was devastating to alot of fisheries.

The famed stick marsh, which is strictly C&R for bass lost all it's hydrilla and has yet to recover.

5th The current drought is also having a severe impact in some areas.

6th.  I think Florida has one of the better F&W departments in the country.  Keep in mind they have a very difficult task balancing the demands of the fresh water guys and those of the salt.  The okeechobee release practices are always controversial.  But they are on top of the game.  Slot limits and ID'ing declining species like the goliath grouper are good things.

Lastly, I think it's fine that you have rules for fishing on your boat.  We all do.

I just think it's a mistake to assume that C&R is the answer in every situation.

[flyphisher #]

Avid, good question....should be interesting if he responds......especially the entertaining conspiracy theories involving DNR and such ;D ;D

[George Welcome]

Opinions are like your butt - everyone has one, and everyone thinks everybody elses stinks. When you become dogmatic with your opinion you become the butt.

I've been fishing in Florida for the last 5 decades and I have only seen collosal improvements.

The hydrilla is missing from the Stick Marsh, but the bass are still there!

My boat is and always has been C&R. What you do on your boat within the law is your business and I have no right to think otherwise.

[youngangler13]

some times when i lived in virginia u would keep bass but rarely. if we wanted fish we went down to the trout farm and paid 2 dollers a fish that we caught to eat

[Lightninrod]

Catch, photo, and release for me too except for the dinks in two ponds that the owners want removed.

Years ago, we ate Bass and they were fine tasting but I skinned them instead of scaling them.  Getting rid of the oily skin frees up the taste of the flesh.

Dan

[fishingfourfun]

I personally practice C&R.  However, I do belive people have a lawful right to eat their catch within lawful limits. Most bass fisherman aren't buying a 30K boat to keep their fish.  It would be far mar economical to buy fish!

[roadwarrior]

Hmm... got me thinking...

I've shot a lot of dove over the years...probably got that down to under $10 per ounce

Pheasant...$100 per pound. Well, if you count the whiskey  :... no way...

Ducks...I've killed my fair share...$200/lb

Goose...$500/lb

Deer...$200-300/ lb

Bass (eaten as an adult)...$1000/lb...Nah, way more than that.

[PondBoss]

Personally I agree with a lot of you in the case of keeping a few fish to help thin out the small ones.  Personally I don't keep fish just because I don't want to clean them but I do get rid of fish in some of the ponds that I fish.  If you're catching a bunch of dinks give the coons some food.  The only big fish you should ever take out of a body of water should be to put on your wall.  And with the technology they have today a good taxidermist can make you one that looks even better than the real deal if you want.  

[Glenn]

Education is the key here.  There's a lot of misconceptions thrown around here.  For instance, 100% C&R, while noble, is actually much more detrimental to a fishery than sound selective harvest practices.

I HIGHLY encourage everyone here to read through the articles here on BassResource.com and overcome the emotions associated with harvesting a fish.

Replace your opinions with sound, scientific facts so that you can better arm yourself for debates such as these in the future.

Besides, the better educated we are about lake management, the better off the fish will be!  

Glenn