Need help explaining Catch and Release to someone

[David P]

I've been fishing a smaller local reservoir, in which an older gentleman has been fishing as well. The fish have begun their move onto beds, in 1-3ft of water.

He keeps any bass he catches, which is usually 1-5 fish a day, he's keeping males that are protecting beds, and females that are on beds.

I understand it is LEGAL to keep fish, and he's not doing anything illegal. But at the same time, keeping 1-5 bass every day, 7 days a week, is also un-needed, and especially at a crucial time in the year in which the bass are so vulnerable and easy to catch.

Is there anything that can be done? One local tried to explain to him about why it needs to be let go, but I didn't hear the conversation, or know what was talked about. So I'm thinking about confronting him, calmly and politely, but what would be the best way to do it?

I've even thought about offering to pay the guy $50 just to release all fish until June. But can't monitor if he's keeping that promise.

[Popeye]

IF the guy is set in his ways, then you are facing an uphill battle. I only hope he is either eating the fish he keeps or giving them to someone who does. Shame to waste the resource by someone taking them home "for show" and then throwing them away. I would suggest pointing out the POSITIVES of "catch and release', especially during the spawn. Certainly hope you are successful and can persuade him in the right direction. GOOD LUCK!!!

[HesterIsGod]

Give him hard facts. Look for and print out some studies and reports that agree with you and explain why C and R is so important, especially around the spawn.

[kybassangler]

I may not be with the majority but, any legal fish I catch is usually ingested as it makes great table fare.  If the fellow is eating the fish It will never make sense to him to throw 'em back.  

[David P]

Give him hard facts. Look for and print out some studies and reports that agree with you and explain why C and R is so important, especially around the spawn.

I'm looking online, and see nothing plain and simple. Not sure how well this guys english reading skills are. He speaks alright, but not sure if his reading is great.

[David P]

I may not be with the majority but, any legal fish I catch is usually ingested as it makes great table fare.  If the fellow is eating the fish It will never make sense to him to throw 'em back.  

Int he long run, he'll catch more fish Summer/Fall/ Winter if he throws the fish back now.  So it does make sense.

[MemphisFisherman]

How small is the place?  Unless your talking tiny...I don't really think one guy abiding the law can really put a major dent on population, im sure theres gunna be alot who disagree but hey I am stubborn.  And who knows, maybe that guy is out there doing that because he can't afford other food....If thats not the case then he will likely tire of eating bass over and over and over again.  Maybe teach him how to catfish, or catch some bream or crappie.  Talk crap about how much better some other lake is, there are alot of ways to avoid confrintation, especially when you don't really have a right to say something  

[David P]

How small is the place?  Unless your talking tiny...I don't really think one guy abiding the law can really put a major dent on population, im sure theres gunna be alot who disagree but hey I am stubborn.  And who knows, maybe that guy is out there doing that because he can't afford other food....If thats not the case then he will likely tire of eating bass over and over and over again.  Maybe teach him how to catfish, or catch some bream or crappie.  Talk crap about how much better some other lake is, there are alot of ways to avoid confrintation, especially when you don't really have a right to say something  

He fishes for trout with another rod so he knows how to catch other fish. He pays $6 for parking and $4 for permit each and every time he fishes there. $10 can buy you fish dinner!

Regardless, If I see him catch a big fish with eggs i will say something.

[The Rooster]

I also may be out of line here. I'm a big advocate of catch and release, that's all I do myself and I totally understand your concern.

But the picture I get from what you've said is that there's an elderly gentleman fishing and keeping fish. My take on this situation is that the older generation was raised fishing and keeping what they caught, in a time before catch and release was thought of. He's just doing what he's probably always done I'm thinking.

So not only are you likely not to get anywhere with him in saying something (other than a good cussing maybe), but also there's another issue to consider. An elderly person in their later years enjoying something they've always done and are still able to do thankfully, but for how long not even they know. This may be his last season and myself personally I'd hate to spoil that for him. Who knows, he may be a veteran from a war fought to protect this country (WWII maybe) and I'm living here today because of his and other people like him's efforts. I would never disrespect that by confronting him with something that's totally legal for him to do and also......possibly in his eyes.......trivial at best.

[Catt]

My suggestion to you would be to do some research into the subject of selective harvesting, why you may ask. You might have better luck explaining he can keep certain bass instead of telling him he can't keep any.  

[MaxDal]

I would try to "responsibalize" him politely !

4/5 bass a day on 7 days out of ... 7 ! That's like betw. 28 - 35 a week ! 112 - 140 a month ! Nobody can use that many fish..... giving fish to friends is ok, but you're not supposed to feed the whole city either.

That's way too many.

Ok alone, he's not going to dent the population on a big body of water. But I guess you have to explain to him what the whole picture looks like. He is not alone !

I would not directly tell him to stop !

You have to make him understand that first :

- he should think about the future generations that would also like to enjoy the same sport he does.

- that we're still predators, but we kill in our own ways. We've chosen to live in a consumerism society (like it or not, we take benefit from it) but we should also accept the fact that it has an impact on the environnement ..... So we are still "harvesting" fish (pollution kills ...Etc). Taking less than he currently does will help the fishery.

-He is not alone ! One man alone can't empty the ocean, yeah. Problem, we're not alone. Taking 5 fish is legal, it's his right. But people often focus too much on their own rights, and tend to forget/not see that there are duties and common sense that go with each and every right.

Most important, remain polite or he will take it personally and start killing 10 bass a day  ;D

[senile1]

Roostertails and Catt have excellent points.  So what do you do?  

You don't tell him to stop and you don't preach to him.  You introduce yourself to him as you would any individual deserving of respect and you get to know him.  As you get to know him you talk about fishing and the biology of fish, bass in particular.  Eventually, in this discussion, you can talk about how the male protects the nest, how they will bite almost anything at this time of year, and how this behavior protects the eggs on the nest so that future generations of bass can grow and thrive.  You can talk about the concept of selective harvest as well.  

In other words, you talk to him just like you would talk to one of your buddies and you carry on a regular conversation.  It doesn't have to be all about fishing.  Hopefully, he can put 2 and 2 together.  Who knows? You may develop a good friendship.  The point is, he should never know that you're trying to change his behavior.  To him you should appear to be just a friendly guy who loves to talk about bass.

[Guest muddy]

CATCH Meet a girl in a bar, spend the night at here place

RELEASE In the morning go out for cigarettes, and never return

[kybassangler]

How small is the place? Unless your talking tiny...I don't really think one guy abiding the law can really put a major dent on population, im sure theres gunna be alot who disagree but hey I am stubborn. And who knows, maybe that guy is out there doing that because he can't afford other food....If thats not the case then he will likely tire of eating bass over and over and over again. Maybe teach him how to catfish, or catch some bream or crappie. Talk crap about how much better some other lake is, there are alot of ways to avoid confrintation, especially when you don't really have a right to say something

He fishes for trout with another rod so he knows how to catch other fish. He pays $6 for parking and $4 for permit each and every time he fishes there. $10 can buy you fish dinner!

Regardless, If I see him catch a big fish with eggs i will say something.

If the place is charging a fee for fishing they can afford to put fish back in.  Leave the old guy alone there is nothing worse than someone trying to tell you how to do what you do for fun.  My granddad always fished for food.  That is why I fail to see anything wrong with it.  

[Grey Wolf]

I C & R 100% but I believe you would be totally out of line confronting this gentlemen about the way he fishes. As long as he is breaking no laws , it is totally his business how he fishes and what he does with the fish .

I would suggest to not bother him , he has the same rights you do and you have no right to try to enforce your will or idea's on others.

[Alpster]

I am a C & R advocate as well and haven't kept a bass (except stripers & hybrids) to eat in almost 20 years. I must tell you honestly however, that it's more because they aren't very good to eat compared to other species. LOL

The wildlife officials who decide on seasons, daily limits, slots, etc. are marine biologists and you should have a little confidence in them. If he is catching his limit every day, 7 days a week, then the fishery is pretty healthy. I don't know of any public fishing hole on earth that produces so well without dynomite. LOL

If this guy is not breaking any rules or laws, you are out of line trying to lecture him. One guy is not going to single handedly cripple the fishing in your lake without breaking some rules. JMHO

Ronnie

[hamer08]

It doesn't seem like recruitment is an issue at the lake if he can catch fish daily (or its being stocked). Either way, he is probably not doing much harm to the lake, except improving the growth rates of the remaining bass. It seems like I hear the opposite problem more often. No one will harvest bass and the population becomes stunted with a bunch of skinny fish. If your that worried contact whoever manages the lake and find out the managment strategy. If your area doesn't have a fish biologist, lobby your DNR to get one.

[Del from philly]

I also may be out of line here.  I'm a big advocate of catch and release, that's all I do myself and I totally understand your concern.  

But the picture I get from what you've said is that there's an elderly gentleman fishing and keeping fish.  My take on this situation is that the older generation was raised fishing and keeping what they caught, in a time before catch and release was thought of.  He's just doing what he's probably always done I'm thinking.  

So not only are you likely not to get anywhere with him in saying something (other than a good cussing maybe), but also there's another issue to consider.  An elderly person in their later years enjoying something they've always done and are still able to do thankfully, but for how long not even they know.  This may be his last season and myself personally I'd hate to spoil that for him.  Who knows, he may be a veteran from a war fought to protect this country (WWII maybe) and I'm living here today because of his and other people like him's efforts.  I would never disrespect that by confronting him with something that's totally legal for him to do and also......possibly in his eyes.......trivial at best.  

this was a well thought out, gem of a post, nice post

as much as it upsets me too, we all have the guy at the lake with the bucket. The good news is, these guys usually dont know how to catch nothing.....my guy throws little blue gills in a bucket.

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I would try joking aroujnd with him, maybe say, "d**n, you eat fish every night? you know thats bad for your body right?"

hell probably follow up saying that he dont eat them, then show him catch and release.....show him the feeling involved with letting that fish swim away....

MAYBE HE NEEDS TO EXPERIENCE THE FEELING HIMSELF FOR HIM TO UNDERSTAND....

when i was a little kid i had the "keep-em" mindset....but after releasing a few fish i fell in love with the feeling!

[Bassboy15]

Give him hard facts. Look for and print out some studies and reports that agree with you and explain why C and R is so important, especially around the spawn.

I'm looking online, and see nothing plain and simple. Not sure how well this guys english reading skills are. He speaks alright, but not sure if his reading is great.

Find an online translator and copy paste into that.

[NBR]

You are probably wasting your time. He has been a catch, keep and eat all of his life. I am on the wrong side of 70 and have practiced C&R since my teens-doesn't mean I don't have a few fresh fish meals each year.  I would mention returning the larger fish to spawn and then drop the subject. I possible and courteous I would try to catch a few within his sight and release them. Maybe an example would motivate him since nothing else has.

[MemphisFisherman]

How small is the place?  Unless your talking tiny...I don't really think one guy abiding the law can really put a major dent on population, im sure theres gunna be alot who disagree but hey I am stubborn.  And who knows, maybe that guy is out there doing that because he can't afford other food....If thats not the case then he will likely tire of eating bass over and over and over again.  Maybe teach him how to catfish, or catch some bream or crappie.  Talk crap about how much better some other lake is, there are alot of ways to avoid confrintation, especially when you don't really have a right to say something  

He fishes for trout with another rod so he knows how to catch other fish. He pays $6 for parking and $4 for permit each and every time he fishes there. $10 can buy you fish dinner!

Regardless, If I see him catch a big fish with eggs i will say something.

If the place is charging a fee for fishing they can afford to put fish back in.  Leave the old guy alone there is nothing worse than someone trying to tell you how to do what you do for fun.  My granddad always fished for food.  That is why I fail to see anything wrong with it.  

x2, if it's a pay lake, then they are going to keep it stocked, or people will stop paying.

[Quinn]

You are probably wasting your time. He has been a catch, keep and eat all of his life. I am on the wrong side of 70 and have practiced C&R since my teens-doesn't mean I don't have a few fresh fish meals each year. I would mention returning the larger fish to spawn and then drop the subject. I possible and courteous I would try to catch a few within his sight and release them. Maybe an example would motivate him since nothing else has.

That was my thought, lead by example.  If he sees you release a nice one, he may ask you why then he is the one opening the conversation instead of a confrontation.

I agree with the previous post too if it is a pay as you go lake.

[MemphisFisherman]

another suggestion, offer him your smaller fish that arent bedding, then he gets his limit with expendable fish and leaves the good ones in there.  but seriously, if its a pay to fish, you have zero right to say anything, and likely will just make him and the owners very mad.

[kybassangler]

If it is legal in that state nobody has a right to say anything.  What this boils down to is people trying to impose their beliefs on others.  If the lake is overpopulated you have a bunch of skinny dink fish.  If they don't have enough to eat won't their growth be stunted?  I can see catch and release a good idea for the professional circuit where they catch a lot and have so many competitors.  The average Joe out here fishing is not gonna hurt the fishery.  I hear a lot of weird things like bass aren't good to eat, they should be put back and eat a bluegill or a crappie.  This doesn't seem to me to be active conservation.  If we are worried about conservation why not get in touch with the state biologist.  They get paid the big bucks to figure out what we should do.    

[senile1]

You can influence someone's behavior without telling them what to do or imposing your beliefs on them.  I discussed a method to do this in my earlier post on this thread.