Catch and Release Speech

[Big Al]

For a final semester speech in my communications class (I'm freshman in college), I'm doing a persuasive speech about the benefits of catch and release.  I know, most of my class wont really care, but content doesn't matter as much as how it's presented.  I chose the topic because it's something I feel strongly about and it's not boring like yet another speech about war or gay marriage.  Basically the idea is to persuade the audience to feel that catch and release is a good idea.  

I'm wondering if any of you know of some good statistics, facts, or websites related to catch and release.  This is mostly geared to bass fishing but can be all types of fishing.

Thanks for the help in advance!  ;D

[Quinn]

You could read this first:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1231026675/0

This is a very awkward topic on this forum. Also search catch and release here.

Hope it helps

Q

[Marty]

I'm no scientist, but I know that pure catch and release is not always a good idea for certain bodies of water. For some waters, selective harvest is a better idea.

Here's one article here:

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/selective_harvest_bass.html

[SirSnookalot]

I have a problem with that term " harvest ".  Is harvesting for the benefit of the fish or the fisherman?  I would just as soon let nature take it's own course.

As far as catch and release, for me it's 99% of the time, especially releasing larger females that produce more eggs.  Some species do not have a size limit, but a slot size instead ie: snook, must be between 28" & 32 " in eastern Florida and only 1 can be kept.  From what I understand the snook population in Florida has greatly benefitted from this practice.

[Catt]

Which would you rather have a problem with a word or a stunted bass population?  

[Muddy]

I have a problem with that term " harvest ". Is harvesting for the benefit of the fish or the fisherman? I would just as soon let nature take it's own course.

As far as catch and release, for me it's 99% of the time, especially releasing larger females that produce more eggs. Some species do not have a size limit, but a slot size instead ie: snook, must be between 28" & 32 " in eastern Florida and only 1 can be kept. From what I understand the snook population in Florida has greatly benefitted from this practice.

since the original intent of fishing ,farming and hunting were to eat, what is wrong with the word harvest

Def of Harvest according to Merrim Webster:

Main Entry: 1har·vest

Pronunciation: \[ch712]här-v[ch601]st\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English harvest, from Old English hærfest; akin to Latin carpere to pluck, gather, Greek karpos fruit

Date: before 12th century

1: the season for gathering in agricultural crops

2: the act or process of gathering in a crop

3 a: a mature crop (as of grain or fruit) : yield b: the quantity of a natural product gathered in a single season <deer harvest> <ice harvest>

4: an accumulated store or productive result <a harvest of revenue>

since my college accepted this source I would say harvest is not a euphemism but a good word to use here

Man is eating the fish, yea it benefits the man, why wouldn't it? We have incisor teeth to eat flesh, so it benefits man as a food source, there are many folks who still fish for the table

And for those inclined to manage bodies of water, to produce more or larger fish then Selective Harvest via length or slot limits have proven to be invaluable tools when doing this

  Once we deal with man made water systems or a lot of pressure, nature has no course to take, this is part of what our licences pay for, fish management. This is no longer the New World and if people are to continue to fish for both food and or sport management in a needed tool.

[Painter Dude]

Try the term " RECYCLE" It's pretty popular these days!

Click the link in my Sig-

[SirSnookalot]

Harvest would be to eat or to sell to be eaten or cut down and replanted as in trees.  Recycling would be to take a product, separate the different metals, grades of steel and iron then return it to it's original state and process it to be used in the manufacturing of a new product.

I was a recycler for 35 years, owned a scrap iron and metal facility.

I see guys taking 10 or more bass at a time, 15-20 bluefish at a time, sneaking out of slot or out of season snook in the middle of the night..........you call that harvest?

"harvest" laws are not strict enough, the emphasis should be on being a sportsman, CATCH AND RELEASE, better for the fish population.

[tyrius.]

I see guys taking 10 or more bass at a time, 15-20 bluefish at a time, sneaking out of slot or out of season snook in the middle of the night..........you call that harvest?

Nope, that's poaching.  

Selective harvest is the legal taking of a number of individual fish to better the overall health of the entire population.  Kind of like deer hunting here in the midwest.

[Catt]

Illegally taking over your bag limit has nothing to do with selective harvesting  

Selective harvesting has been proven more effective in wildlife management than any catch & release program. I strongly suggest educating yourself in the highly effective results of Selective Harvesting both in wildlife & fisheries.  

There is no law or sin against eating bass  

[Muddy]

Harvest would be to eat or to sell to be eaten or cut down and replanted as in trees. Recycling would be to take a product, separate the different metals, grades of steel and iron then return it to it's original state and process it to be used in the manufacturing of a new product.

I was a recycler for 35 years, owned a scrap iron and metal facility.

I see guys taking 10 or more bass at a time, 15-20 bluefish at a time, sneaking out of slot or out of season snook in the middle of the night..........you call that harvest?

"harvest" laws are not strict enough, the emphasis should be on being a sportsman, CATCH AND RELEASE, better for the fish population.

 I remember doing research on Jamestown and how the Native Americans were confused by Englishmen who hunted for sport and were starving in the winter!

 Fishing for the table is ETHICAL AND LEAGAL IN EVERY STATE, so why is it unsportsmanlike, Geez gimme a break!

I have never broken a fish and game law NOT ONCE, and I can't say that for other areas of my life

Anyway It's up to the sportsman to be a stand up guy and not do things like this. You can make the laws as hard as you want but total enforcement is not possible due to staffing and amount of water to be covered

I have killed very few bass, all by deep hooking and less tha6 in the last 12 years, because I want to. My partner takes about 4 fish a month during the summer, all over 15 inches long, funny thing his licence entitles him to do so! If I wanted to eat a bass, I certainly would and they taste good.

You know on the Interstate this morning, where the speed limit is 65 about a dozen guys who passed me ( I drive slow) were doing around 85, they need to make the laws tougher, or maybe even close the interstates!

[Daniel A.]

You know on the Interstate this morning, where the speed limit is 65 about a dozen guys who passed me ( I drive slow) were doing around 85, they need to make the laws tougher, or maybe even close the interstates!

Nicely put into perspective.

I'd start by Googling "Catch and Release Statistics". I'm sure you'd find more than enough credible information on which to base your speech.

[SirSnookalot]

Slightly off the subject

Kind of like deer hunting here in the midwest.

In the areas of over populated deer, which is a fact, I would think having them round up, slaughted in a humane fashion, then parting them out, for food, clothing, shoes etc, would be more than a cottage business but create more significant jobs. Just the business side of my head guys.

Not saying their should not be hunting, it's good pastime. Next time I go hunting I'm going 2 out 3 falls with a young buck, then I can catch and release.

I just love stirring the pot ;D

[Raul]

I have a problem with that term " harvest ". Is harvesting for the benefit of the fish or the fisherman? I would just as soon let nature take it's own course.

For both it 's good; size limits & slot limits benefits both the fishERIE and the fisherman.

[Muddy]

Slightly off the subject

Kind of like deer hunting here in the midwest.

In the areas of over populated deer, which is a fact, I would think having them round up, slaughted in a humane fashion, then parting them out, for food, clothing, shoes etc, would be more than a cottage business but create more significant jobs. Just the business side of my head guys.

Not saying their should not be hunting, it's good pastime. Next time I go hunting I'm going 2 out 3 falls with a young buck, then I can catch and release.

I just love stirring the pot ;D

Are you a member of PETA?

[Btech]

I believe its in the book....

Cant remember where....

" If you give a man a fish he eats for a night - Teach a man to fish and he eats for an Eternity. "

If we didnt harvest we wouldnt live (in the past) - Although I do not eat my catches (except Catfish) its still the rights of the fisherman.

Same with your choise of religion ... We all need to forget about these little details and just fish together ... Keeping them or not!

We are here for the sport of it.

[Big Al]

Didn't mean to start any conflict here...

I have no problem with selective harvest of fish to benefit a fishery, I was mostly relating to catch and release of trophy sized or potential trophy sized fish to give others the chance to catch them another day.

Any statistics or websites?

Thanks for the interest by the way!

[SirSnookalot]

Are you a member of PETA?

Well not yet, but I may if the spotted owl comes back.

All kidding aside I'm a meat eater.  As a kid my father owned a fish company.  I cleaned so many fish that I just don't want to do it anymore.  However I have backpacked in around Hawk Junction,Ontario and had eat my catch as it was survival.

Nowadays I may take 1 or 2 grouper or dolphin ayear home as my wife loves them.

[farmpond1]

" If you give a man a fish he eats for a night - Teach a man to fish and he eats for an Eternity. "

Actually, I think the saying goes, "If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day.  If you teach him to fish, he'll spend most of his paycheck on fishing gear and won't have enough left over to buy groceries."  

[Muddy]

Didn't mean to start any conflict here...

I have no problem with selective harvest of fish to benefit a fishery, I was mostly relating to catch and release of trophy sized or potential trophy sized fish to give others the chance to catch them another day.

Any statistics or websites?

Thanks for the interest by the way!

Stats are difficult to find. I do not have time right now, but I had some sucess visiting various wesites for the different state's DNR's and such a few years back. Try asking Raul or Catt, not sure , but they know a lot and try Paul Roberts also

[Glenn]

Gentlemen let's ditch the rhetoric and answer the young man's question.

Personally, I think the speech should be more about adhering to proper limits and regulations when taking fish, and practice C&R more often than not.

Here's where you can find a lot of information:

Proper catch and release:

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/caring_for_bass.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/handle.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/catch_release_bass.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/after_the_catch.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/reducing_bass_mortality.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/preserving_the_resource.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/livewell1b.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/handling_summer_bass.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/fish1.html

Selective harvest vs. pure catch and release

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/selective_harvest.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/fishing_limits.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/catch_release.html

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

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/bass_limits.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/slot_fish_management.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/slot.html

These are just the tip of the iceberg here. With any of these articles, there's more listed on the right margin under "Related Articles".

Enjoy!

Glenn

[Raul]

Actually, I think the saying goes, "If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach him to fish, he'll spend most of his paycheck on fishing gear and won't have enough left over to buy groceries."

Holy cow   , it is true !  

Now that is what I call a revelation.  

[Daniel A.]

I thought the saying went: "Give a man a fish, you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you'll frustrate him for a lifetime."

[Big Al]

Thanks everybody, especially Glenn. Lots of good information here.  

The speech will include selective harvest and regulations, with emphasis on catch and release.  

[Muddy]

Good luck young man, lets here your grade when you get done