Catch & Release

[Beastie Bass]

I agree, keeping a few bass may help out a pond with a small size average. I live in Southern Indiana and a few years ago they opened a nice fish & wildlife area for the public. Before they opened it to the public we had to have a permit from a coal company and there were no boats allowed at all. My PB a 9lb3oz beast came from one of these lakes. THE FIRST WEEKEND it was open to the public regardless of size limits, people were taking home TONS of fish. I actually called our DNR and turned in a few people but I dont know if it did any good

[zerofivenismo]

I catch and release all bass.  Crappies over 10" don't have a prayer.

[TheSickdrift]

Ill eat whatever bass i catch. Even if it is under 14 inches. Those suckers taste like chicken. ;D

lol

[Crestliner2008]

Todays In-Fisherman show is about this exact subject.

Exactly. These folks have preached "selective harvest" for many years. When compliant with local regulations, keeping the smaller of the species and releasing the larger, can be beneficial to the water shed. You might consider contacting your local fisheries management agency and talk to them about it.

Myself....I don't particularly like the flavor of freshwater fish. I prefer the saltwater variety. I have eaten both species of bass, walleye, crappie and northern pike (the best by far). My boat is strictly CPR, but as stated, selective harvest is really the best option for many waters.

IMO only.....if you keep & eat everything you catch, you are a meat hunter....not a true sportsman. It may be perfectly legal to do so. It also is morally wrong. My apologies, if that offends anyone.

[Smiths.R]

I'm not offended by what you just said, but what do you base such a far reaching statement as "It's morally wrong" on?  Do you think all hunting is wrong?  You can't buy LMB at the grocery.  If he likes to eat it, good for him.  I love to eat geese, ducks, and deer.  Am I wrong for doing that?  Who made you the judge of these moral issues?  I think you're way out of line making a statement like that...

And FYI, I don't even like fish.  They all go back when I catch them.

[Bob C]

everything you catch, you are a meat hunter....not a true sportsman. It may be perfectly legal to do so. It also is morally wrong. My apologies, if that offends anyone.

I keep some legal fish for the frying pan. How does that not make me a sportsman. I don't practice shoot and release when deer hunting either. I've seen some crazy stuff from so called catch and release guys. I've seen bass with half their face ripped off by draging them through brush and around dock poles, and I even saw one bass dragged into a running trolling motor. If you're really concerened about the fish, why do you catch them? That seems like a lot of stress for the fish. A true sportsman will obey the laws. If they keep legal fish, that's their business.

[J Francho]

These discussions always degrade into retarded generalizations.  What does hunting and catch and release of fish have to do with each other?  Nothing, that's what.

If you are a true fishing sportsman, you'll release the bigger fish to grow even bigger.  Period.  Otherwise, you're a numbers guy, and not at all interested in the resource.

[Bob C]

These discussions always degrade into retarded generalizations. What does hunting and catch and release of fish have to do with each other? Nothing, that's what.

If you are a true fishing sportsman, you'll release the bigger fish to grow even bigger. Period. Otherwise, you're a numbers guy, and not at all interested in the resource.

Why isn't hunting and fishing the same thing as far as being a sportsman. The DNR makes the rules and I follow them. If they say it's ok to keep some fish, then I will do it. I release most but not all. I still say, if you're concerened for the fish, then don't catch them.

[BigEbass]

Cmon guys - he put if you keep EVERTHING then you are a "meat hunter"  and that is "morally wrong".

I dont think he feels if you keep some fish to eat in general it is immoral?  I think he is saying that if you go out and literally keep EVERY single fish caught in GREAT numbers that this is simply not in step with what most of us like to do, and that is to preserve our fishery to the highest standard - to maintain a healthy population of game fish.  I think he may have used a slightly harsh word like "moral" but if everyone did keep everything then it would have deleterious effects on a fishery correct? And if everyone or many kept everything, then there would be less and less to keep for the ones that want to keep.

heh heh, this conversation did take a nasty turn - gotta love it

[Bubba_Bruiser]

I tend to follow the guidelines set by the biologists for the lake. Most of our lakes in south MS have a 14 or 16-20 or 22" slot. I feel they set these numbers for a reason of balance and change them appropiately through surveys. I do not keep a 22+ without the intent to mount, but I keep all the under slots and give them to the bank fishermen or other people around the house.

[roadwarrior]

C'mon guys...

BassResource.com STRONGLY encourages Catch & Release,

but we also support selective harvest. As long as a

fisherman is within the law, it is his or her personal

decision whether to keep our release their catch. Keeping

fish is neither immoral or illegal.

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

[J Francho]

What is the survival rate of a bass on rope?  :

[D4u2s0t]

These discussions always degrade into retarded generalizations. What does hunting and catch and release of fish have to do with each other? Nothing, that's what.

If you are a true fishing sportsman, you'll release the bigger fish to grow even bigger. Period. Otherwise, you're a numbers guy, and not at all interested in the resource.

Why isn't hunting and fishing the same thing as far as being a sportsman. The DNR makes the rules and I follow them. If they say it's ok to keep some fish, then I will do it. I release most but not all. I still say, if you're concerened for the fish, then don't catch them.

Tell me how there is no harm done during catch and release.

That's just dumb.

There is significanltly less damage done to a fisherie as a result of CPR vs. keeping every single fish you catch.  If everyone kept every fish they caught, there would be no fish left.  Think of trout.  Majority of people that fish for trout keep them to eat, myself included...  in my area, a few days after opening day, good luck catching a trout, until they restock.

I don't see why people can't just drop this silly subject, if someone keeps LEGAL fish, that's their choice. Just like it's someone else's choice to put a fish back. I don't ever keep bass on my lake, but I wouldn't be bothered by someone who did.

[JigMe]

These discussions always degrade into retarded generalizations. What does hunting and catch and release of fish have to do with each other? Nothing, that's what.

If you are a true fishing sportsman, you'll release the bigger fish to grow even bigger. Period. Otherwise, you're a numbers guy, and not at all interested in the resource.

Why isn't hunting and fishing the same thing as far as being a sportsman. The DNR makes the rules and I follow them. If they say it's ok to keep some fish, then I will do it. I release most but not all. I still say, if you're concerened for the fish, then don't catch them.

First of all, when you shoot anything it becomes dead most of the time now, that can be a moral issue. I am not saying it is, just it can be.  Catching a fish will probably stress the hell out of it, but she will still live.

Hunting = dead animals. Fishing = good chance to stay alive. So I don't think they are the same. 

[Tin]

These discussions always degrade into retarded generalizations. What does hunting and catch and release of fish have to do with each other? Nothing, that's what.

If you are a true fishing sportsman, you'll release the bigger fish to grow even bigger. Period. Otherwise, you're a numbers guy, and not at all interested in the resource.

Why isn't hunting and fishing the same thing as far as being a sportsman. The DNR makes the rules and I follow them. If they say it's ok to keep some fish, then I will do it. I release most but not all. I still say, if you're concerened for the fish, then don't catch them.

First of all, when you shoot anything it becomes dead most of the time now, that can be a moral issue. I am not saying it is, just it can be. Catching a fish will probably stress the hell out of it, but she will still live.

Hunting = dead animals. Fishing = good chance to stay alive a small, temporary piercing with stress involved. So I don't think they are the same.

[Bob C]

I keep more fish than anyone I know and yet I keep very few. I support the DNR even though I don't always agree with some of their choices. Last summer I had my 8yr old grandson out fishing. He caught his first bass. He wanted to keep it so bad to show his parents but when we measured it, it was 1 inch short. I almost kept it anyway but didn't. I explained the rules to him. He had tears in his eyes when we let it go. The worst part is we never caught another the rest of the day. Now he understands when I release them and he is becoming a real good sportsman.

[Bob C]

What is the survival rate of a bass on rope? :

Not much better than in my frying pan.

[Glenn]

Ok folks, time to take a deep breath on this one and walk away from the computer.  The "I'm right and you're wrong" attitude doesn't cut it here.

Fact: 100% catch and keep is detrimental to a fishery.

Fact: 100% catch and release is detrimental to a fishery.

You can't, and shouldn't, have just one or the other.  There needs to be a balance.  This is what I've been trying to educate people about for years and years.  I've put together an extensive library on this issue, and I encourage you to read up: http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/about.html#fish

Also, here's a great video that talks in part about the myths and facts about catch and release:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/bass-fishing-fish-biology.html

Please take the time to learn about lake management and how selective harvest fits in as a tool.  It's a good thing when done correctly, so please don't frown upon it.

Thanks, and let's keep this conversation in a positive light!  8-)

[oteymc]

Well said Glenn.

[FishingBuds]

Catch and release, its just what I do anymore.

I also believe in balance, its common sense, just like Does to Bucks ratio. This keeps it healthy. So Im not the one to keep any fish to eat when needed, just don't care for the taste of them anymore, its not terrible but there's no fuss over them, just like crab meat, its OK but its not all that.

[Stone]

My wife thinks it's silly, but I always practice catch and release. She can't see the point of fishing, catching fish, ad then throwing everything back. But, she's not into fishing, so she just doesn't get it, and that's fine.

I've gone catfishing and have kept a few cats.

The one fish that I do recall keeping was the largest fish I ever caught. It was a 38 inch Pike, and he was delicious

Of course Ive been deep sea fishing a few times, and keep everything.

[RedhookRR]

Myself personally I go with the selective harvest,  started this before learning the term or in-fisherman's crusade.  Most of the time I C&R though. 

Maybe we can use stun rounds then we can hunt and release.

[BassThumb]

Ok folks, time to take a deep breath on this one and walk away from the computer. The "I'm right and you're wrong" attitude doesn't cut it here.

Fact: 100% catch and keep is detrimental to a fishery.

Fact: 100% catch and release is detrimental to a fishery.

You can't, and shouldn't, have just one or the other. There needs to be a balance. This is what I've been trying to educate people about for years and years. I've put together an extensive library on this issue, and I encourage you to read up: http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/about.html#fish

Also, here's a great video that talks in part about the myths and facts about catch and release: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/bass-fishing-fish-biology.html

Please take the time to learn about lake management and how selective harvest fits in as a tool. It's a good thing when done correctly, so please don't frown upon it.

Thanks, and let's keep this conversation in a positive light! 8-)

Well said. Thanks for posting that informative video. I always C&R bass, but I will keep crappies and sunnies before the bass season opens up in late May.

I may have to start keeping some dink bass once in a while, instead of buying halibut, salmon or swordfish on the way home from the lake, which I've done many times after fishing gets me in the mood for fish for dinner.

[77railer]

I think once I start catching fish on a regular basis it will be easier for me to let them go again...lol.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i have never taken a bass to eat nor will i ever , i will release all bass !!! i don't care if it is dying , gut hooked or whatever , cat fish will eat any fish that dies in the lakes i fish . if the bass is good size , i will taks a picture of it and then get it back in the water as soon as possible . around where i live they don't stock bass . they stock trout and catfish seasonally , so i take home trout (for my girlfriend) and an occasional catfish . if i'm fishing a lake with crappies , i take home any that are gut hooked ....