Catch And Release? What Are Your Thoughts?

[WRB]

C & R doesn't always mean catch and release healthy fish. Regardless of how careful you are, some fish do not survive being caught, there is a mortality rate. The mortality raises if the bass is placed into a livewell, verses being immediately released into the lake, river, stream or pond.

Tournament bass anglers try to keep the mortality rate as low as possible; 95% survival rate is very good.

50 bass boat boats with 2 anglers with 5 bass each = 500 bass put into livewells, weighed and released, all alive. Within 24 hours 5% of those die or 25 dead bass, that became food for birds or turtles etc.

Bass are renewable resource and managed that way on public water ways, catch and harvest rates are an important factor for the public. No reason to eliminate recreational anglers enjoying fish for food, at least the bass are eaten by the people who caught them within the allowable legal limits.

The tournament anglers could kill all 500 bass, they try to handle them properly and release them alive.

If you are bass fishing and catch a bass that doesn't look like it will survive, keep it, they are good eating fish. Why bass anglers think throwing away a bass that will die is being a good sport is beyond me.

Can bass fishing alone over harvest a lake? Yes, if the lake is unable to sustain the harvest rate. A large 10,000+ acre reservoir with a healthy forage base like Kentucky lake would be unlikely to be over harvested by angling pressure alone.

Tom

[ctf58]

Thanks for the replies. I like hearing others view of things.

[SENKOSAM]

Catch & Release has always been controversial and depending on the water quality, climate change, state environmental department funding/ shocking program (if any)/ record keeping, angler pressure/creel numbers, genetics, pollutants, etc., one can only guess if C&R helps, hurts or does nothing. B.A.S.S. has published many articles, pro and con, with supporting evidence for each. The question we ask ourselves when the fishery seems to yield lower quality fish or fewer keepers is why.

In southern NYS there are two large fisheries that seem to have declined in the last decade and no one seems to know why. Overharvesting, pollution, population and pattern shifts...who knows?

Tournament clubs in any case haven't come in with many large bags of five fish. NYSDEC hasn't come up with any reasons or solutions, especially now their funding has been cut and anything to correct the situation may be too late.

One thing most agree on - the annual rape of a lake's quality fish will usually result in smaller fish caught overall. I've seen it first hand and it saddens me.

[Tony Monticelli]

with they way the prices of things are right now and etc... i think i might have to start eating more of what i catch... stripper trout flounder fuke etc etc etc... spend all this money to go fishing and then go buy food ..

[ctf58]

i seem to remember reading 10lbs per acre per year for ponds.

i keep bass quite often,nothing over 3lbs im not going to take someones pb home and fry it.

.i enjoy eating them and people really like being given fresh fish. i also like to keep tabs on what they are living off of.

another thing to remember is the powers at be dont alway really have the sportsmen best intrest in mind. they look at everything from a $$$$$ standpoint.

aside from places that carry a trophy lake rep and generate money that way. im sure many dnr's would rather have it where anybody could catch a good number of dinks from the bank at their public areas vs. a skilled angler in a boat catch a handful of quality fish. easy fishing =more people in the sport= more tackle and liscence bought.

just look at the red snapper. s it has a slot,1 fish limit and a short 45 day season. must be be a struggling species right?. when fishing with my cousin who lives on the gulf we have left spots because all we were getting were snapper and quickly going through our live bait we were trying to get grouper with.they were all very nice size,would have been great tablefare but they were off limits. many of his fishing buddies have similar stories. its hard to deny that the laws are setup for the tourist industry and their money, not the locals.

the 10lbs per acre is something I've seen as well for a general rule of thumb. With that being said, Kentucky lake is 160,309-acres. Using that rule of thumb 1,603,090 pounds of bass could be harvested without adversely affecting the bass population. I can find no published data on the harvest of bass on the lake but I did see that an estimated 50,000 anglers visit the lake by boat per year. If all were bass fishermen (yes I know they were not) that would be 32 pounds per angler per year. Seems like a lot of fish.

Or look at it this way, if the average 15" keeper bass weighs 2 pounds that is 800,000 bass that could or should be harvested to prevent overpopulation using the "10 pound per acre suggestion". Again that is 16 2lbs per angler.

I just wonder if we kept some of those 15" fish for a year or two, would there be bigger bass4 or 5 years down the road?

I guess my real question is, Can a large reservoir get overpopulated/ stunted growth if C&R is practiced??

[Bob C]

I think some are taking the C&R thing too far. We have gone from keeping everything to keeping nothing. I spent a lot of money on a boat and gear to catch fish and have a good meal. I've had people get angry because I keep a couple legal Bass. Last fall I was in Bass Pro Shop and my wife was looking at fillet knives. The salesman asked her what kind of fish she was filleting. She said perch, bluegill and bass. He snapped at her saying we release bass and walked away in a huff.

p.s.

I don't go deer hunting with a tranquilizing dart either.

[Diggy]

Times are hard, if you can feed your whole family for a day or a few days for the cost of the pack of some cheap plastic worms, do what you gotta do. If you like eating fish and you are in legal limits, who cares. Luckily I dont really like fish and have a fond liking for bass so I release all of them, but I did give one to a small kid that asked me for one, he said his mom would cook it up for him

[Tony Monticelli]

In a civilized society the police are called.

i just just read this, first off with any fish if it taist good and your in the moderation of the daily limit there nothing wrong with keeping..

but to say call the cops, ive done that ive called the wardens and etc,, called them for weeks because not to name names so we will call them hose A and hose B are dead lineing and filling coolers full of everything... the wardens show up 3 weeks later hose A and hose B just threw everything in there van and took off and your left with a ticket for putting and whole cigg on the ground that you were going to pick back up and finish after you were done catching a fish, you have a pocket full of scummy cigg butts but that doesnt matter now you have a ticket to because the second it touches the ground even if its for a second you littered.

so you figure yea ill call the cops for now on then, well they run right over when called but not there jurusdiction please dont call us and they yell at you that they can just ask them to leave we cant make them leave blaa blaaa blaaaaaaa... they ask em to leave, hose A and Hose B each say they dont understand and keep fishing...

[SirSnookalot]

If someone feels the need to pull a gun, then do it, but make sure you are prepared to use it, the tresspasser may be more prepared to use his than you are. Better make sure you are in the legal right too, It isn't worth the risk to me over a fish.

If the police in your area are not responsive, then your police department isn't doing their duty. Where I live in Palm Beach County, the sheriff's department responds as quick as possible to phone calls. Problems arise, I'd always let the police handle it.

[Tony Monticelli]

ive also mounted trouphy fish, so as far as to each his own really was it getting bigger or living longer probally not at that point considering i mounted it.. fake mounts are a nice alternative to feeling shame in not eating it but i prefer if im going to mount something the look feel and detail of the real thing there is a differance in a quality skin mount even though some choose to not see that at all...

i have bucks on my wall, big trout, turkeys, skulls.... im proud of everyone, to each his own.

[Tony Monticelli]

If someone feels the need to pull a gun, then do it, but make sure you are prepared to use it, the tresspasser may be more prepared to use his than you are. Better make sure you are in the legal right too, It isn't worth the risk to me over a fish.

If the police in your area are not responsive, then your police department isn't doing their duty. Where I live in Palm Beach County, the sheriff's department responds as quick as possible to phone calls. Problems arise, I'd always let the police handle it.

i can see a differance from one place or state and area to another, where some of you find this is the thing to do because you get to see good come from it others from somewhere else seem to maybe see nothing good from it... but someone here saying they should be shot, well even though they probally wont and if they did well WOW LOL there might be a reason or understanding in saying that...

anyway you see where im going with things, where you have a reason to feel comfitorble in saying call the cop, some else from somewhere else is going to laufe at the remark..

[200racing]

the 10lbs per acre is something I've seen as well for a general rule of thumb. With that being said, Kentucky lake is 160,309-acres. Using that rule of thumb 1,603,090 pounds of bass could be harvested without adversely affecting the bass population. I can find no published data on the harvest of bass on the lake but I did see that an estimated 50,000 anglers visit the lake by boat per year. If all were bass fishermen (yes I know they were not) that would be 32 pounds per angler per year. Seems like a lot of fish.

Or look at it this way, if the average 15" keeper bass weighs 2 pounds that is 800,000 bass that could or should be harvested to prevent overpopulation using the "10 pound per acre suggestion". Again that is 16 2lbs per angler.

I just wonder if we kept some of those 15" fish for a year or two, would there be bigger bass4 or 5 years down the road?

I guess my real question is, Can a large reservoir get overpopulated/ stunted growth if C&R is practiced??

i am not a biologist...but i did stay at a holiday express. .

the reason culling works in ponds is their simple food chain. bugs and such are eaten by your prey species and prey is eaten by bass. you can almost be certain that by removing small bass more prey is availible for the the fish left to thrive.

now in a lake removing small bass could free up structure and cover drawing in bigger fish that we could then catch easier.i remeber reading it takes 10lb of food for a bass to grow 1lb,so a 5 fish tournament stringer removed you have freed up 50lb of prey.

with turtles,otters,birds,stripers,hybrids,crappie,bowfin,gar,catfish and all the other predators present in a lake i doubt much of that reaches the greenfish.

increased havest and decreased stocking of competive species.what would probably would help the bass more would. i my self see that as being selfish and wouldnt feel right throwing others sportsmans main targets and species i pursue some under the bus so my bass average 4oz more.

a article in a AL outdoor mag was urging fishermen to start keep fish off of eufala. the bass had depleted their food source after the amry engineer corp. used carp and mechanical harvesters to clear out large sections of grass out. the whole food chain was inflated by all the grass. the brim lost their forage and cover and the bass had gorged on all the easy brim and were now lacking prey and starving. despite most bass showing signs almost all fishermn were practicing C&R and not helping the situation.

is comercial fishing for sport fish good,no. is releasing every fish good,no.

the answer is somewhere i the middle

[Geomendo]

Stick with the rules and regulations of the state and there shouldn't be a problem.

[NBR]

Let your DNR experts decide what is the best policy. They do so based on science, studies and data analysis over time. As a general rule private ponds need some harvest. Lake Powell, AZ had an over population of smalies so the AZ DNR asked fiahermen and women to harvest smallies. The last I knew average size of the smallies was increasing as Powell became a better fishery.

One winter of more than average shad die off does not necessarily create and issue. Granted, some times decisions of the DNR are subject to political issues but still the DNR has the information to empliment the best policy.

[Lund Explorer]

the 10lbs per acre is something I've seen as well for a general rule of thumb. With that being said, Kentucky lake is 160,309-acres. Using that rule of thumb 1,603,090 pounds of bass could be harvested without adversely affecting the bass population. I can find no published data on the harvest of bass on the lake but I did see that an estimated 50,000 anglers visit the lake by boat per year. If all were bass fishermen (yes I know they were not) that would be 32 pounds per angler per year. Seems like a lot of fish.

Or look at it this way, if the average 15" keeper bass weighs 2 pounds that is 800,000 bass that could or should be harvested to prevent overpopulation using the "10 pound per acre suggestion". Again that is 16 2lbs per angler.

I just wonder if we kept some of those 15" fish for a year or two, would there be bigger bass4 or 5 years down the road?

I guess my real question is, Can a large reservoir get overpopulated/ stunted growth if C&R is practiced??

I think you'll find that the 10lb per/acre number references all fish in the body of water and not just bass. There are many lakes where biologists will do a survey and will report not only the total biomass of the lake, but also a breakdown of the species of fish captured in the study. I've seen other studies that talk about growth rates and estimates of harvestable fish (by species) on a per/acre basis. When you see a lake with lower than average growth rates it usually follows that the number of havestable fish is lower also.

[bayouXpress]

During the spawn i release everything.

Out of the spawn anything over 3.5-4lbs i also release.

If i catch one between 6-9 i will get it mounted.

if the gods ever shine on me with a 10+ i will get a replica and let the fish go

I do keep my legal limit of fish often. It all depends on if i have enough to clean, have time to clean, if I feel like cleaning, etc. I love grilled bass and so does my family, but its the small ones that taste the best and I'm always within the law.

what gets me is the people that keep and eat everything. I do not see a reason in keeping 2 or 3 5-6lb fish and bring that home to eat. Let those go. There are plenty of smaller better tasting fish.

[SirSnookalot]

There are several points of view, not all people fishing are there for the fun of it, it's dinner for them and their family. I have no problem as long as they are obeying the law, not all do. These people do not fish loomis, their best outfit may be an old beat up spinning reel on a casting rod with no tip, an everyday sight. I cut these people slack, I feel for what they are up against, they can have my catch.

For the most part I do catch and release, I just don't really like to be bothered taking fish home with me, I make an exception for a few species on occasion. On this mounting issue, real vs replica, I don't do either, there are compelling arguments on both sides. There is a chance if I caught a real trophy, that being a fish very near to a state record or an unusual fish, I'd consider a replica, unless the fish was going to die anyway. I have caught 10# bass, not even close to a record, I have caught 35# snook, they run over 50# and many other great fish, but imo none worth mounting, they aren't really special, even though they may be my personal best, just a great experience and a photo captures that.

[Caver]

I like catching fish when I go fishing so I put them back. Can't tell you how many times I've caught a fish and you can see that that fish had clearly been caught before. So it stands to reason that I wouldn't have experienced the thrill of the fight had another fisherman not given me the same courtesy of catch and release. That being said I got no problems with anyone who keeps fish in compliance with their state laws.

[billsarima]

Bass fishing for me is more of a stress releaver. Catch and release is all I do. Now if I catch a mounter thats another story. As for a few of my buddies they keep a few when we go. If I'm salmon fishing I'll keep my catch.

[Mountain Angler]

You are looking at the wrong end of the equation. You need to be looking at the food end (bait fish) of the lake to even decide if it is overpopulated. If there is plenty of food, there is no issue of too many bass.

I agree with ya on that, I eat panfish some(sunfish,crappie, so fourth) but twice I ate bass i caught and they were big old muture ones and thats it.

[backcast88]

For the most part I practice catch and release, especially when dad I and I go out for the evening and get home at 9pm and we both have to be at work early in the morning. Neither of us feel like cleaning fish after putting gear away.

Occasionally we do keep several fish to eat but never get greedy. Most, but not all, are fish that have been hooked deep and will not survive. Spotted bass taste real nice fried with lemon juice and cocktail sauce.

[TommLew10]

New Member here, hope all is doing well. My personal opinion on the situation is as follows . . .

I believe that in Lakes it usually works itself out pretty well because of the size and the mixed practices of some C&R and other C&E. I grew up in a lower middle class family and was always taught to keep the fish if it was edible, especially if you bought the lures or baits. I am no longer in that situation, so I personally don't care much for keeping fish, however if family goes they will keep fish and if I go by myself and I'm asked by usually my grandmother to bring some fish home to her I usually keep any of the male Bass that I catch and throw back any of the females. I'm pretty much strictly a pond fishermen, with that being the case I usually follow the practice of keeping all the males I would catch.

There are actually a few ponds that I fish at now, that isn't very fun to fish at because of it being overpopulated with small bigmouth bass and/or the bream no longer grow to large sizes, because of overpopulation. At those places I've been told that if I know anybody or if I myself would keep all the smaller bass that I can catch and the tiny bream that would be too boney to attempt to eat throw them on the bank, don't put them back into the water.

The smaller bass and the bream are the better tasting fish to me personally and all I ever really consider keeping. Although I will admit to getting a Largemouth Bass that I caught mounted, but only after approval from the owner of the private pond I was fishing from. That particular pond is extremely well taken care of and he encouraged me to get it mounted and assured me it would have no effect on his pond.

In general I don't think it matters much unless a lake advisory has been handed down, or if the owner of the private pond tells you how to handle his pond.

[FrogInTheWell]

I release everything in general but I have no problem with somebody taken the limit of fish that they are entitled to under the laws. I do wish agencies would start giving Large Mouth Bass the same kind of stocking programs that are given to Trout for instance. The Bass are under tremendous pressure in some areas and could sure use some help.

[WookieeJedi]

I release everything in general but I have no problem with somebody taken the limit of fish that they are entitled to under the laws. I do wish agencies would start giving Large Mouth Bass the same kind of stocking programs that are given to Trout for instance. The Bass are under tremendous pressure in some areas and could sure use some help.

I'll second that. In addition, bass bring in more business than do trout. Before Caney Lake was opened in LA, nobody, and I do mean NO-body went to Quitman, Louisiana for anything tourism-related. My guess is Lake Fork in Texas has had similar impact on it's area. Plus, bass fishers aren't as annoying as fly-rodding trout fishers.