Only those in my surfcasting club, which are catch-and-release. I don't fish to win, I fish to have fun (though I've won more than a couple over the years). The day I fish "to win" or to prove something is the day I think about it and quit.

Honestly, I'm on the fence for the Striper Cup. I would like to collect the entry pins for as long as it goes on, though. I'd like to think that some day they might be like Schaeffer pins, something my son might like to have.

I will do the locals' Stan Gibbs Canal "Hawgtober" tourney, but I'd only enter a new leader. I don't need another jacket or fleece for 4th through 2nd place.

The pin was the number 1 reason I join Mike! The t-shirt never fits! Guess most fishermen are a large???:hihi:

I have 18 pins in the 3 years I have been in the SC..
Larry I will trade all but one of em for a Predator..

NOPE >>>

BEEN THERE/DONE THAT // &&&&&&&&&& HAVE SEEN WAY TOO MUCH ><><><>:fishin:

and that's allot of Clams
 

:grins:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/Load.png

I enjoy the tournaments and will be participating again this year.

I’ll fish the cup again this year. Like the team aspect and being involved makes it more interesting tracking how the other teams are doing through the season. I think most of the big bass that are being weighed in for the tourney would have been killed anyway so I don’t think the tournament itself is hurting the fishery.

Did my first surf tourney last year, the surf club challenge last fall with SB, and it was a good time. Look forward to that again this year.

Usually also enter a kayak tourney that’s catch & release which is always a good time.

I am contemplating joining the Striper Cup for the first year. The only thing that is holding me back is the concept of actually keeping a fish. I only keep a occassional fish for the table but i dont think i could do it often for a tournement. Idk we will see.

This is what I was getting at above. Each team member can only have his top two fish count for the team for the year. Only keep a fish to weigh in if it is over 40, or a high 30.

I don't like looking at the scoreboard early in the year and seeing tons of 18-19lb stripers weighed in. It does nothing for your team, and you aren't gonna win a weekly for it.

The only benefit of weighing fish early on is the weekly prizes

I'll fish the Striper Cup again, I''l have a chance at a pin and a T-shirt.
And I'll fish the Troll Derby where I'll have a chance at a real good time.:btu:

I like your attitude while I still may enter the striper cup I don't get too serious about it. Fishing is what I enjoy if it were to ever become stressful I would stop. Work is enough, I fish for fun

Me too.

I know a lot of people especially on this site with its own team do the team thing and I think this is where the most amount of fish are killed. I will continue to avoid the team and do not think bad of those involved in a team or anything it is just my personal choice. if I happen to catch a fish of a lifetime that I would probably keep anyway, why not weigh it in and get a chance at a weekly or monthly prize. Plus, the truck and the boat. No brainer.

I'm joneseing real bad! I plan on fishing a few this year, a few local and the Cup. I think this year though I may put less effort into the stripers and more into the "other"fish and family outings.
We often read the same responses regarding tourney posts. To which I saw: If you like the idea of tourney fishing but do not like the bs of cutthroats or cheaters don't listen to it or click on that thread. Fish for the reasons you like to fish. Don't get caught up in it.
About killing so many fish, personally I see no reason to weigh in any fish under 40#, except during May in the Cup. I may even up that number as a 40 really won't help the team win the Cup. Lastly, remember, most of us on this board fish pretty hard. But most fishermen are thrilled to death on a day when they boat 3 or 4 fish in the 20# range. Maybe a 25# fish is a personal best and going home to show off. Why not weigh it in.
Good luck, see you at the party. Art

I disagree with the point about the team. The fish you need to make the top 10 for the team are big enough to have a legitimate shot at a monthly prize and I think would be weighed in for that anyways. I think competing for the the weekly prize and the 30 # pin is where the fish kill occurs. No one knows what you need for a weekly prize,
so a lot of fish are weighed in that don't win. I wish when you weighed in a fish it was done thru an online form that updated something realtime so you could have a sense of what's been weighed in weekly or monthly to date...

Yes, exactly. I was thinking the same thing. If each weigh station could update electronically and all enterers of the tourney check a website before they went out they would know what a prize fish may be.

Never thought about the team aspect that way. Sounds like you are right. I stand corrected.

I don't care too much about tourneys anymore. I do like the ones we have where you must fish with people here or after a Barbecue , etc. but simply paying in hopes of winning a prize just doesn't seem to matter anymore.

Fund raisers are an exception sometimes.

I dont mind some good competition with so much other stuff going on in ones life tournaments etc, give me a little incentive to be selfish and take a bit of time for myself. And allow me to try and put forth my best efforts. I dont really worry about what others are doing and whos doing what and how, personally I feel that ppl who worry about what everyone else is doing are sort of meddlesome. I tend to take a well this is how Im going to go about it and I try and stick to that as best I can.