This guy is making all kinds of friends here...:smash:

I have been at it since I was six. That's 42 years and the biggest one for me to date is 49.9 lbs. I will, if I ever am that lucky, keep the first fish over fifty that I catch. It is strictly a personal decision but that is my Holy Grail and I have worked long and hard to try to get there and if, God willing, I make that mark for the first time, and if any others come to me I will probably have to make that decision again. I released a beautiful 47 inch fish in July at Race Point one night this past July that was extremely fat and had no qualms about it. A fifty would be different. It's a very personal decision and a very personal goal.

Because "I WANT TO"....thats reason enough for me.



If I get one 50# I wouldn't be surprised if I walked it down the aisle and Married it. :D

Capt John doesn't get both sides.

I am not in a tizz about your thread, i am in a tizz because we are having to explain ourselves to a wanker who gets off on people getting fired up. Get over it.

I don't need to give you a reason for keeping our releasing a fish. YOU seem to need the satisfaction of trying to prove your statement is just.

If I've met rednecks in this world MOST of them were boozebag, prickhead charter boat captains. But surely not all of them.

I wouldn't want to assume things about people now would I ?

:laughs:

Captain John, I don't know if I will keep my first 50, maybe, maybe not. When an Olympian earns a gold after many many years of training x hours per day, at the cost of who knows what over years, do they not keep the medal? When the grad student finaly gets that masters, do you throw away the paper? When the hunter tags and releases that grizzly bear - oh, that's right, no catch and release in hunting....

Personally, I keep a few fish a year for the table and when I get a 50, I may or may not keep it for the wall. But I KNOW I release in as healthy a manner as I can do, 99% of the fish I catch. I promote C&R and I also promote responsible angling in the community, and responsible management in the fisheries (yes, and I go to the meetings). And if you have a problem with the rules, do what you can to get them changed. What I try not to promote is a sense of elitism.

If your clients catch a 50, and perhaps it's a line record on the fly line, do you beat 'em with your bluefish club until they release it? Or do you lift it up out of the water and crush it's organs before you take the picture? And take the 5 minutes of poses and pictures before releasing it with greatly incresed mortality?

Hmmm, maybe we should make the striper a gamefish and reallocate those resources instead of working on the real problems facing striped bass, overall pressure on all size classes of these fish instead of what "user group" gets a crack at them. Maybe, just maybe, we could focus on things like the forage fish like menhaden and herring. Or maybe bycatch, you know things that will improve the entire biomass of the species across age classes instead of the 100 or so trophy 50# fish caught over the course of a year.

If you are man that wants to do something for these wonderful fish, why waste your time focusing on the 100 fish taken as trophys and redirect your efforts to something which will MEAN something in the long run....

my thoughts 100% exactly!~ :kewl:

I believe as some have stated already that any legal fish is yours to do what you want with it.

I do think he asks a legitimate question though. What do you do with a fifty?

I can see getting it mounted. It costs a lot but its a cool thing to see on your wall. Maybe bring back some nice memories when you are 90 and can't fish anymore??

I personally wouldn't want to eat one. Too old and eaten too much mercury , etc. I think smaller is better for eating.

Although entitled to do so , I would think its a shame to parade it around then trash it.

As I said , its the anglers fish , he can do what he wants but .....what dooo you do with a fifty after you are done showing it around?

Lots of people bring up the idea that a fifty is a big fish and therefore a big breeder but others say that in fact its way past its prime and not worth nearly as much as a younger 30 pounder for breeding purposes.

I don't see why people get so upset about people asking questions or putting up a topic for discussion. Some people don't word their questions in the best way but I think the guy has as much right to ask the question as someone else has in keeping their 50 if they like. He asked a question and then gave his opinion , no big deal.

Anyway , if I ever get a fifty , I won't eat it. I will release it or have it mounted. Depends on how I feel that day. If you are superstitious , The old saying is that for good Luck you should release your first fifty.

Capt. John:

Do you have a fever? Did you bump your head?Who do think you are to judge me & everyone else who wants to keep a Fifty?Huh?
Give it up:p
Hell IM going to keep my first 50# & if I get lucky IM gonna keep my 60#!
I'll Toss-em both on my wall,now thats a trophy,the hell w/ the photo's.Anybody can fool around w/ photoshop.


Don't be retarded and start ### here.
Go hug a tree:smash:
This America so go #### yur self:eek:


5/0


we need to clean up the language a little please - thanks! John

If I ever caught a fifty pounder, I will be praising the lord, taking pictures, and getting it weighted at a local bait and tackle shop, be calling every family member I know, and be bragging about it to my fellow fishermen.

I've fished hard and often, have yet to break the 32in mark, never mind the fifty pounder.... So, to me, that's like the Holy Grail of striped bass. So sue me.

And oh, I'll definitely be putting it on the table for dinner to eat.

Is that so wrong?

Most fish that I catch, I release. And I heckle those who keep shorts, especially on the Canal, talk crap to them about how others lost their vehicles after being caught with shorts.

Does that make me a bad guy? Me think not!

I'm a responsible fisherman.

GB -

Good work & Congrats. Let us know the final result re: weight/length, etc.... I think if I catch a fifty - getting a nice tattoo (sorry mike) of her around the ankle - i'll remember that...

Ice

To date, I have not broken the 30lb barrier but that is a goal this year.

I only keep what I am going to eat myself or with friends/family which is a few each year. Stripers taste best to me in the 30-39 inch/15-25lb range.

A fifty sure does have a nice ring to it. But no, I would not keep it.
Main reason, what would I do with it? I have no desire to mount it nor a desire to eat it never mind parade it around. Personal satisfaction is fine with me.

But in the end, each person can do what they want with thier fish. Doesn't bother me either way.

Hey GB - didn't see that post - EXCELLENT :btu: - congrats!!!!

my first fifty is goin on a grill =] should be enough to feed all 30 ppl in the fam :P

I think part of the experience of catching a 50 is keeping it to show everyone. You deserve the pride of taking it to friends/family/tackle shop and showing them that all the hard work, thousands of hours of lost sleep have finally paid off. Its also exciting for those who didnt catch the fish to see it... from hardcore surfcasters to your nieghbors kids. Its something you have to see and experience in person, to get the full effect of such a rare event. It must be great to be able to share that story of landing the fish of a lifetime with others with the fish right there by your side.

Hey if some WANTS to KEEP or LET GO their 50 LBER thats for them to DECIDE.......... Don't see a problem either way........................ Now what would we all do with back to back 50'S :)

First off let me say what you do with your own fish is your own business! Number two you say you keep smaller fish to eat. Smaller bass say 30-40 inches produce far more eggs that a old gal say fifty pounds. Therefore, theoretically you hurt the population more by keeping the smaller fish. Number three unless you actually have a Master's license you shouldn't impersonate one. If you do, and you run a boat - (charter or party) the fact is your skill has produced many more fish for customers that they take home, and far outways the number of bass taken home by members of this board (Per person). Meaning that if we as individuals each caught the same amount of fish, because of your business you would kill many more fish than the others. Don't come back with each person is their own entity, because with out you running the boat they would catch nothing!!!

different limits
 

The limits in Maine are different. Slot from 20 to 26 and over 40. I think they designed their limits on what is good for the fish in theory. Although that is open to discussion.
Pete

Whose RedNeck anyway? Right away Bigfish came to mind, but he got honorable mention. Must be talkin bout Bassmaster ?????

CaptJohn,

I can understand where you are coming from and I salute you for your thoughts… but the truth of the matter is… It is up to the individual to decide the fish’s destiny! As I am sure you know… It’s someone’s “personal achievement” for all the hard work he/she has put on the water! Until it is unlawful to kill the said trophy – It’s within the rights for the individual to do whatever he/she pleases!

As far as facts are concerned – Majority of the 50 lbs. + are stressed out and the mortality release rate is high! I should know because I’ve witnessed enough trophy bass and yours truly have two (which was kept). As far as my future trophy bass are concerned… I will decide her faith when I nail her.

Let me ask you two simple questions…

1) What type of striper tackle do you use?
2) What would you do if you catch the next world record striper?

“Crazy” Alberto
NonStopFisher@Optonline.net

Gotta burn that bridge when/if I get to it:D :D

I'd like to think I'd let her swim if healthy, would suck to see it go t1ts up 2 mins after you release it.

If I caught it tonight I just might let it go; if I catch it next July I hope the price is $2.50 a lb.:p

I guess I was a little harsh with the shutup and moron stuff. I apologize fot that. Grumpiness is an early morning flaw of mine you see. The truth is that you were making statements, not just asking a "simple question". However, you have just as much right to make a statement as I have to disagree with it and keep a trophy bass. Oh well, next time I'll have to make better use of my debating skills. And for what it is worth, it is commendable that you would release a 50# bass. I just don't think I would.

It's a real simple answer. " Because we can."

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

I can , I might becaue this is America !

you have your plan and I dont have a clue !
who is a redneck ?
if your sister and your mother are the same person you might be a redneck
if you have more than one brioken down vehicle ( farm equipment ) on your property you may be a redneck
If you have no teeth and that is fine with you you might be a redneck
if you purposely shave your head and walk backwards you may be a redneck no wait that would make you an ugly dog butt
if you think yall is a word you might be a redneck
if your family tree doiesnt have any branches you might be a redneck
so who is a redneck ?

:laughs:

Do you honestly believe that of these HUNDREDS of fish you've caught you've only killed TWO????

If I am Commercial then I will sell it! 50 X 2.00 thats a $100 fish!

If I was to catch one now, have no idea?? I guess i will have to go and get one and let you no.

When I catch my 50, I'm going to mount it on the beach :humpty: and then let it go........

mikey you wus :laughs:

He's the "only" fisherman who can claim that, because unless your an idiot, there is delayed mortality associated with this sport.

I've killed a 52, released a 55 and I'd likely release anything over 40 lbs short of a record fish. But I'd not get in anyone's face over it, as trophy fish approaching that size and age might not be big players in the breeding game anymore anyway.

Tight lines.

i have to say i am very surprised how this thread has gone. i saw it come up and let it run its course for a while before i decided to reply to see what the majority would say. it surprises me how so many poeple look at the beauty of that achievement and striped bass in such different ways. it seems this topic comes up about once a year and we have almost the same responses. this time i think it has learned more towards the wall.

i have witnessed many trophy striped bass caught, killed, and released. i look at the angler and how they appreciate the species, that particular fish, and that particular accomplishment to see how they look at their "sport". i've seen people catch that queen, revive her, and put her back in all while taking special care of that fish. they achieved their goal that night/day - fished hard (maybe), fooled this nice fish, brought her in to see her size, and release her to fight another day. will she live after she swims away? maybe, maybe not. they are not looking over their shoulder to see who will praise them first. i have seen others that look at the fish as merely a dollar bill or another animal and into the cooler it goes w/o even appreciating the fish at all. to me, that person should just be on a trawler as they do not appreciate this fine fish. is it their right to do what they just did to that fish? yes. do i yell at them or make fun of them for it? no. that is their decision, but i just look at how unappreciative they are for this species and this nice fish they just caught. it's sad honestly. why are they even fishing?

i've caught my share of queens. what happens to them? i bring her in, look at my fish, measure her if i can against my rod quickly, put her back in the water, revive her, and watch her swim away. i've had a couple that did not revive and i had to kill them. i hated it, but i had to do it. for the ones that did swim away, there was no better rush and feeling than seeing that tail slowly and methodically swim back into the depths knowing i fooled that fish. that's what i fish for. did i go and tell everyone, nope. maybe a couple close friends. i fish for me and my own goals, not to show off to everyone and try and "prove" my accomplishments or "success". i have my own goals i try to achive. i released many fish that would have placed in tournaments that would have paid hundreds of dollars for the placed fish. i cared more about that fish than a dollar bill. i have a lot less respect for the angler that goes shop to shop weighing a large fish just to show off what they did. you put in your time, caught that fish, congrats. weigh it, take a few pictures, and go on. it just looks disrespectful to our sport seeing that fish hanging there why the angler gloats over it <i>expecting</i> praise for their "accomplishment". if you catch that 50, want to weight it to make sure it is a 50, and then go mount it, go ahead. that's your choice. you finally reached that magic mark, congrats. but, it's the whole gloating over the fish and telling the world is what i will never understand and could care less about.

so, for me it's a lot more about the angler and how they present themselves after their accomplishments than it is about the 50. if you want to kill it, that's your choice. if i choose to release it, that's my choice. you choose to bring it to tackle shop to tackle shop to gloat over it, that's your choice to, but you just lost my respect.

i think we can have this same topic for other species magic "50" mark: a 23+ lbs bluefish, a 18+ lbs fluke, a 15+ lbs tautog, a 1500 lbs bluefin, etc.. i personally feel more people will release that 50 pound striper than any other species equaled "50".

What gets to me are the pictures you see of large fish hanging from a scale for pictures and people talking about how it was released to fight another day. I can’t say for sure that the fish don’t survive, but I’m assuming that the chances are pretty low (I don’t think I’d fair very well if I where hung by the jaw for a minute or two of pictures with a plastic bag over my head so I couldn’t breath). To me, if your gonna release it should be released as soon as possible and supported as evenly as possible during handling, ideally never being taken out of the water if possible. That being said, however, my first 50, if I’m ever fortunate enough to get one, is going on the wall.

Thankfully today ain't Sunday! I was waiting for a Nun to crack a ruler over my knuckles. I've gaffed/ netted:) 4 - 50's and countless forties; unfortunately for people that didn't always deserve them! 95% didn't realize what they had just caught! I even been the one congratulating them with a smile on my face, all while my blood was boiling. For those that spend the time and effort (please don't say and money cause that should have nothing to do with) to catch a fifty, please don't judge them on what they decide to do with that fish afterward, but on what they did leading upto that fish. Big fish much like big Bucks do strange things to a man when they meet!

GENTLEMEN,

I BELIEVE THE HORSE NEEDS NO MORE KICKING.

LIVE AND LET LIVE.

:o

This is a moot subject and we all know it. The law is the law and you can kill any legal fish you feel you need to. It all boils down to the anglers opinion of what that fish is. The matter at hand is what that fish is and what it means to you. We are discussing a fish that has made its life of 20+ yrs navigating one of the most inhospitable environments on earth. A fish that we have attemtped to kill with our pollution, to starve when we rob it of its forage, to kill for our own comsumption . Not to mention the natural predators and hazards of its life . To me and to some others that fish is a warrior of the sea. A fish that has battled and fought the good fight and won. Many call it the holy grail of bass fishing, and an awesome accomplishment it is. But then what is next? The ark of the covenant in a 60? Then the 70? The approach I take is to be the best fisherman I can, to fish with a clear conscience and to acheive my personal goals. The biggest thorn in my side is the guy who kills the big gal for the notoreity. Nothings peeves me off more than the man who sees this fish as a way to make a buck(this means rec. guys), the way to be the idol. If you have to measure your johnson by the size of the fish you catch you are in trouble. Ultimately it goes down to the personal choice of the fisherman. Kill it or let it go, my applaud for catching her. Flaunt it or use it to brag or make a buck and you are not a sportsman, you are a pig.