I catch and release 95% of what I catch and I have put back dozens of keepers this year. If it's a new personal best, I'm keeping it and I don't feel bad about doing it.

I will say that I forced myself to learn the art of the circle hook as I had gut hooked a few bass the past few years some that were under sized. I can't feel good about putting a 24" bass back in the ocean with a hook stuck in it's throat. I'm doing way better only gut hooked one fish this year and it was a keeper that I ate the next day.

Okay, People I am going to change the Question

What do you think about all these new kill fish contests?

My take on them is we don't need them and it does nothing to help our fisheries, it seems that everyone is doing there part to only take what they need or want which is fine as long as it is with in the law.
But 5 years ago there was only 1 or maybe 2 long contests that lasts most of the season now it seems like there are to many.

I keep fish to eat and dont feel bad about it. I definately dont agree will keeping a fish just for show. I feel better eating one fish caught with rod and reel than I do eating one fish caught in a commercial net with 10 pounds of "bycatch" behind the scenes....

This question seems to come up every so often....I have said it before and will say it again...

If you are a fisherman-even a catch and release fisherman you have absolutetly NO RIGHT to say killing fish is bad. If you catching and releasing you are killing fish....you just dont know how many die or when they die. For those that are TRULY worried about never killing a fish you had better put the rod and reel down and take up knitting. Catch and release doesnt make you exempt from fish mortality.

This thread really wasn't supposed to be about what people keep for the personal consumption, or catch and release. this thread was supposed to be about all the "KILL TOURNAMENTS " that are going on most of our striper season.

Just when we think we have the answers, you change the question.

I only fish in Maine. U can keep 1 over 40" or 1 20"-26" per day. I released at least 50 this summer , kept 1. Best size is right around 25" for filleting for 3-4 people. Baked with bread crumbs or pan fried with butter and white wine. Sounds like most people on this board are VERY into C and R.

1 reason I (stress I) won't kill.

Personal Glory...

I am a fan of tournaments, but I'm not a fan of making the fish assume room temperature to win. Club tournaments of a short duration that involve only bragging rights work well (length + girth, forgoing weight) however long time spans and cash/cash equivalent prizes require 'proof'. Proof means a carcass.

The tournaments are all operating within the letter and the spirit of the law. And I would think if there were no formal tournaments, guys would get together and make their own informal pools. If you hate the idea of killing fish, then I agree with what Jenn said above, you have to either put down your rod and reel, or else take all of the hooks off of your plugs and practice Zen and the Art of Fishing.

the best eating bass is in the 8 lb. range. either filleted or bakes stuffed. i do not enjoy the taste of the larger, so back they go. i will say that if i ever get a 50+. i do believe that i would keep it. make fish chouder and enjoy the picts in my old age.

Bob - I usually remain silent on this topic having been in the minority on prior discussions. I am against tournaments and any reason to mass kill bass. It bothers me to see so many large dead fish. I do feel anyone has the right as long as the fish is legal but I believe that people who may have released a fish, will kill, it if its a posibble contender.

Eric M above, I think thats an ignorant comment. I am not a hunter, fishing does not intentionally kill, I and many other go through great lenghts to release fish alive. I will keep my trophy fish when I get them, but will release 99%, its my choice.

The one point I want to make. It was not hunting that made the Bufallo almost extinct, it was over-hunting and expoliting the resource. So to me, tournaments are a bad use of a limited resource, stripers.