Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - Whatever happened to “Catch and Release”?

I for one can’t understand how on one hand some of you make it a “sin” for any rec fishermen to keep a bass but it’s OK if that same rec purchases a $60 permit, can take 30 or 40 fish per day to pay for his gas and fishing expenses? Because of tradition?…oh, yeah, and while doing so turn the cheek and allow them to cull out just the big ones and totally ignore the SB black markets and by-catch dumps.. Sounds hypocritical to me. You support commercial SB fishing but think recs should put all theirs back. I am with Goose in this one…Fthat.

MM? Are you from PITA? From a lifetime of fishing for bass it is my personal belief (no technical evidence) that the SB is a pretty hardy fish. It does not die very easily. This is not a brook trout in a clear stream. This is a sturdy ocean going fish that can take a lot of abuse from other critters in its environoment. Also, it is also easy to lie using statistics. “100% more” of an insignificant number is still insignificant. But you put the 100% in bold type and it creates an illusion of a problem. Is it or will it cause a problem? I hope before he publishes anything more he has accurate scientific technical FACTS that have been reviewed by others working in this field before he spews personal opinions on the subject. I doubt that weighing a fish for a few seconds kills them. I have seen and caught SB swimming around with a huge bite taken out of them from a seal and it healed only to be caught and released again (by me). I doubt picking the fish up will kill it. Give the SB more credit then that. Not to put words in his mouth, but what you actually saying is not to go fishing. That is the subliminal message you are sending. Anything we do seems to incur some mortality and since that is so bad the only thing to do is not go fishing and just stay at home. Again, I am with Goose…Fthat.

And the 80% number...is pure BS, they haven't learned to count yet no less do percentages.:devil: