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

Karl F · 12-28-2005, 04:24 PM

Personally, I keep less than I used to.
My preference is for the smaller fish, flavor, texture, and I hear the less toxin arguement as well. I'm of an age that I can remember when a 16 inch fish used to be a keeper, and I will tell you a fat 16-20 inch fish, is by far the best eating.

I know of one big fish kept by a well known trophy hunter this year, that would have gone back, had it not been hooked so deep, and bleeding profusley, and this was on a plug, so as not to get the bait vs artificial thing going. He has told me he will only keep large, if it looks like a record, from now on, he still keeps the occasianal 28 inch table fish, as do I.

And yes Slip, my personal best went back in this year, hooked thru the lip, easy measure, unhook, no pictures, and farewell.

I'd like to see the law read that a fish that is obviously going to die, under 28, could be kept legally... I see some with gut hooked, bleeding schoolies, going back in.. lot of seal food, that could be somebodys lunch, IMHO.

Anybody keeping fish to feed the family, I'm fine with that, I think we have all been there.

12-28-2005, 04:24 PM	#14
Karl F Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5,945	2 cents Personally, I keep less than I used to. My preference is for the smaller fish, flavor, texture, and I hear the less toxin arguement as well. I'm of an age that I can remember when a 16 inch fish used to be a keeper, and I will tell you a fat 16-20 inch fish, is by far the best eating. I know of one big fish kept by a well known trophy hunter this year, that would have gone back, had it not been hooked so deep, and bleeding profusley, and this was on a plug, so as not to get the bait vs artificial thing going. He has told me he will only keep large, if it looks like a record, from now on, he still keeps the occasianal 28 inch table fish, as do I. And yes Slip, my personal best went back in this year, hooked thru the lip, easy measure, unhook, no pictures, and farewell. I'd like to see the law read that a fish that is obviously going to die, under 28, could be kept legally... I see some with gut hooked, bleeding schoolies, going back in.. lot of seal food, that could be somebodys lunch, IMHO. Anybody keeping fish to feed the family, I'm fine with that, I think we have all been there.