Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman
Then why do they release Broodstock Salmon after they pass their prime from the fisheries as part of the stocking program?
|
Key word..PAST their prime.... these fish are also raised in a controlled enviroment.. no seals, commerants or human beings to supply predation... it's the perfect control..
Flap nailed it dead nuts... Everyone seems to forget that large fish have already run the gauntlet, survived predation from seals and fish eating birds, there is far less waste in a 16-20" fish that there is on a large one... if you dont think so... why then, back when 16" was the legal limit for sale, did schoolies and mediums fetch a higher dollar value than their large brethren....
I've caught more than my share of trophy fish... it would be nice if there was a chance for my grandchildren to fish for the quality fish that I have been blessed to fish for and catch., I rarely keep bass anymore, when I do, most of the time it's one that is just legal, the rest are returned to the sea for someone else to enjoy, and from my own littoral scociety tagging returns, I just may be the recipiant of my own conservation.. this isnt coming from a tree hugger, I'm a former comercial fisherman, not a weekend warrior either, I earned my full paycheck from the sea for years, comercial striped bass fishing was just a cog in the wheel, I dug clams, ran a scallop dredge, gill netted cod all winter and fished for tuna inbetween.... sometimes we do learn and realize a few things as we grow older...
My .02
Roc