Curious.... What do you do with your catch?

[leptar]

Just wondering how many people here are C&R vs Slayers(pun intended)..

[jimmy z]

I kept one bass. And only because this fish bellied up when put back in the water. I didn't want to waste her.

[numbskull]

I let 'em go, cause I like them too much, but I realize I kill my share doing it.

[UserRemoved1]

Same here. I've taken home ONE bass in the last 3 years. Last fish of the year last year October 19. Bleeding and spent. Cooler material. One nice filet left in the freezer. Dad had his first striped bass out of it.

Originally Posted by jimmy z

I kept one bass. And only because this fish bellied up when put back in the water. I didn't want to waste her.

[Rockfish9]

I havent killed a bass (knowingly) since '95....

I take a picture now and again and let 'em go to give someone else the thrill.

[MrHunters]

my option wasnt up there.
if there is meat in the freezer they go back if not in the cooler she goes.

[BigFish]

I am catch and release for the most part. I keep one early season for the table.....one on Cutty to eat......and I am always looking for the trophy!

I might keep between 2 and 6 a season...it all depends!

[afterhours]

mostly c & r now, keep a couple a year.

[JFigliuolo]

I keep a few a year. Family loves striper too much to let them all go. Plus, doesn't make much sense to let the stripes then go buy fish.

[goosefish]

I keep a fair number of bass a year, fillet them up, eat some, give some away. People love free fish. Carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, doctors, neighbors, parents, brothers, tree cutters, painters, accountants, an, of course, the ex wife.

[bloocrab]

9 out of 10 times....a fish comes home with me.

I not only fish for the thrill of the battle and the anticipation of the size...but ALSO for table-fare.
I Love to eat fish. I don't understand how people can love fishing, but don't eat striped - fish...
I think a lot of it is laziness, you C&R guys don't like getting fish guts on ya.....

[striprman]

when I go, and if I catch one big enough to keep, I keep it. I only keep 1 per trip (most trips I end up getting skunked so my take home ratio is low). Last year I kept 2 fish.

[RIROCKHOUND]

I keep my share. I don't know what that amounts to.
fluke/Seabass/blackfish I keep enough to eat 1x a week over the winter.

Bass though? I dunno, 8-10 per year, maybe more. Unless I need fish (like goosefish said to grease wheels or favors) I tend to keep fish during the tournaments, or gut hooked/bleeders...

I still keep a small % of legal fish. I prefer fish in the 15-20lb size for eating.

[chris L]

how do you catch these fish ? I havent even gotten the catch part never mind a release . once a rubber boot and once an old hub cap .

[Fishpart]

A couple a year to the guy that plows my road and supplies me with peaches and apples and a stream to store my eels in.....

[The Dad Fisherman]

I kept 3 fish last year....I like it and I like to give a couple of fillets occasionally to friends. I kept the 1st two of the season and the last one of the season.

[PaulS]

I put everything back. My feeling is that I spend so much to catch that fish, that if there is a 1 in a 1,000,000 chance I'll catch it again, it would be worth it to buy fish in a store to eat.

[taJon]

I keep some but aren't over greedy.

[Raven]

it depends on the fishes attitude.... if i get a sweet kiss
then the fish goes free.... otherwize , i am quick with the knife.

i haven't the blazing speed of the Clammer though

[John E]

I keep one or two a year for the family. Usually one in the spring and one in the fall. Otherwise, they go back in so I can enjoy them again one day.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

9 out of 10 times....a fish comes home with me.

I not only fish for the thrill of the battle and the anticipation of the size...but ALSO for table-fare.
I Love to eat fish. I don't understand how people can love fishing, but don't eat striped - fish...
I think a lot of it is laziness, you C&R guys don't like getting fish guts on ya.....

Guts (pun intended) nothing to do with it my friend, In May an June I get enough Cod and Haddock to fill my walk in freezer, within 5 miles of the beach.... no need to keep a noble fish that doesnt freeze or eat as well IMHO....

[fishsmith]

Early in the season, I'll keep one a trip. then i start to get sick of them and only keep them if I know others will want it.

After eating fresh fish, the stuff in the stores ain't acceptable no more.

[NIGHT STRIKES]

I'm about 50/50 ,, Around my home waters with a 28"+ keeper regulation in effect we tend to keep a few for same or next day eating for the family and or friends during the 10 month season.

And myself and a few friends have 40" rule in effect, where anything over that size gets a few photo's then right back into the water..

[justplugit]

CR unless severly injured. Have nothing at all against guys that keep, just my personal choice.

[BW from AZ]

"I think a lot of it is laziness, you C&R guys don't like getting fish guts on ya....."
No way, as the elder son in a family of 8, when we caught our limit of sunnies guess who got to clean them all. then for some reason we ate just fish for a meal. no sides, salid, bread. just fish. still cant eat them. ill clean them and even set at a table with you as you eat fish, i just cant. so yes i keep 1 or 2 for family or friends. cleaned of course

[JLH]

I release most of what I catch but I’ll usually end up keeping a few smaller fish a year.

[boot man]

I keep most but it all gets eaten.

[Christian]

i kept probly 4 for me this year..
then whenever a friend wanted some fish ide keep em...that was probly around 6-10.

[shadow]

I keep my share, as I always make sure that there is fish in the fridge,we love to eat it ussally once a week.I do release most of my fish and never keep more then one in trip or even in a week for that matter hell sometimes only one a month.just depends if the fish stares me in the eye and gives me that look she goes back

[thortum]

I keep a few for my family, and I never give them away. I believe that if you take it's life, you should eat it.