Whatever happened to “Catch and Release”?

[DZ]

Whatever happened to “Catch and Release”?

Here is a question I’ve been pondering for the past few years. I’d be interested in hearing any thoughts on the topic.

For the past 10 years or so I’ve seen many sharpies, high hooks, etc, keep/kill large bass even though they have taken plenty as large or larger in the past. This past season I saw quite a few instances of it, the most recent incident happened in November when at least two 50s and a few 40s were killed by a few charter captains (with no paying customers aboard at the time.) These two guys have taken multiple 50s in the past. But this question is not just about them, its about everyone. Some of the guys I fish with on occasion also keep large fish that are not their “personal bests”. I am in no way denigrating anyone – I just want to know your opinions/reasoning.

I also have many cohorts in the surf who will not keep a fish over 30 pounds – to us fish this large are too valuable a resource to kill, the only exception we would make to our rule is a personal best – a fish for the wall - which I can understand.
If we want a bass for the table a 12-20 pound fish is more than enough.
Our fishing club contest also makes it easier by allowing entered bass to be weighed on a hand scale, witnessed by another angler, then released alive We instituted this club rule in the 1980s and have used it ever since. Some may scoff that this rule is rife for abuse but we’ve never had anyone cheat for a measly trophy or $30 cash prize.

While reading “Striper Wars” by #^&#^&#^&#^& Russell I was reminded of how and why the “Catch and release” craze began in the striped bass fishery during the 1980s. This concept really caught on and helped revive a fishery that was in peril. But even back then when there were very few bass to be had, there were fishermen who would kill every legal bass they could. The reason: commercial sale – which was/is a very valid reason (though maybe not very ethical at that time.)

Nowadays there is still commercial sale of striped bass and it remains a valid/legal reason to kill large bass, a policy that I don’t necessarily agree with but do understand.

So here are the questions: please keep your response civil.

Are anglers who keep big bass (and not sell them) even though they've taken many that are even larger, doing it just for a “Photo Op” or notoriety?

Are anglers just killing bass for entry into their fishing club contests?

Can we rationalize keeping large cows when we can just as well keep a smaller specimen?

Thanks for your response.

DZ