A personal dilemma....

[Joe]

I heard you use performance enhancing drugs to aid you in your fishing - so even if you won, you would most likely be disqualified shortly after.

You're always better off going with your instincts. Fish mortality aside, for you, as a writer, I see several downsides.

I'm not in the tourney and I'm neutral on whether or not a person participates.

[NIB]

Oh Sh!t,the cats out of the bag.
I have naturally high levels of testosterone.
Do what makes u happy.
I'm in it up to my neck.Now..
Not sure I feel good about it myself.I think ur doing the right thing.
Bringing back the schaefer tourney seemed like a good idea in March. 146 lbs later I'm not really sure.

[CAL]

Flap, that's why I don't like tourneys. Makes people think twice about killing a fish they would otherwise let go.

The way I see it, if you don't intend to eat it and it's not going to break a personal best for you, then release it.

Who cares about getting a pin for a fish when you've probably caught hundreds of others just like it? I know with your reputation you don't need that.

Good for you for letting them go

Me, on the other hand, I haven't broken 34# yet so I would have taken them home

[Slingah]

I used to think I had something to prove by killing almost every 30+# fish I caught..who knows maybe I did....but my thoughts have changed..in the past few years since my personal best Ive let almost every large go and the ones that Ive kept probaly were not going to make it anyhow......
so to your question Flap I'd say you definatly have nothing to prove so why question yourself...if it's gonna make you feel like crap...let them go... it feels better watching them swim away

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Joe

I heard you use performance enhancing drugs to aid you in your fishing - so even if you won, you would most likely be disqualified shortly after.

You're always better off going with your instincts. Fish mortality aside, for you, as a writer, I see several downsides.

I'm not in the tourney and I'm neutral on whether or not a person participates.

Joe, the stuff I use is strictly all natural!

[Skitterpop]

Flap...I`m a newbie / virgin compared to you and I signed up for this OTW tourney....my first and last.

Best wishes with your `s

Mike

[Tagger]

Funny how are thoughts and values change as the years roll on . Younger days a fish may be considered swimming meat . After fishing through the early 80's colapse and the 90's rebound we see things different . Then there's are own mortality. I can only fish my conscience and whos to say I'm right, but I can live with it . Killing for the right reason . Not wasting a fish . If people are eating the fish its not wasted, but is that why I killed it ? To feed the hungry ? Thats where the conscience thing makes you feel like crap . There's plenty of people taking shorts,drop kicking them back , ripping there guts out to save a hook . Thats cut and dry , we can all agree that sucks .. This other stuff is up to the individaul . Flap ,,you've been collecting lures and fishing since you were a little kid , You've fished all the spots , Fished with all the heavies, and wright for a major publication . Fishing has been your life . Do what you think is right . You have no one to impress . I really appreciate Nibs honesty.. always did . All that being said . I catch a 50 I'm keeping it .. My conscience alows it . I hate long post..

[Clammer]

Steve // ta f #$%^&* // do what your heart feels //

bUt there are tons of people that would would & could use a fish in a big way ;;
there is a bait shop in RI that takes fish as donations // from what I,ve heard /its been a great success & has no trouble getting the fish to the needy ;;

just a thought ===== thanks for the trip

[thefishingfreak]

same here. i got a fourty pounder easy' a few weeks ago at 1:00 in the morning. i'm paid up for the striper cup so the first thing went thru my head is "ohh yeah"that fish is gunna get me a pin". i'm killing it!!! no though to it at all,,, he's mine... then,,, reality sets in...
just as life is sucked out of the fish dying on the deck..
i'm like 'wtf' did i do that for?
can't weigh the thing in till morning, no wait,, i'm going offshore in the morining...
can't weigh it till the next night..
my local place doesn't weigh for the striper cup. so 30 miles to the next place..
kooler ain't big enough to keep it fresh..

darnit'.
i gutted it, iced it down, ate 1/2, and gave the rest to friends and family..

[numbskull]

Keeping big fish is a pain in the butt. It's bad enough if you are on a boat with ice, a water pump, and someplace solid to clean 'em. You've still got to peddle most of it away. But to throw a big fish on a beach in the summer heat, even at night, fish for hours more, then have to lug the thing out and deal with it after you have been up all night has no appeal to me. Releasing them is much simpler and more satisfying to boot.