Fish Size Definitions - Page 3 - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Bill · 07-17-2002, 02:42 PM

Hey Schoolie! Whats wrong with calling a fish nice? I dont get that sentence

I know who the post was directed at and, I take offense to it! I wasnt talking about elitisam at all?? I gave my opinion on what a decent fish is,and, just like you want cast for school bass if you feel like it,I stated my opinion as to what a good fish is.

But since you bring it up!!

Saltwater fisherman are lured by the large!! If you dont mind or care about size,you can save a ton of money and the worry of a boat and go bluegill fishing with 2lb test and have just as much fun!

The mark has always been SIZE!! When you tell someone you nailed the fish last night the next question is always "Any Size'??

I found that if your going to put in the time and effort to fish for stripers then, you mkay as well try to catch a relative size fish?

Striper fishing is a progression,you start small and then think big.I never found stripers all that hard to catch so, the next best thing was to go after the bigun's! Is a natural thing. Now, I dont hold anything against the poor guy who can only fish daylight and schoolies are his best bet,nothing at all.But your not going to tell me that those are the fish they are truly after??

The friend thing is fine and all that but, there are many ways to enjoy friends and family,when I go fishing I dont want to chat with friends ,I want to catch fish.I can have a cookout and talk about dear abby.Nope, when I fish I fish, when I relax I relax.

By The way, I have a family also, I have a daughter and a wife and a job,And a house,and bills-which is why I all but quit fishing for the past two years so, your not the only person in the universe who has to make sacrifices!! With me I cant have things half-way,with striper fishing its all or nothing,small fish get old and, my job doesnt consist of sitting around a desk all day! I may not have your education but, trust me, I work just as hard if not harder at what I do to put a buck in my pocket!! Im not mentally fried but Im certainly Phiscally fried at the end of the day!!But Thats luck of the draw and at least I wont get fat and lazy!!
:QUOTE:

"For someone to judge me for fishing the way I enjoy, or calling a fish "nice" when I enjoyed catching it... I got some four letter words for ya. If I'm targeting schoolies because I'd rather catch a bunch of fish, rather than fishing at night for a chance at some bigger fish, hey if is ok with me, than it ought to be ok with you. I don't have to fish up to your standards.

Maybe there are reasons someone doesn't want to stay out all night. Maybe there are reasons someone doesn't buy a bigger boat and troll or baitfish offshore. Personally, I have a family and a house and a career... I have to be available to all those things... and I have time and financial responsiblities to all those things.

Fishing is a huge part of me, and always has been, so I will find a way to find a way to balance it in as best as I can.

And from my perspective, I like active fishing, casting artificial lures and catching alot fish. I don't enjoy trolling as much, I don't enjoy fishing bait as much. Does that make me right? NO.

And if tomorrow, I want to go out and sling some eels and enjoy a cool, quiet night under the stars, have I become a better fisherman or a better person? Give me a f'n break.

And a nice fish is often determined by expectations... if I get a 32" fish while chasin' some schoolies, its a nice fish. If I get the same fish at night casting eels, its not so nice"

I ask again, who "judged you"??

In reply to your 5th paragraph--You may not become a better fisherman but, you will certainly get more LARGE!!
"

Bill · 07-17-2002, 03:08 PM

Saltheart I agree! Kids are different! When I see a young kid with a teen size fish and a grin from ear to ear I as happy as can be!

But the kids who strive for more are the ones who will go furthest!! And one day may even hit the ball like sammy!!

Little league is fun for kids because of the social interactions,Some of the lessons learned will last a lifetime,as will the lessons learned from a day fishing with dad,Theres much to be taught, including how to catch a moby striper!!!!!!

But when I see an adult in the fisherman with a 20something pound fish and that fish being called a "trophy" It makes me laugh.Sorry it just does.

By the way I went fishing the other night with Tim Coleman who has a new boat,we fished ,fishers Island,Slammed the fish but mostly rats between 15 and 20lbs I did have one fish that went 29lbs,steve got his share and it was lots of action on eels.Anyway,Im still out there just not on the beach!! Yes, all fish were turned back to the sea!! No pictures,just memories.

Fishers Island Is awsome! I dare say it may be better than the block from what I saw!! Nothing but boulders and coves and currents and fish! We were casting right into shore.Im going again this friday night,I will keep you posted!!

Bill · 07-17-2002, 04:19 PM

No further elaboration needed , We have different ways of doing things and thats the way it is.

I mean no disrespect to anyone at all when I say "done right" or similar statements.I truly feel its a grueling sport and yes, it is a sport!

I have lost 20lbs or more in a summer of fishing.Its a hard sport,simple as that.But I guess its how far you want to take the sport.One of the other reasons I stoped my fishing maybe 10% of the reason was that it wasnt fun anymore.To much work on my part,I loved hunting big fish.

I wonder how many here really know what a group of old time striperholics is like?? I mean these guys got divorced over this stuff,slept in cars on the highway,took planes to block island in december at the chance for a cow, I have the same mentality,its an all encomsing addictive sport the way I did it anyway.I would drewl all day long at the prospect of a new moon and a good south west. I have fished nappatree in 20 degree below wind chills in late november at 2 am for that last bass, walking out there like a zombie.Since 1999 or so I started to say to myself, time for a break or, its off to divorce court and, I wasnt about to marry tim coleman!!

I have always taken offence to "newbies" or guys who started in the 90's with there LL-bean gear and there light tackle save a fish mentality,and the invasion of the Fly-Flopper's and the "breathable high tec waders" And then watch them with there yuppie attitudes birds nest on every cast , and constantly ask where the fish were.For awhile in the early 90s I thought it was becoming the "in-thing" to be a yuppie bass fisherman,yup- I hated them taking over my beach!!

It was at this time that I started to hear a lot of talk in fish in inches and I knew things were going down the tubes fast! They were so exited to catch a schoolie on there custom hand tied flys and run home and tell there wife what a hero they were! Give me a break!! But, It did help the local tackle stores who loved these "suit and tie" "6-9pm" striperfisherman.Suddenly the poor slob who only wanted eels was put on the backburner,we didnt want flashy plugs or the best cabelas gear,we just wanted large fish,and to make a buck catching them. But we were the same guys who were pounded for info everytime we walked into the tackle shop,when we didnt give it we were called "liars" "cheats" "poachers" etc...

The last time I sold fish was 1998 and, Im not sorry to say that the money really helped out my wife and I BIG TIME! I was getting my 3 fish a night from shore and making 90 to 100 bucks a night for my effort a night,for us it was a godsend.Then I was attacked for that by the same yuppies and modem heads who couldent catch a fish in a toilet! Thats where a lot of my "attitude comes from" And I vent it in different ways.I certainly dont have anything personall against you at all.

I dont hate them anymore,I now could care less

Bill · 07-17-2002, 04:22 PM

Boy, arent ypou glad I have been leaving work at 1pm lately!!

Dont worry you wont here from me for a while agin as I have anothe big job starting ......But, have fun with the thread while it lasts!!

You guys should be resting up for the "fabulous fall" October think October or basstober or rocktober-best month in rhody for a trophy!!

Bill · 07-18-2002, 05:26 AM

Hey saltheart! Glad your feeling better but, you may not want to read my posts

They will give you to much stress and we dont want that!!

Ya, Tim is a good capt.Only he does not talk much out there,just casts and casts for hours.I still think fishers Island would be a great place from shore,you can take a vehicle there.Like I said, we were casting our eels right up onto the shore so the fish were very close to the beach indeed.

That whole are from watch hill, Nappatree over to fishers island is by far my favorite area.I think it holds more bass in the fall than anywhere else!! I may try to convince steve to do a weekend on fishers by foot in october.If your well enough, your more than welcome!!

Keep healing up !!

Well, smarty pants, I would say that fish is about 41 or 43 inches and not a tic over 24lbs most likely 22lbs That fish has no belly at all real racer, its hard to tell from a picture.

Bill · 07-21-2002, 03:07 PM

Glad to see someone agrees with at least part of what I said/

I dont always come across in my posts the way I intend.It always sounds harsh but, I dont care, you guys are all men here.I dont lose sleep if I made someone cry besides,its a message board for god sake?? you would think the world lives and dies around whats posted sometimes.

I say what I feel and I am passionate when it comes to striper fishing,I have done very well and can back up most of what I say with meat!! I have caught the fish. I dont sell anymore but, I have nothing at all against the sale of stripers,nothing.I have nothing at all against comms of any sort.There some of the best people and hardest working people you will ever meet.

When it comes to stripers,I take it seriously.Its a sport and like anything one does in life,it should be done to the best of a persons ability.I never "settled" for just rat bass.

Anyway you are right linesides, the guys who catch the most and biggest are always followed around but, backstabbed when ever the chance is there.You will follow me at night to see where the biguns are but call me a poacher when Im not looking?? It jealousy plain and simple. Im glad to see this thread genarated so much interest,always does when Im around???

You may not like my methods but, you cany argue with my fish! I have them to back up everything I say.Eels,its the way to go!

Your not going to get spanked if I didnt,Im surprised JohnR hasnt had me running to my mommy thus far!! He usually gets pissed when I voice my OPINION?? For some reason

Im about the only one who cant!!

Im fishing a little more now,once a week with tim and to be honest, catching more fish in a few hours on his boat than I ever did on the shore,I like it and, Im home by 12am.Its very much like surfcasting to me, we are tossing eels right along the shore at fishers island on friday nights,just enough for me at this stage.

I think a boat may be in my very near future!! Very near!! I was looking at the tritons,awesome boats.

wendymichele · 07-17-2002, 04:56 PM

Hey Bill,
You ever get the e-mail I sent?

BasicPatrick · 07-16-2002, 10:14 AM

HMMM,

It seems to me that the fishers experience and personsl history of catch will determine the range of their definition of a particular term. Once a fisher or group of fishers has fished together for a while, they develop their own set of definitions. The following are the ones my little gang in Boston Harbor use

Term Bass Blue

Mount sized 50 Pounds 20 pounds
Trophy / Cow 40+ pounds 17 + pounds
Big Fish 30+ pounds 15+ pounds
Good Fish 20+ pounds 12 + pounds
Keeper 34+ inches n/a
Schoolie 34- inches
Rat 28- inches 10-pounds

My all time pet peive is when people describe their good fish as a 32 or a 30 and they are talking inches not pounds

Just my not so humble opinions

BassmanN · 07-16-2002, 11:56 AM

This is obviously a group of anglers that has caught real fish. I agree with everyones statements.
Can a 28" fish be considered a keeper...not in my book.. You catch a 30 and then a 34. Throw them on a scale. Alot happens to these fish in those couple of years.... This however is not my point.

Ethical Question... ( poll )
You get a 50 lb'er..
Do you eat ?
Do You get a photo so your friends will believe you and then release?

BassmanN · 07-16-2002, 12:47 PM

Nicely put!

BassmanN · 07-17-2002, 06:25 AM

WOW !!!

Didn't think that this was such a passionate question.
If I had to re-phrase it I would not use the word " ethical". Not the area I was looking for.

Your right some fish are the breeders and for the sake of the species they should be sent back to maryland for family time.
No one can claim that the don't care about preserving stripers and other fish. This whole web site is about it....and if you are reading this thread you do care....

Myself... Catch about 200 keepers a year...Eat may 20. For no other reason than I don't like to eat that much fish. If I were fishing for the type of cows that have prime rib....maybe be different stats!

Biggest fish 51#...ate it.
Next one I get..I am letting go.
Two reasons..
1. If you look at an age chart..that fish has been around along time...survived alot of crap in its life. I would just rather let it be.
2. Smaller fish taste better.

Do I catch fish and freeze the meat... NO WAY.
It is cheaper to go to stop and shop.
The greatest advantage we have over poeple that do not fish.....FRESH FISH.
6.99 per lb at the store. 26.99 per lb at the fillet station.

You can tree hug............or fish for food...
You have to do what you want...be smart. Do not keep shorts...do not fill the back of your truckor boat. Preserve your sport in your own mind. The conservation laws will do the rest.

Would like to say that I am a true sportsman and released every fish I have had on a hook...not gonna do it.

Just take one charter trip off the point...Nothing goes back!!!!! And they do it 7 days a week.

BassmanN · 07-17-2002, 09:42 AM

mikecc

I like that table...

Trophy : " a prize or memento as a symbol of victory"

Your post has all sizes that we are searching for....what I would consider " personal victory"

We have to remember that for fish it is real estate that determines availability of trophy fish. location-location Someone who boats of Block or LI is going to have a shot at more big fish than a surf fisherman off Naragansett beach.

Hence...."personal victory."

If a keeper is your trophy,,,then it is your trophy...period.

20 lb blue fish? That is a trophy for me.!

I landed one that was a little over 18.
Thought I had a tuna on the whole time.

BassmanN · 07-17-2002, 12:44 PM

GREAT VIEW...

What a interesting thread this has turned into...

Backwater Guide · 07-16-2002, 10:48 AM

Here in Maine we have two different types of striper fisheries- ocean and river. Each of these types of fisheries has two different size classifications for stripers because they are two totally different water systems. What is considered a good fish in the river is completely different from what might be considered a good fish in the ocean. However, in my opinion, no matter where you fish....the size in which I would call a fish a trophy remains the same--- over 50lbs. Here are the size classifications myself and my fellow guide buddies use.

RIVER/OCEAN

>67LB STATE RECORD
50LB TAKE MANY PICTURES
40+LB COW/COW
30LB COW/NICE FISH
20LB NICE FISH/AVERAGE
15LB AVERAGE/SCHOOLIE
10LB SCHOOLIE/RUNT
<10LB - DON'T BOTHER FISHING FOR

note: all fish caught on artificial lures only.

DaveK · 07-17-2002, 07:03 AM

Why do you fish? I guess thats the real question. If you are out there to stock your freezer then so be it. if you are out there to get away from the daily grind and have fun, then thats great. There are regulations out there as to what is a keeper size fish and as much as we doubt and question these regulations they are there for a reason. I liked this post originally as I was curious as to what other people considered a trophy. Personally anything that bends my rod and makes my adrenaline rush is a trophy to me. There are days that you catch so many large to trophy size fish that you loose respect for those 34". There are other days when you are swarmed by rats that a 34" would be a welcome surprise. If you want people to adopt your morals then have a nice time and be ready to get angry and frustrated. In the mean time enjoy the water, the scenery and the company and learn to be content .

Target · 07-22-2002, 11:34 PM

Catch and release large....?

JohnR · 07-23-2002, 07:21 AM

It is interesting and it's been a theory that people have passed around for a couple years now... But if I keep one large fish for every 30-40 I get, I find that very reasonable and not an impact of any significance... Interesting on how that is impacted by the mass comms @ 40 per day... (That's just too much IMO)

Clammer · 07-23-2002, 08:05 AM

I can,t believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I go into the hospital for a few days and john starts this post on sizes ,,which turns into a pissin match on c/r /// I,m not getting into either//////people do with what they catch for their own reasons ,if we agree or not it doesn,t matter

YOU just don,t get it
ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

right now I,d take a bluefish and you all know how I feel about them
Funny how curves in life WILL change your outlook on many things

fun & laughs ==enjoyment

lightenup

BassmanN · 07-23-2002, 08:36 AM

Calmdigger..
This is all my fault......Don't blame John..

I will say this much.
This has been a great thread.....very interesting to see poeples views on why they fish.....and what fishing means to each of us...

Its a state of mind..

Target · 07-23-2002, 08:53 AM

Whoa I'm not trying to be in a pissing match. I found the article while surfing and simply thought that it was interesting and that maybe others would also. As long as it is legal I am not going to judge someone for keeping....thats up to the individual. Sorry if this inflamed the issue.

Clammer · 07-23-2002, 09:20 AM

i,m not blaming anyone,especially john,hes from boston///////////////////////////

JohnR · 07-23-2002, 09:41 AM

Clammer - in the end, you're right!

I promise to make it up to you with some of TheBetterHalf's baking skilz

GBOUTDOORS · 07-23-2002, 11:12 AM

Clammer nice to see you out and about. Will you be up for a trip to Cuttyhunk soon? Maybe a Fri night to Sat afternoon? We will be sure the weather is good before going and maybe John would like to tag along? And all the fish we catch will be c/r or eaten but not both???

joeangler · 07-23-2002, 11:28 AM

:
TO FISHING

JohnR · 07-23-2002, 12:06 PM

Zum Wohl

Clammer · 07-23-2002, 12:42 PM

Gwen.s sweets will save you !!!!!!!!!!!!!

G/B not real soon but in pleanty of time to catch fish/////

eat or c&r //// whose going to catch fish ??????

Thanks <greg/////////////