Whatever happened to “Catch and Release”?

[DZ]

Interesting Mike - I've heard that before. Would be a very interesting article - I'm sure it would apply to bass being held out of the water by any means (lip gaffed, held by gill cover, etc). That said I like their chances of survival being weighed and released than being thrown in the cooler.

DZ

[Nebe]

i agree with backbeach. i released a fish in the 30's this fall and was treated with doubt from a few guys. I just feel good knowing that that fish is still alive. I will only kill a large bass if i feel its a gone-er. The last big one i kept was 37 lbs and i still feel bad that i killed it. I fed alot of people with it, but personally i would rather eat a 28.1 inch bass anydayof the week.. less toxins.

let the breeders go.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Nebe

I fed alot of people with it, but personally i would rather eat a 28.1 inch bass anydayof the week.. less toxins.

let the breeders go.

I agree

[Slipknot]

"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? "

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1. could be but maybe it's just because they are proud to have landed a large fish or want to share the fish with family or friends or even people who don't get to fish.

2. Possibly, but first off they'd have to be in a club that has a contest and second they'd have to want to be in on the contest.

3. that's very interesting and I am sure opinions will vary. If I get a 50 from shore, I am 99.9% sure it goes on the wall or atleast a fiberglass mount of it will.

I usually keep about 3 or 4 fish per year and compared to the hundreds I release, I don't think that's too bad. I keep bass from 15 lbs to 25 lbs usually but I have kept in the past 5 years 2 fish over 30 and 2- 40 pounders. I have let alot of 30's go, but never released a 40 yet. I hope I get the chance to release a plug caught 40 someday.
I agree that if you intend to release a bass, then unhook it with as little harm to the fish as possible, by weighing it hanging vertically that can really harm a large fish.

I think KarlF released his personal best this year

[janiejones]

I release every fish I catch. Every last one.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by DZ

Interesting Mike - I've heard that before. Would be a very interesting article - I'm sure it would apply to bass being held out of the water by any means (lip gaffed, held by gill cover, etc). That said I like their chances of survival being weighed and released than being thrown in the cooler.

DZ

DZ,
You have that right, the bigger the fish the less it's chance for survival after being weighted.