Fish Size Definitions

[bassmaster]

Bloo. I love the fart thing and U r a star

[bloocrab]

...BM, I'm a happy-go-lucky kinda guy...just ask Goose... ...I love to fish....I love to have fun....I love to make people smile or better yet laugh....and there's no stars here, as a matter of fact it was an overcast night tonight .... and I'd like to thank Goose for getting me out of the house and into the surf with a better ending to my "crabby" day...

.... uh oh...we both have to work in .... ..3-hours!!!...sheeeesh, I'm glad I'm not a "die-hard"....

...this suckas looooong, but definately not a "trophy" ...but he IS going in my belly!!...

[bloocrab]

...so how long is this "bleeder" smarty pants???

any guesses? ~

...ok.....g'nite ~~



.....and remember fellas...

......Life's too short to be grumpy .....

...by the time you wake up, the game's over...

[Bill]

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.

[bloocrab]

Bill.....your right, its hard to tell from a picture...(and your short on both answers)...but good guess

..and yes, definately a racer with NO belly...she must have just made a bowl-der movement while looking for crustaceons cuz she was on "E"......sac was empty!(where's the baitfish?)...

...let's lighten this thread up a bit- so it can be put to rest peacefully.....

...Daaaam, why am I sooooo tired??... ...."fishing is hard work", my father once said...it took me awhile to finally agree.

Age catches up with your body a lot sooner than with your mind.

[schoolie monster]

Bill, you are absolutely right, we have different ways to enjoy the same sport. That's why fishing is so cool.

I like chasin' large too, I just happen to have a new boat and I've fallen in love with it a bit... in the fall and next season, I'll probably balance things out a bit more. But the point is that however you or I or anyone else want to enjoy it, night or day, big or small, catch or release (within the laws), its OK.

If we all did the same thing, the beach would be overrun.

Bloo, you are dead on... I fish for me, my relaxation, my escape, to get outside and on the water... sometimes I just like a nice walk on the beach or a boat ride... its just my thing. On a trout stream, on a remote canadian lake in the fall, on the beach or in the boat... and even taking my daughter to the pond for sunnies. Sometimes I like to fish with others, mostly I fish by myself.

There are people that fish because they think it makes them cool, a rugged outdoorsmen, or whatever. Ain't me, been doin' it my whole life.

And the hard-core thing is great, I don't know, I launched at 4am or been on the road to a surf spot about every day I've been off since April... sometimes after fishing the night before. This past weekend was the first time this year I wasn't flippin' out about my next trip out.

But that's about as far as I care to take it. I don't see getting divorced over it or losing your job or house as a badge of honor.

Bill, I applaud you for making that change... family is most important, but I'm sure there's still room in your life for getting out there.

Saltheart, you shouldn't be getting involved in a thread like this, shame on you. Just read the one's with "smily faces" on them You are on a "no tweaking" diet.

[Jenn]

getting me out of the house and into the surf with a better ending to my "crabby" day...

poop.... have we been having the same week>>>> me crabby lately too...and I gettin to fired up about stupid crap!
I get out tommoroow nite.....to end my crappy/crabby week....

and ya know what????? I am not going to think about how awesome a 50# would be.....just how aewsome it is to be fishin.....and I am not gonna care either way......sure sometimes I get frustrated if I am not catchin.....but I am not going to lie or stress about it.......not gonna think about how someone is gonna feel if I keep a 34' (uh...whats that in pounds i dunno) for the supper table........as a matter of fact...I am not going to think aboput a damn thing!!!!! THATS why I do it! hey some people go to church and that is there religion....there focus and direction. Fishing (especially THIS year) is it for me......need answers??? relate anything to fishing and see what you come up with!!!

although I am no "pro" I have fished with quite a few great people (freshwater/saltwater/shore/boat) doesnt matter......I can honestly say I have respect for most of these people (maybe because we share common interests etc???) on rare occasion some knucklehead has spoiled it for me.........on rarer occasion I have been blessed enough to witness true serenity !!!!!!...and hope I will get there some day!!!!

everyone good luck fishin!!!!!but most importantly......have fun....

[Bill L]

Amen

[LINESIDES]

Time for my beating John!!!!
About this thread!! Some of my thoughts. You folk know I don’t ring in too often, but here I go!
Bill, I like your train of thought and your perspectives on the over all sport! I like this line! I edited out what I did not agree with, through this entire thread!

Quote:
“Trust me the poor little fishy hurts just as much from being hooked with a barbless"polically correct" hook as it does with a barbed hook, the experience is just as tramatic.You think your helping the fish, fishing barbless hooks is a way for you or anyone to justify hooking the thing in the first place,makes you feel better ,
NOT the fish. I hate barbless hooks.”
Quote:
“Did you know that the current "lite tackle" mentality actually hurts the fish more!
It does, in a nut shell you are playing the fish to death, takes to long to get her in and saps the fish of to much energy and oxygen.So the ones who think they are doing good are doing more harm.”

The above, could not be truer! I know and fish with the some best eel men in the business and boatmen in my area. They have all done 50’s and have kept them. These are the people that other fishermen try to follow into the knight to try and figure out “Just what the hell these fishermen are doing to catch so many fish!"We always manage to slip away from them in the night’s darkness. As a mater of fact, it is spoken of quite frequently as a joke of sorts among these aleat, how effectively, we can slip these folks. “
“They all agree, lite tackle and Fly rods due more damage to the fish then the heavy equipment.”
“That lite tackle simply whips them!”
Quote:
I have never played a big bass more than nessasary.And most fish I caught that were not sold were imediatly tossed back,not held out of the water for 15 minutes so my friends could take pictures.Thats to long for the fish to be out of water,the angler enjoys the photo shoot more than the bass.

I believe the above statement is true also!

Quote:
Im glad you tossed your 40s back, I have tossed more than my share back also! But sorry, no 50s get to swim again that cross my line!

I hope some day you get to make this decision again, and change your mind!

Quote:
Besides, there just ain’t any big fish around anymore!

The above statement! This is where I fell you are all wrong! From what I see, this statement is made quite often. There are allot of small fish around these days. The conservation has done a great job bring them back! These smaller Fish will beat the larger fish to the food. Because of this and the amount of these small fish being taken, it appears that the large fish population has dwindled to some kind of a dangerous condition. I will tell you this! Even during what was called the great decline of the striped bass I saw no change in population or size. You just had to be a better fishing person. The skill level to take them needed to be higher. (Paying your dues time!) As they call it. You needed to put more time and thought into just what these large fish were doing. Now due to this population explosion of fish, and the amount of pressure. Allot of folks have seemed to think they have become experts in this business of taken stripers.
I can assure you this, those big fish are still around, and they are allot bigger than you think they are!!!
Quote:
“Ethical”
This means to let your keepers go, so that someone in another State below us keep’s his or her limit of fish under 26 inches!




I like this Dave!
DaveK

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 .

schoolie monster, Saltheart, Your threads were well put!!!

I like this comment too! I know a lot of people, that this sickness literally caused their marriages. I am glad I am not one of these people. But I do have the sickness!!!

Quote:
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.

That’s it! I guess that I did not, really, say any thing! It is a good thread, and every body has his or her own opinion,
Just don’t push your opinion down my throat! If I agree with it I will, and if I don’t, please respect my opinion!
I guess that’s what makes this such a great sport! When I started fishing only stripers my personal goal was to take a fish over fifteen pounds! That was what I set as my personal goal. I also planed to mount that fish when I got it. I did not mount it and I have not personally ever had any of my fish mounted! I will tell you this, when that fish gets into my boat, it will not go back!!! It will be on my wall!
Just a final note so I can take my full beating, I have in my past sold fish! I do not sell now. I have done my part in conservation over the years. I have done my share of tagging them, only to have this information used against us by some one sitting behind a desk thinking what they think is the right thing for the fish! I kiss all my large fish between their eyes; I look them in their eye and say to them, You must be more careful the next time, God speed!
P.S. John keep up the great job you are doing1 I think of you often and you are in the back my head. Read what you will into this!
Later!

[Bill]

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.

[thedarkside]

For a guy that only has one 50 to his name, you sure do talk a lot.

Everyone misses you on the beach. Why don't you come out and play?

[JohnR]

Linesides, good to hear from ya! Having a good summer?

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!!

Bill -- Smileys Noted -- You're not the only one that gets leaned on to be a little civil. It's happened before with others and others I respect have asked me to lighten up in the past too. It all goes full circle. It's part of what makes this site a little more light and fun and a little less of the battle sites like WMI (which was fun while it lasted). A lot of people tell me thay like this site as a fishing site and not a "who can piss the furthest" type site. I don't want a battle site as there are enough of those around. I want this place to be an excellent source for info (not spots ), a solid community of anglers, and a place to have some fun. Not a constant testosterone charged argument. Let people go to reeltime if they want that...

All I ask is that people respect others opinions and generally not attack & hammer others (does not apply to spamming ).... If you have what you think is a better method or opinion, voice it but if someone doesn't agree, no need to circle the wagons...

Other than the higher than expected intensity, I liked this thread and think it offered a good discussion....

Hey Darkside - why don't you show a pair of stones and say who you are instead of peering around the corner of internet annonymity so you can jump out when nobody is looking... Waiting 4 months without a post to suddenly troll and pig pile is pretty lame... Feel free to e-mail me if you'd like.

[DRM]

I agree that many of the better fishermen probably go about their business quietly and don't participate in the internet fishing world. Numbers of 50 pounders may make you successful, but without class and professionalism you become one more jacka## with a rod and reel. Good fishermen start by being good people. They dont have to validate their success with internet stories. Some of them choose to be more vocal than others, but the way their statements are delivered say more than the actual text.

[tlapinski]

Bill. i take personal offense to one of your statements. who are you to say that any fisherman that gets a fifty WILL keep it?!?!?

when i get a striper, i don't keep it based on its size. if it is of legal size, and not going to live, then i will keep it. when i get a fifty, i keep it, but ONLY after i do everything in my power to revive her. if she can't swim off on her own, then she will go to the cooler.

i have nothing against someone keeping their "trophy". i do have something against someone doing this for the wrong reason. nobody likes a "self proclaimed" hero! let's say a person gets a fish that they feel is a fifty. they bring it to the shop to weigh it, and it weighs over fifty pounds. good for them. but, if they feel the need to take pictures of it to show EVERYONE, take it around and show people, weigh it in at every place with a scale, then i feel they have done something wrong. that is when they atrt gloating! every one here would be happy with that fish, but if that person feels the need to show off their accomplishment, then maybe they have some wrong that runs a little deeper than we really know! perhaps they have some self esteem issues. fishing should not be for anyone but yourself. the respect of an accomplished fisherman should not be called for by that person. but, instead, given readily by one's peers!

[JohnR]

TL - While I agree that not everyone "needs" to keep a fifty, I disagree about bringing it to shops being purely . I have no problem with someone taking a 50 around to a few shops or taking photos and showing his friends. I also don't feel that person is "needing" to show off. It might seem like a fine line to some but somebody could be simply celebrating as opposed to just showing off.

If one of my fishing buddies got a 50 and were in the area, I'd demand they come over and let me see it (or I would go to it). Also, to bring it into a few shops, no big deal. I know if I got one, there are a few shops that would want me to bring it in, not just for the promotional aspect of a 50 hanging in front of their logo but some of the shop owners I know would also take pride that a client/friend has achieved that. I know I'd want to bring it to a few shops too...

Some people might say it's a self-validation of ones skill, but it can also be one way of celebrating that fish. That's the shore angler's version of winning the superbowl...

I don't know if you look at a 50 as a goal (or if you have one or more already) but I do to an extent. Do I go out every single night hunting for that elusive fish? No, I can't. Even if I could I wouldn't go out everytime with the expressed purpose of getting a 50 - I just want to enjoy it

[Target]

Catch and release large....?

[JohnR]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[JohnR]

Clammer - in the end, you're right!

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

[GBOUTDOORS]

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]

:
TO FISHING

[JohnR]

Zum Wohl

[Clammer]

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/////////////