Your Take on Catch and Release?

[Squibby17]

I catch and release 95% of what I catch and I have put back dozens of keepers this year. If it's a new personal best, I'm keeping it and I don't feel bad about doing it.

I will say that I forced myself to learn the art of the circle hook as I had gut hooked a few bass the past few years some that were under sized. I can't feel good about putting a 24" bass back in the ocean with a hook stuck in it's throat. I'm doing way better only gut hooked one fish this year and it was a keeper that I ate the next day.

[tattoobob]

Okay, People I am going to change the Question

What do you think about all these new kill fish contests?

My take on them is we don't need them and it does nothing to help our fisheries, it seems that everyone is doing there part to only take what they need or want which is fine as long as it is with in the law.
But 5 years ago there was only 1 or maybe 2 long contests that lasts most of the season now it seems like there are to many.

[Jenn]

I keep fish to eat and dont feel bad about it. I definately dont agree will keeping a fish just for show. I feel better eating one fish caught with rod and reel than I do eating one fish caught in a commercial net with 10 pounds of "bycatch" behind the scenes....

This question seems to come up every so often....I have said it before and will say it again...

If you are a fisherman-even a catch and release fisherman you have absolutetly NO RIGHT to say killing fish is bad. If you catching and releasing you are killing fish....you just dont know how many die or when they die. For those that are TRULY worried about never killing a fish you had better put the rod and reel down and take up knitting. Catch and release doesnt make you exempt from fish mortality.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by tattoobob

Okay, People I am going to change the Question

Just when we think we have the answers, you change the question.