Your thoughts on releasing large stripers

[SweetD]

Originally Posted by zimmy

I can honestly say I will never keep a bass of more than 15 lbs for the purpose of eating or as a trophy unless that fish cannot or does not survive. I just have absolutely no interest in removing fish of that size from the stock intentionally. I know other people do like to keep bigger fish for a variety of reasons, it is just not something I have any desire to do.

I feel the same way. I released my personal best fish last year. The pictures came out nicely and I felt really good about it afterwards.

[JohnR]

I release 99% (or above) of my keepers. I would say that most of us (here) do.

[JackK]

I release most of my fish... I generally keep a stocked kitchen (unusual for a bachelor, I know ) and unless I know all of the meat will be used right away by myself or others I don't see the point in keeping it. Much more of a hassle to fillet it, anyway.

Now, PBs are a different story. I know that when I got my first 40 this year I had no intention of letting it go... It was just a landmark that I strove for, I knew people who were asking for fish for a BBQ, and the cup was going on. It's gotta be the hardest thing in the world for anyone to knowingly release their PB... More power in the world to you if you can do it, however.

I probably won't keep many (if any) 20-30 pounders ever again... They just don't taste as good as a 28" fish. But when (read: if) that 50 comes around, it's probably coming home with me. Donating the fillets to local food banks/ soup kitchens can also be an option with a fish like that.

RF9 raises an interesting point though. What really irks me is all of the pics I see of people holding cows straight up and down with their hands deep in their gills... with a comment that reads 'caught and released'. The damage to the gills and internal organs must be severe, and even with careful resuscitation the chance of that fish surviving have got to be really low. If you treat a fish like that once it's out of the water, you might as well just keep it.

[DZ]

Due to my age and the fact that I’ve been surf casting stripers for over 40 years I was fortunate to have been one of the initial “trail blazers” in releasing large striped bass starting in the 1980s. Before that time the only striped bass that I ever saw thrown back were sub legal size fish – everything else was kept for personal use or sold. Like Rockfish9 mentioned this was the culture of that time and EVERYONE did it.

The practice of C&R was initially started by a few handfuls of surfcasters during that crash of striped bass stocks in the 1980s. It was during this time that I first met Brad Burns (yes, the same guy from Stripers Forever). On a dark Block Island night at Southwest Bar I released a cow bass and had a guy come up to me and congratulate me for what I did – it was Brad. Come to find out Brad and his crew were also into releasing large bass and were just as passionate as I was. This was refreshing because it was in stark contrast to the general practice of that time which was to ship (re: sell) every bass you could. We got some strange looks (and a few nasty comments) from some of the crowd on the island - one pin hooker actually chased a cow I released with his gaff. Bob Pond, another passionate striped bass conservationist, was also very influential when I spoke with him during the decline. I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to live release quite a few large bass. To me it is still the most rewarding and responsible thing to do when done correctly and with care.

I have no qualms with someone keeping their personal best, but I always try and instill the large bass C&R mentality onto the new crowd – it’s hard to expect them to throw back large but I still try. I still hope that recreational fishermen here in the northeast will someday eventually “get it”. All around our country anglers have adopted the C&R mentality with regards to the largest of the species they pursue. We are the last holdouts though I’m always encouraged when I see threads like this. C&R peer pressure is good – especially on the young guys that tend to look upon some of the top pin hookers with envy. I was young once, did the same thing and know the feeling. I’ve watched some of these younger guys try and emulate them - it saddens me. C&R is not the same after you have already placed 10 other cows in the coffin,box or cooler.

Although a C&R advocate I still like to eat striped bass and for me it’s all about “selective harvest”, that is keeping a bass that is a perfect legal size for table fare, say 28” to 36”. I also still enter various special event tourneys and would even consider weighing a bass of decent size, but the tourney would have to be a charity event or at the very least, donate its proceeds to a charity/special cause/scholarship.
There you have it - my recruiting plea. Keep your personal best (if so inclined), selectively harvest fish for the table, and release the cows.

DZ

[redlite]

Oh brother, here we go again......
To each their own....
Oustide the tournament, I let 80% of the fish I catch go (most because they're too small).....I only keep em if people(family and freinds) have asked me specifically for fish, and it is not too bad of a job to get them back to the truck.
Here is a break down on my numbers so far for this year---
So far this year I have weighed in 7 fish for the Striper cup, all but 3 were in the commercial season, so they would have been taken anyway. I have kept 8 fish for the table so far. I sold I believe it was only like 20 fish this year, so I have removed about 28 fish from the biomass since the begining of April. That isn't even a bad DAY for a boat during the comm season.I keep the big ones cause they are more yield per fish. I got a 50, and I sold it. If I ever get another, you can bet yo arse its comin home and onto my wall. Do I keep the bigs ones to feed my "ego" or some other hidden human nature? I don't think so. I don't know, but I get a greater stisfaction riding along the canal after slammin fish with empty baskets and people thinking I didn't catch anything than havin 2 fish jammed into my baskets witha flat tire.

As far as tournaments and promoting killing of fish and all that crap, a quick count of the Striper Cup thus far which is the largest and longest running tournament, with approx 5000 people fishing over 5 months, from NJ to Maine, this is the count so far:
60#-6
50#-27
40#-35
30#- 233
Total 301 fish

A vast majority of those fish were commercial fish that would have been kept anyway. So please stop crying that tournaments are so wrong, and bad, and killing ALL the fish......Horse pucky.

Like I say, to each their own, but don't frown upon others that are operating within the guidelines.

[piemma]

So you guys know how hard I usually fish. Well this year a bit less but still got over 100 legal fish. I have killed two fish this year and both were gut hooked, one swallowed a pogie the other an eel. I cannot do it anymore and I have killed a lot of fish in the past. It has become too valuable of a resource to kill.

Someone on the Board has a signature that has a saying by the famous Lee Wulff. "A striper is to valuable a fish to be only caught once." Cannot be said better.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by redlite

Oh brother, here we go again......
To each their own....
Oustide the tournament, I let 80% of the fish I catch go (most because they're too small).....I only keep em if people(family and freinds) have asked me specifically for fish, and it is not too bad of a job to get them back to the truck.
Here is a break down on my numbers so far for this year---
So far this year I have weighed in 7 fish for the Striper cup, all but 3 were in the commercial season, so they would have been taken anyway. I have kept 8 fish for the table so far. I sold I believe it was only like 20 fish this year, so I have removed about 28 fish from the biomass since the begining of April. That isn't even a bad DAY for a boat during the comm season.I keep the big ones cause they are more yield per fish. I got a 50, and I sold it. If I ever get another, you can bet yo arse its comin home and onto my wall. Do I keep the bigs ones to feed my "ego" or some other hidden human nature? I don't think so. I don't know, but I get a greater stisfaction riding along the canal after slammin fish with empty baskets and people thinking I didn't catch anything than havin 2 fish jammed into my baskets witha flat tire.

As far as tournaments and promoting killing of fish and all that crap, a quick count of the Striper Cup thus far which is the largest and longest running tournament, with approx 5000 people fishing over 5 months, from NJ to Maine, this is the count so far:
60#-6
50#-27
40#-35
30#- 233
Total 301 fish

A vast majority of those fish were commercial fish that would have been kept anyway. So please stop crying that tournaments are so wrong, and bad, and killing ALL the fish......Horse pucky.

Like I say, to each their own, but don't frown upon others that are operating within the guidelines.

Like you, I've never figured out the logic of why the OTW is a "bad" tournament, but the MV Derby is a "good" one.

And IMO the dumbest thing that the MV Derby does is award daily "mystery prizes" by the luck of the draw among all the fish weighed in that day. Guys keep 34" bass (assuming that's still the minimum weighable length) that they know won't make the daily prize board just to have a shot at the mystery prize

Daily prizes, too. How many guys keep a 25 pound fish that they know won't land them on the Grand leader board for a shot at a lousy $20 check and a pin?

But it has tradition on its side, so guys support it while railing against the Striper Cup.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by redlite

Oh brother, here we go again......
To each their own....
Oustide the tournament, I let 80% of the fish I catch go (most because they're too small).....I only keep em if people(family and freinds) have asked me specifically for fish, and it is not too bad of a job to get them back to the truck.
Here is a break down on my numbers so far for this year---
So far this year I have weighed in 7 fish for the Striper cup, all but 3 were in the commercial season, so they would have been taken anyway. I have kept 8 fish for the table so far. I sold I believe it was only like 20 fish this year, so I have removed about 28 fish from the biomass since the begining of April. That isn't even a bad DAY for a boat during the comm season.I keep the big ones cause they are more yield per fish. I got a 50, and I sold it. If I ever get another, you can bet yo arse its comin home and onto my wall. Do I keep the bigs ones to feed my "ego" or some other hidden human nature? I don't think so. I don't know, but I get a greater stisfaction riding along the canal after slammin fish with empty baskets and people thinking I didn't catch anything than havin 2 fish jammed into my baskets witha flat tire.

As far as tournaments and promoting killing of fish and all that crap, a quick count of the Striper Cup thus far which is the largest and longest running tournament, with approx 5000 people fishing over 5 months, from NJ to Maine, this is the count so far:
60#-6
50#-27
40#-35
30#- 233
Total 301 fish

A vast majority of those fish were commercial fish that would have been kept anyway. So please stop crying that tournaments are so wrong, and bad, and killing ALL the fish......Horse pucky.

Like I say, to each their own, but don't frown upon others that are operating within the guidelines.

Read my post again, I don't see anything where I cried that any tournaments are so wrong,and bad and killing ALL the fish... , so maybe someone else in the thread did I made a decision about if I catch a cow based on my own observations and what little i know about Bob Pond.
I don't frown upon others. I am trying to find out how we can get the word out that the bass may not be in such great sustainable numbers as the people in charge like to tell us so. That way others can make an informed decision as to whether or not they'd like to keep 2 fish or release them instead. I am not the one preaching here, I am asking others what their thoughts are. I am not blind, I see the population changing year in and year out. I'd hate to see stripers end up like cod.

I have no problem with the striper cup or the derby and do not bash them or put down one over the other. No need to defend the Cup tourney here with leader board stats. I don't have and never had a problem with commercial catching and selling of bass either.
Obviously Charters and serious shore fishermen have a much better chance at consistently catching cow bass, maybe if more people think about what happens when all those fish are removed they'd think about releasing them to be caught more than once like in that quote.
I have no problem with keeping fish for food either, I have eaten plenty of tasty fish from the sea.

"but I get a greater stisfaction riding along the canal after slammin fish with empty baskets and people thinking I didn't catch anything than havin 2 fish jammed into my baskets witha flat tire."

Me too Mike

[Sea Flat]

I agree - One fish is fine to keep, but to me I think the size should be raised a little bit too. Unfortunately, by the time anyone decides to change the regulations it may be a bit late.

One of the hardest things I have ever done while fishing was throwing back two consecutive personal best fish last season. I got one good picture and feel great that I was able to do it. My suggestion to anyone that has their doubts as to whether or not they can throw it back is to buy a camera, something simple and keep it in a water tight bag in your plug bag. I always knew that if I caught a large fish that I would struggle with letting her go so I got the camera and I was able to pull it off.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Sea Flat

I agree - One fish is fine to keep, but to me I think the size should be raised a little bit too. Unfortunately, by the time anyone decides to change the regulations it may be a bit late. Let's hope not

One of the hardest things I have ever done while fishing was throwing back two consecutive personal best fish last season.Thank you
I got one good picture and feel great that I was able to do it. My suggestion to anyone that has their doubts as to whether or not they can throw it back is to buy a camera, something simple and keep it in a water tight bag in your plug bag. I always knew that if I caught a large fish that I would struggle with letting her go so I got the camera and I was able to pull it off.

good idea
but sometimes I swear the camera jinxes me

[numbskull]

I let them go so I can feel morally superior and compensate for being short (and ugly).

[Backbeach Jake]

I keep as many as will feed Jenn and myself through the Winter, maybe one meal a week through the Winter. If I caught a 40 it would probably be the only fish kept that Season. Maybe the last time that I went surfcasting that Season as well. I don't like catching and releasing, it's too much like playing with the fish, putting them at risk needlessly. They aren't toys. I release shorts , but in the persuit of keepers. Just me, I guess.

[Ed B]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

I keep as many as will feed Jenn and myself through the Winter, maybe one meal a week through the Winter. If I caught a 40 it would probably be the only fish kept that Season. Maybe the last time that I went surfcasting that Season as well. I don't like catching and releasing, it's too much like playing with the fish, putting them at risk needlessly. They aren't toys. I release shorts , but in the persuit of keepers. Just me, I guess.

I agree with you Jake, it's not just you. Fish are not toys and that's something to think about.

Getting out in the surf, catching a few fish and taking one home to eat is OK in my book. Trying to catch dozens and dozens knowing that there is always some C&R mortality leaves me scratching my head.

Ed

[BostonFisher]

I usually release my keepers assuming I think they'll make it. Once in a while I'll keep one to eat, especially if we are having a family BBQ or something like that. When I keep a healthy bass I try and make it under 35" and almost always let the larger ones go. Often I have friends on the boat that want to keep their limit and I have to convince them to let the larger ones go. I've found if I refuse to fillet it for the green horns they will often let it go since they have no idea what to do...

[sokinwet]

I'll never be morally superior....I'm tall and I'm good looking (so says my dog)....so in the box they go! Oh yea...I also release all shorts.

[stiff tip]

Originally Posted by numbskull

I let them go so I can feel morally superior and compensate for being short (and ugly).

nummie...... dont ever forget it.......the thrill is in the SELL , not the release......imo the rec guys take way more than they should.....lots of glory pigs.....look at me i,m great....let the big ones go . do it for your kids.......

[numbskull]

Dave, you should keep them all. Any fish you catch is going to die from humiliation anyways.

[Clogston29]

Originally Posted by numbskull

I let them go so I can feel morally superior and compensate for being short (and ugly).

its also alot easier to lie about how big they were if you let them go.

i pretty much fall in line with what backbeach and redlite posted.

if you really want to do what is best for the bass, just stay home. your essentially making their lives miserable for your own enjoyment every time you catch one.

[JohnR]

The short version is every legal group really should be taking less fish and every illegal group should be paraded before a judge.

Let a seasons' best go last night. It hasn't been an earth shattering season (but it has been fun).

Numby, not everyone can be hung like Bullwinkle, some people need to give Rocky a run for the money too.

[Vogt]

Originally Posted by Clogston29

your essentially making their lives miserable for your own enjoyment every time you catch one.

Good thing they dont have emotions...

[fishpoopoo]

ah, for me, stripers taste like muddy cardboard.

i haven't kept one in a while.