Big Bass

[capesams]

[kippy]

I don't eat striper anymore as I find it is too rich, so I practice catch and release. I don't fault anyone who wants to take a trophy fish though. My philosophy is..you catch it, you can keep it. As long as it is legal. Fluke on the other hand..yummy!

[afterhours]

if someone wants to keep a trophy fish, fine . if someone wants to release a trophy fish, fine it is totally up to the angler. CJ i respect your decision to release, but DON'T start preaching, enough!!

[afterhours]

ps- i released my first 50 lb. and i will mount my next 50 lb.

[fishaholic18]

Originally posted by BigFish
Go find a tree with a knothole in it!

Thanks BF, I needed a good laugh.

I'm keeping my first 50, if I get one that is.

[spinncognito]

I will certainly keep a 50# fish if I am ever fortunate enough to catch one. I will put it the back of my truck and cart it around the whole town and show it off to everyone I know and lots and lots of people I do not know.

I fish for sport
I fish for food
I fish for money
and
I fish for BRAGGING RIGHTS


just being honest here...

Spin

[GBOUTDOORS]

Is it legal to keep a 50# fish? Yes? Then its yours to do with what YOU want not some one else to tell YOU what to do with it. CJ you have a wright to feel the way you do and I have the wright to tell you to mind your own business. By the way they do still do skin mounts I know because the fish I got last night which was hooked in the belly and at first was going back but is now going on the wall is at the shop now being done. I do not know the weight yet but at first we measured 48" but at home we got 51" will I let a 50# fish go? Now that this one is going on the wall I would say so but its still NONE of YOUR business. Go have a beer or a smoke or what ever it is that you do that I do not like its your wright knock your sell out.

[chris L]

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

[Rappin Mikey]

This self-righteous, hypocritical dude doesn't fool me for a second. What you wanna bet he has at least 1 mount in his trophy room. The truth is buddy, it's easier to preach catch and release when you already have one on the wall. I've said it once and I'll say it again to anyone who tries to force there views and opinions on others in such a condescending way. If you are such a "fishatarian" like you claim, stop using hooks you moron! You sound like an idiot. "Oh, don't put a big fish on the wall, only keep the small ones for food" Shut up!

[Captjohn]

Amazing to me how many rednecks get their panties in a bunch about someone expressing an opinion (I love it), if any of you could read you would see I NEVER preached a word- I said I don't understand why anyone would kill a BIG striper- that's it man!!

But all of your idiot posts have helped my understand why- because some people just don't have any respect for the thing they love most. I guess I just have a ton of RESPECT for bass that's all. Thanks to Karl F I guess I have to go to the FFSW forum to find any real sportsmen. It really amazes me how stripers.com is so divided among different forums when they claim they all love the same thing- Bass fishing.

Out of all the grammer school posts like bigfish, beachwalker and redneck, etc.NO ONE has even made half a sane reason for keeping a bass that big- what would you do with it??

NIB- you have a good view and the fish carma always comes back to those who show respect for the sport- good luck in your quest for a 50#

[kippy]

This guy is making all kinds of friends here...

[Flaptail]

I have been at it since I was six. That's 42 years and the biggest one for me to date is 49.9 lbs. I will, if I ever am that lucky, keep the first fish over fifty that I catch. It is strictly a personal decision but that is my Holy Grail and I have worked long and hard to try to get there and if, God willing, I make that mark for the first time, and if any others come to me I will probably have to make that decision again. I released a beautiful 47 inch fish in July at Race Point one night this past July that was extremely fat and had no qualms about it. A fifty would be different. It's a very personal decision and a very personal goal.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally posted by Captjohn
NO ONE has even made half a sane reason for keeping a bass that big-

Because "I WANT TO"....thats reason enough for me.



If I get one 50# I wouldn't be surprised if I walked it down the aisle and Married it.

[beachwalker]

Capt John doesn't get both sides.

I am not in a tizz about your thread, i am in a tizz because we are having to explain ourselves to a wanker who gets off on people getting fired up. Get over it.

I don't need to give you a reason for keeping our releasing a fish. YOU seem to need the satisfaction of trying to prove your statement is just.

If I've met rednecks in this world MOST of them were boozebag, prickhead charter boat captains. But surely not all of them.

I wouldn't want to assume things about people now would I ?

[JohnR]

Captain John, I don't know if I will keep my first 50, maybe, maybe not. When an Olympian earns a gold after many many years of training x hours per day, at the cost of who knows what over years, do they not keep the medal? When the grad student finaly gets that masters, do you throw away the paper? When the hunter tags and releases that grizzly bear - oh, that's right, no catch and release in hunting....

Personally, I keep a few fish a year for the table and when I get a 50, I may or may not keep it for the wall. But I KNOW I release in as healthy a manner as I can do, 99% of the fish I catch. I promote C&R and I also promote responsible angling in the community, and responsible management in the fisheries (yes, and I go to the meetings). And if you have a problem with the rules, do what you can to get them changed. What I try not to promote is a sense of elitism.

If your clients catch a 50, and perhaps it's a line record on the fly line, do you beat 'em with your bluefish club until they release it? Or do you lift it up out of the water and crush it's organs before you take the picture? And take the 5 minutes of poses and pictures before releasing it with greatly incresed mortality?

Hmmm, maybe we should make the striper a gamefish and reallocate those resources instead of working on the real problems facing striped bass, overall pressure on all size classes of these fish instead of what "user group" gets a crack at them. Maybe, just maybe, we could focus on things like the forage fish like menhaden and herring. Or maybe bycatch, you know things that will improve the entire biomass of the species across age classes instead of the 100 or so trophy 50# fish caught over the course of a year.

If you are man that wants to do something for these wonderful fish, why waste your time focusing on the 100 fish taken as trophys and redirect your efforts to something which will MEAN something in the long run....

[Nebe]

my thoughts 100% exactly!~

[Saltheart]

I believe as some have stated already that any legal fish is yours to do what you want with it.

I do think he asks a legitimate question though. What do you do with a fifty?

I can see getting it mounted. It costs a lot but its a cool thing to see on your wall. Maybe bring back some nice memories when you are 90 and can't fish anymore??

I personally wouldn't want to eat one. Too old and eaten too much mercury , etc. I think smaller is better for eating.

Although entitled to do so , I would think its a shame to parade it around then trash it.

As I said , its the anglers fish , he can do what he wants but .....what dooo you do with a fifty after you are done showing it around?

Lots of people bring up the idea that a fifty is a big fish and therefore a big breeder but others say that in fact its way past its prime and not worth nearly as much as a younger 30 pounder for breeding purposes.

I don't see why people get so upset about people asking questions or putting up a topic for discussion. Some people don't word their questions in the best way but I think the guy has as much right to ask the question as someone else has in keeping their 50 if they like. He asked a question and then gave his opinion , no big deal.

Anyway , if I ever get a fifty , I won't eat it. I will release it or have it mounted. Depends on how I feel that day. If you are superstitious , The old saying is that for good Luck you should release your first fifty.

[5/0]

Capt. John:

Do you have a fever? Did you bump your head?Who do think you are to judge me & everyone else who wants to keep a Fifty?Huh?
Give it up
Hell IM going to keep my first 50# & if I get lucky IM gonna keep my 60#!
I'll Toss-em both on my wall,now thats a trophy,the hell w/ the photo's.Anybody can fool around w/ photoshop.


Don't be retarded and start ### here.
Go hug a tree
This America so go #### yur self


5/0


we need to clean up the language a little please - thanks! John

[jugstah]

If I ever caught a fifty pounder, I will be praising the lord, taking pictures, and getting it weighted at a local bait and tackle shop, be calling every family member I know, and be bragging about it to my fellow fishermen.

I've fished hard and often, have yet to break the 32in mark, never mind the fifty pounder.... So, to me, that's like the Holy Grail of striped bass. So sue me.

And oh, I'll definitely be putting it on the table for dinner to eat.

Is that so wrong?

Most fish that I catch, I release. And I heckle those who keep shorts, especially on the Canal, talk crap to them about how others lost their vehicles after being caught with shorts.

Does that make me a bad guy? Me think not!

I'm a responsible fisherman.

[The Iceman 6]

GB -

Good work & Congrats. Let us know the final result re: weight/length, etc.... I think if I catch a fifty - getting a nice tattoo (sorry mike) of her around the ankle - i'll remember that...

Ice

[Moses]

To date, I have not broken the 30lb barrier but that is a goal this year.

I only keep what I am going to eat myself or with friends/family which is a few each year. Stripers taste best to me in the 30-39 inch/15-25lb range.

A fifty sure does have a nice ring to it. But no, I would not keep it.
Main reason, what would I do with it? I have no desire to mount it nor a desire to eat it never mind parade it around. Personal satisfaction is fine with me.

But in the end, each person can do what they want with thier fish. Doesn't bother me either way.

[JohnR]

Hey GB - didn't see that post - EXCELLENT - congrats!!!!

[Surfcastinglife]

my first fifty is goin on a grill =] should be enough to feed all 30 ppl in the fam :P

[rizzo]

I think part of the experience of catching a 50 is keeping it to show everyone. You deserve the pride of taking it to friends/family/tackle shop and showing them that all the hard work, thousands of hours of lost sleep have finally paid off. Its also exciting for those who didnt catch the fish to see it... from hardcore surfcasters to your nieghbors kids. Its something you have to see and experience in person, to get the full effect of such a rare event. It must be great to be able to share that story of landing the fish of a lifetime with others with the fish right there by your side.

[JHABS]

Hey if some WANTS to KEEP or LET GO their 50 LBER thats for them to DECIDE.......... Don't see a problem either way........................ Now what would we all do with back to back 50'S

[SBASS1]

First off let me say what you do with your own fish is your own business! Number two you say you keep smaller fish to eat. Smaller bass say 30-40 inches produce far more eggs that a old gal say fifty pounds. Therefore, theoretically you hurt the population more by keeping the smaller fish. Number three unless you actually have a Master's license you shouldn't impersonate one. If you do, and you run a boat - (charter or party) the fact is your skill has produced many more fish for customers that they take home, and far outways the number of bass taken home by members of this board (Per person). Meaning that if we as individuals each caught the same amount of fish, because of your business you would kill many more fish than the others. Don't come back with each person is their own entity, because with out you running the boat they would catch nothing!!!

[Pete F.]

The limits in Maine are different. Slot from 20 to 26 and over 40. I think they designed their limits on what is good for the fish in theory. Although that is open to discussion.
Pete

[Rappin Mikey]

Whose RedNeck anyway? Right away Bigfish came to mind, but he got honorable mention. Must be talkin bout Bassmaster ?????

[Crazy Alberto]

CaptJohn,

I can understand where you are coming from and I salute you for your thoughts… but the truth of the matter is… It is up to the individual to decide the fish’s destiny! As I am sure you know… It’s someone’s “personal achievement” for all the hard work he/she has put on the water! Until it is unlawful to kill the said trophy – It’s within the rights for the individual to do whatever he/she pleases!

As far as facts are concerned – Majority of the 50 lbs. + are stressed out and the mortality release rate is high! I should know because I’ve witnessed enough trophy bass and yours truly have two (which was kept). As far as my future trophy bass are concerned… I will decide her faith when I nail her.

Let me ask you two simple questions…

1) What type of striper tackle do you use?
2) What would you do if you catch the next world record striper?

“Crazy” Alberto
NonStopFisher@Optonline.net

[ThrowingTimber]

Gotta burn that bridge when/if I get to it

I'd like to think I'd let her swim if healthy, would suck to see it go t1ts up 2 mins after you release it.