Dave Andersons Article in the fisherman..

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by dannyplug1

Secondly only a pig kills a big fish to show it off.

Yet most truly big fish are caught by very experienced and good fishermen, most are killed, and most are "shown-off " in one manner or another (if only to family and friends) with the rationalization they are being kept for food, tournament, or "documentation". The truth is that for many saltwater fishermen, the successful kill of a large fish equates with a successful hunt and produces plenty of self-satisfaction. Nothing necessarily wrong with that.......how many guys would deer hunt with cameras?......but whether the resource can continue to stand it is debatable.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by NIB

Dave,
Awesome article.I could not have said it any better myself.Well maybe I could but you could not print it..
This whole fast food fishing society of fisherman who have to have instant results with little input makes me want to puke..
This one article was worth the price of the yearly subscription.IMO..I will be glad to re-up again next year..
Thank You.

Tony.

I agree, I've been getting this mag. for more years than I want to admit.... this is one of the best articles I have ever read, not for the "save the breeders" part, what people do with their fish is none of my buisness, and fodder for a different thread, I myself havent killed a bass in close to 10 years now, my enjoyment from the article comes from the "fact of life" message that has surrounded us on every aspect, including fishing... the only satisfaction I get from it is this, if times get tough, the "give it to me nows" will be fishless, those of us that have learned the ways of the bass will always eek out a few fish...you just cant substiute experience, when the fishing is easy.. everyones and expert.

[Canalman]

I'd like to clarify one thing and that is that I would never look down my nose at someone for keeping a big fish. People who keep multiple trophies per season, those are the ones that bug me. I have a few friends that do this and yes I have killed a few big ones and I regret it now.

Catching a trophy is the culmination of all your efforts and hard work as an angler. But now that I've made the change to releasing the big ones, it's much more satisfying than saying "hey look what I caught!"

That was really the point I was trying to make.

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by dannyplug1

I dont care if people believe that I catch a good fish I know I did.

That's it. That's what's been lost and adding to that with the conservation-minded, updated mindset that gives a new satisfaction after a successful release of most of the bigger fish.

-dave

[fishbones]

Dave, I re-read the article this morning and I took it as more of a "an accomplishment is more gratifying if it's earned rather than handed to you" message. Basically, to me it say to take your time and enjoy the whole process as opposed to wanting instant gratification. I don't think anyone should be offended by it. I spend about half my time fishing from the boat and the other half surfcasting. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to fishing tera firma, but each year and each time out I learn more. That to me is a big part of the enjoyment. But then again, I'm not fishing for a 50 every time out. I fish to relax and have fun. If I base a successful trip on how much fun I had, I'd say that I'm a pretty darn good fisherman. For those that only want to set records or PB's every time out, they're missing out on a lot of what makes fishing great.

Keep up the good work!

[BassDawg]

while i've yet to read the article and

am going out now to pick it up,,,,,,,,,,,

a quick question for you wily veterans of the surf
who've been there/done THAT and have made the
transition to a kinder and gentler Striperman,,,,,,,,,,

what will you DO when that 80#er comes a calling on YOU???

can any ONE of you say that you would simply take her picture, revive her gently, and smack her on her tail section as she swims off into her briny depths ~~no worse for the wear~~ while you wade there resigned to ONLY your memories and thoughts of how "great it feels" and what a sensitive and thoughtful and selfish surf fisherwoman you've become by releasing such a beautiful and infertile beast; that will prolly die of OLD AGE and become bottom feeder food whilest you wallow in your extreme SMUGness??

if i was her,,,,,,,,,,,,,remembering that
".........vanity, thy name is Woman."

i'd much prefer the parading around of myself to the masses the day of the Catch~ a funeral march that is unequaled at sea, the mounting of my carcass displayed throughout Striperdom, my last fight becoming the subject of countless articles and publications~ no better obit possible, providing the riches and fame wrought on some well deserved(or not) surfcaster, and assuming the place of IGFA Hall of Fame that my documented death would carry~ should i perish so grandly; as opposed to death in sheer anonymity as the inconsequential feast of such loathsome forage that i've predated with great abandon and dominance~ lo these many and fruitful years!!! why not go OUT in a BLAZE of GLORY as the heroine of the Ultimate Fish Story, confirmation that there ARE Moby Stripers to be landed, and the inspiration of a multitude of stripermen along the mighty Atlantic to land the next World Trophy???

or even worse, to succumb to one fell swoop/bite of a Great White
or an Orca as a measly morsel in the Grand Circle of Sea Life.
i mean, iffin i waz her,,,,,,,,,,,i'm just sayin',,,,,,,,,,,,

sum thoughts gents, for yer wintering (dis)pleasure??

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

what will you DO when that 80#er comes a calling on YOU???

I'd take it home and Mount it......then take it to the taxidermist.

[Rockfish9]

I wasnt going to respond, becuase , everyone getting ruffled feathers does no one no good.... but ponder this.. if 40 and 50 lbs bass are all kept... the chance of an 80 will be nil to non exixtant, small fish havent run the gambit of life yet, there are far more of them for sure.... I carry a 100 lb scale aboard my boat as well as a tape measure. and camera. I can honestly say the fish( potential record) would be released, I need not prove anything to anyone,.... I killed a 61lb, and 58lb fish in '86, and another 58lb fish in 2004, all these fish went to market,now, I wished I had let them live, a fish that magnifigant deservs it's own fate at sea, I've released other 50's since then, I have pictures, those and the memory of the night is all I need these days, by doing so I give another angler a chance at what could be another world record... had I killed them, the chance would have faded that night, in bygone days, no one had the fine didgital cameras or portable scales we have today, lugging the fish to the dock was the only way to know it's weight....all that being said, my finest striper fishing memory is not of a bohemoth striper, but of a schoolie that just made the 16" minimum length, it was a short June night perfect in every way, almost.. that fish was the only one for me that night, I remember clearly although it was over 40 years ago, watching the gray dawn approaching and praying the night would never end.

Back to the article,as I see it the jist of it wasnt so much about people killing fish, that was mainly a sidebar, the jist as I read it was about the new breed, surfing the internet, sidesteppping the real meaning of why we fish for Morne Saxatillis.

again, good job Dave, keep up the good work..

Roc

[BassDawg]

great words and a fine opinion,,,,,,,,,,,,
ALSO, please note that most of the above
IS to be taken as fun and TICheekedness.

YET, it is my view that the 80#ers and up are
already out there my friend,,,,,,,,,,,,,

irrespective of what you killed before or kill/release NOW!
sum sharpies even believe that there are pods OF~~~

90#'ers to 100#'ers yearmates out there,
patrolling THEIR particular haunts and still
fooling anglers to this day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I finally got the issue in today. Good article.

[Vogt]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I'd take it home and Mount it......then take it to the taxidermist.

Hahahahaha

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I'd take it home and Mount it......then take it to the taxidermist.

Good luck, Dad - tried it, she claimed she had a haddock...

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by Crafty Angler

Good luck, Dad - tried it, she claimed she had a haddock...

"........take my alewife, PLEAZZZZZZZZE!"

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I'd take it home and Mount it......then take it to the taxidermist.

FUNNY stuff, TDF, FUNNN KNEE!!

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I'd take it home and Mount it......then take it to the taxidermist.

:heybab y:

[5 String Bass]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I'd take it home and Mount it......then take it to the taxidermist.

So you are saying you would stuff her twice?

[Mr. Sandman]

No offense to anyone but while he makes a good point, perhaps before throwing stones one might look within. (No not Dave personally but the company he works for.) Frankly I think organizations like The Fishermen, OTW, SWS , just about every other form of fishing media, and every tournament on the coast, even including this site, is IMO partly the CAUSE of this problem. The constant "Hero status" and incessant worship of those that catch large stripers creates an elite status or "class" of fishermen that many naturally want to aspire to.. How many times do they put a guy holding a big bass on the cover of their mag.? It is almost every week. How many times do they praise a big catch telling the readership how great fishermen so and so is for catching a large fish, and further boasts how often he can does it? Perhaps if YOU didn't idolize these good fishermen so much, this would not happen.

Bottom line don't tell me I can't take a fish home to eat now an again when I am well within the law. Esp when most guys here are fishing season long tourneys some weighing in a fish a week to look big in the eyes of their comrades at a beer fest each fall. Not to mention the TONs of dead bass floating on the surface due to by-catch dumping, rampant comm fishermen illegally catching/selling fish on more than one license and taking fish sub 32", a restaurant black market that is being ignored, and pathetic commercial policing of fisherman. IMO your barking up the wrong trees.


Fact is nothing is going to change. Media sells its products by selling right INTO this kind of person. I think Dave should have left this one alone. Stop telling his readership what bad people they are when it is his very magazine that is posting photos and making heroes (and money) off of the every people he critiques.

Its not bad to take a fish now and again and your no better then anyone else because you let one go. I bet there are a lot of "do as I say and not as I do" posts here....When you catch your 50 or 60 or perhaps a record 80, tell us about it when you let it go... and do share the photo with us.

later post: After now reading all the posts perhaps I misinterpreted what the author was driving at. The personal satisfaction one gets from fishing itself and releasing fish healthy. And taking repeated trophy fish throughout the season for a few points in a contest or personal pride. I do agree with him on those points . However I still believe that all the hoopla created about a big fish in the media (Internet, printed, tournaments and otherwise) is the root cause of this. Most want to be admired among their peers. Sorry if I POed anyone.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

Its not bad to take a fish now and again and your no better then anyone else because you let one go. I bet there are a lot of "do as I say and not as I do" posts here....When you catch your 50 or 60 or perhaps a record 80, tell us about it when you let it go... and do share the photo with us.

my 80#'er is going to be given a
proper and proud Parade along
the entire Striper Coast,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

does that make me an internet Hero, NO!!
it simply means that i'd like to share such a feat
with me surfcasting bretheren. ALLLL, me bruddahs!


oh yeah,,,,,,,,,,,,and

other than a reel and rod and sum tackle and a watch
and a boat and a truck and sum dollars and wild women and
endless nights of drunken debauchery,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

all other "proceeds" will go to charity

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

my 80#'er is going to be given a
proper and proud Parade along
the entire Striper Coast,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

does that make me an internet Hero, NO!!
it simply means that i'd like to share such a feat
with me surfcasting bretheren. ALLLL, me bruddahs!


oh yeah,,,,,,,,,,,,and

other than a reel and rod and sum tackle and a watch
and a boat and a truck and sum dollars and wild women and
endless nights of drunken debauchery,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

all other "proceeds" will go to charity

Sounds like the lifestyle of the last guy to catch the biggest striper.

[Green Light]

Mr. Sandman,

Dave Andersons article made reference to one dimension of the stripped bass crisis.

The health of the fishery is a muli-dimentional problem. And your post lists some of the other dimensions. I do not think that each dimension is equall. That is, some dimenssions or factors reduce the stripped bass population at a faster rate than others.

I think we can all aggree that our goal is to have a stable fishery and still be able to take a fish home to eat without adversely effecting the fishery.

That said, IMO, the dimention or factor that is reducing stripped bass stocks are the laws that allow for overharvesting and rape the ocean bed of bait fish.

My $0.02.

Via BlackBerry.

- Fish360

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

No offense to anyone but while he makes a good point, perhaps before throwing stones one might look within. (No not Dave personally but the company he works for.) Frankly I think organizations like The Fishermen, OTW, SWS , just about every other form of fishing media, and every tournament on the coast, even including this site, is IMO partly the CAUSE of this problem. The constant "Hero status" and incessant worship of those that catch large stripers creates an elite status or "class" of fishermen that many naturally want to aspire to.. How many times do they put a guy holding a big bass on the cover of their mag.? It is almost every week. How many times do they praise a big catch telling the readership how great fishermen so and so is for catching a large fish, and further boasts how often he can does it? Perhaps if YOU didn't idolize these good fishermen so much, this would not happen.

Bottom line don't tell me I can't take a fish home to eat now an again when I am well within the law. Esp when most guys here are fishing season long tourneys some weighing in a fish a week to look big in the eyes of their comrades at a beer fest each fall. Not to mention the TONs of dead bass floating on the surface due to by-catch dumping, rampant comm fishermen illegally catching/selling fish on more than one license and taking fish sub 32", a restaurant black market that is being ignored, and pathetic commercial policing of fisherman. IMO your barking up the wrong trees.


Fact is nothing is going to change. Media sells its products by selling right INTO this kind of person. I think Dave should have left this one alone. Stop telling his readership what bad people they are when it is his very magazine that is posting photos and making heroes (and money) off of the every people he critiques.

Its not bad to take a fish now and again and your no better then anyone else because you let one go. I bet there are a lot of "do as I say and not as I do" posts here....When you catch your 50 or 60 or perhaps a record 80, tell us about it when you let it go... and do share the photo with us.

later post: After now reading all the posts perhaps I misinterpreted what the author was driving at. The personal satisfaction one gets from fishing itself and releasing fish healthy. And taking repeated trophy fish throughout the season for a few points in a contest or personal pride. I do agree with him on those points . However I still believe that all the hoopla created about a big fish in the media (Internet, printed, tournaments and otherwise) is the root cause of this. Most want to be admired among their peers. Sorry if I POed anyone.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

Sounds like the lifestyle of the last guy to catch the biggest striper.

my POINT, exactly!!!


just overstating the obvious and trying to
shed some light as to how i WOULDN'T do things.

i don't expect anything schwag related, but i would
seriously use the opportunity to educate and espouse
the necessity to FIX the Forage, 1@ 36" or Bigger,
re-examine the "State of the Striped Bass Fishery".

that is, if anyone would listen to me **heroic ramblings**