But having that attitude... I agree some big fish get eaten..... but by saying this do we not promote lead way for such originizations like PETA to say even anglers say its bad to eat fish.... think about it? I agree selective harvest is in this generation of anglers hands...... We must all work together to promote CPR of big fish that will produce great offspring. The laws our Government's deem on us allow anglers to eat fish and in some cases any size and more numbers then required to have a month's worth of fish at the table...... Should we not be trying to change these laws to help the fishery, it's feedback that will help change things and the more positive it is the longer those laws will stay in place! And in some cases some people do take fish to there home via livewell to get pics and then release when there done, do I agree with this that's a different story and that comes down to an anglers morals. Being new to this site, give this place a month and you will see that 99% of the people here are great people and out to help the fishery! It's great to see the passion you put out! Welcome to bounty!
Mike :)

Better to be loose then tight!

I think the only ?? here are how many do you keep and do you need to show
pictures of 5-6 fish caught on your driveway. I totally beleive in catch and realese
but a nice walleye meal always taste good, I've seen some of these photo's and
thought much the same. I don't think the site is responsible for all the pictures
being shown, but to keep for a supper is not a bad thing.

Rod Earl

" but as long as the fish is in good
health and still alive when the photo is taken it is eligible for entry."

I would like to direct your attention to the dead fish in the photo from last week's Largemouth winner. Notice the discoloration on the tail and gill plate from being dead for quite a while. Also, Largemouth do not have yellow eyes(unless the lay dead in warm water).

Tony McCalmant www.baitsmith.com www.proangler.com

Nothing wrong with people eating bass as long as they are coming from clean water, they taste good. Their diets are similar to pike, perch and walleye, I have gutted some from all species, the stomach contents are often similar. By Bounty allowing pics of proud anglers bragging with their catches, they are accomodating everyone, namely people who fish for sport as well as those that eat their catch.

As far as conserving trophies, local regulations should protect trophy sized fish in all species. Instead, they often protect only smaller fish as is the case with muskies, which is a huge mistake in my opinion. Recently Ontario got a bit smarter and rediced the slot limit on large walleyes to only 1 fish.

Let us all remember that humans have been eating fish for thousands of years. Catch and release is a very recent invention. Once upon a time, anyone that released a fish would likely have been sent to the insane asylum.

Furthermore, catching a fish just to release it dosn't make anyone morally better than one that keeps some for the table. Do you think the fish enjoy being hooked, fought, taken out of the water, flapping around a boat or shore, and being weighed?

Freshwaterphil.com

Catch and release is not a bad thing. Neither is keeping some for the table. Like its been said already, eating fish has been going on forever. Why should it stop now. Sure, if you catch a trophy bass, let it go for the next guy. But if you catch, say, a stringer full of legal minimums, throw 'em in the grease. Whichever side your on look at it this way, as great a country America is, there are still people that don't get enough food, so a fish caught, is a fish eaten. However the vast majority of us don't rely on our fishing prowess to eat. So throw some back. Don't forget about all the fun it is to catch a fish. Take this how you will, just my two cents.

I had to work to be the jerk I've come to be, it ain't easy bein' me. Chris Knight

Interesting point of view, why is it that people have no problem eating some gamefish such as walleye or pike, but frown on others eating bass?

In most areas I fish, bass largely outnumber the other game fish species, so in theory, people should have more of a problem with walleye eaters than bass eaters.

I realize the bass fishing culture in the USA is different than in Canada, but as long as bag limits are in effect and bass aren't endangered, people should have them option of keeping them without being ostracized.

In regards to moving fingerlings, that "honor" would get you a hefty fine here in Canada, it is illegal. Again, I realize you live in the US and I'm sure it's totally legal there, just pointing out some differences in our fishing cultures.

Freshwaterphil.com

Guys in tournys keep there fish in a live well all day with proper care, bringing the fish home in a live well to photo is no different then you taking those fingerlings to another lake,which i would find handling those delicate little fish unessecary!I myself fish by myself and i have invested time and money to ensure my fish remain alive, in 20 tourys i have only lost 3 fish and they were promtly eaten(not me,allergic to fish) I do not like the pics with any game fish are killed or eaten but they are food fish! just use sense and moderation,its good to see compashion for the fish!!!!!!!!!!

Thumper!! S papp

I personally don't like to see photos of bass that are in driveways or in homes, I think it looks tacky, but there are times when you should keep some bass depending on the lake. There are certain lakes that benefit from anglers taking a certain size fish, but to be honest, most bass in the US are not really safe to eat. They contain levels of PCB and Methyl Mercury that are way too high for me!! In Delaware the consumption of most freshwater fish is advised not to exceed 8 ounces a month for an adult. If the government advises that, how safe do you really think it is??

Tight lines, Steve

Northeast Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass

Those that are concerned should go through the Bounty photos and rate them. Could get a pretty good idea of what the community wants to see.

Wayne Papp JR http://www.witchbay.com/fishrpt.htm

Good points, after looking through a lot of photos I found only a handfull of photos that I would call offensive. I totally agree this should not be a witch hunt but more an avenue to clean up the photo album a bit. I am not offended by the guy who transports a fish , takes pictures and releases it, I dont understand it but I am not offended. I am offended by Bloody heaping piles of fish....and dead or misshandled trophy fish.

Wayne Papp JR http://www.witchbay.com/fishrpt.htm

I guess you don't go to the fish store too often, tons of trophy fish sitting on ice there, including giant wild salmon, big walleyes, wild chars, monster stipers, etc.

That being said, a sport fishing community site such as this one isn't the best place to brag about all the ones you decided to keep by posting those pics of just tons of dead fish. I sometimes wonder if these guys have room to eat anything else based on the numbers of fish in those pics.

One more thing for those deciding to release fish after taking them home: Unless you live on the water body you're fishing, every minute out of the water sitting on a driverway, reduces the fish's chance of survival dramatically. Chances are, you killed the fish anyway, you might as well eat it. Furthermore, transporting live fish in some provinces (and probably states) is illegal.

Freshwaterphil.com

I wont buy fish from the grocery store or order it in a restaurant.

Wayne Papp JR http://www.witchbay.com/fishrpt.htm

I don't blame you, I feel the same way. Their fish have been sitting on ice for days, God only knows where they came from. Nothing like fresh caught fish.

Freshwaterphil.com

I use to keep the LMB, until I got really into it. Now I always release, as for whites, and crappie, well I sure will keep those guys. They're a lot better tasting than a LMB, besides I've come to look at LMB fishing as a sport, and if we always take the big ones, what's gonna be left for the next guy or next year for that matter.

Boat'em

I eat Fish!!!!!!!! I actually had fish 4 times last week and leftovers for lunch. It is crappie season (actually it doesn't close) here in Minnesota and we are catching some nice crappie and sunfish. I would fish everyday if I could and bring home a meal most days I go out. There is nothing wrong with eating what you catch. As for bass, I personally don't like to clean or eat them. My grandparents love them. When I catch bass earlier in the season I will usually keep a couple to bring them a nice meal. I never keep anything over 2 lbs as that seems to be the border line where the meet starts getting softer. I have thrown my share of trophies (at least by Minnesota standards) back to. It is not uncommon for me to catch 3 or 4 fish over 5 lbs in a day and I have many days where I catch 50 or more fish. It all comes down to being selective and being educated. I am sure there are people on here just like everywhere that have never been taught the difference. They may have never been shown the difference between the meat in big fish and smaller fish. We are a grandiose society and big is impressive.

I have caught my share of large fish and even very large fish. I watched my grandpa fillet the first walleye I eve caught over 8 lbs and couldn't understand why his were on the wall and mine was in the frying pan. When you are 5, that is a tough concept. But he was brought up in a time that fish was for food and it was an affordable source of meat for the family. I was brought up that way too but have since developed my own fishing philosophy. I know I can go catch larger fish than most people. I know I can go catch more fish than most people. I don't really care about that. I have caught 17 inch Crappies, 30+ inch walleyes, 40 inch pike, 53 inch muskies and bass over 7 pounds. They are fun to catch, I have great memories and even a few pictures but I don't have any mounted on my wall and don't even care if I catch that size fish so much anymore. They are just another fish. I have just as much with an 8 inch sunfish or 5 lb pike on my ultra light as I do with a 50+ inch muskie. I just love to fish and if I can get enough fish every time I go out to feed my family than that is a bonus that I will gladly take.

Again, there is nothing wrong with eating fish. It is high in protein, proven to make you smarter and even healthier than most other meats. Condemning those who bring fish home to eat should not be what this community is about. I view bounty as a community of fisherman who are patient, compassionate and understanding. As a community of understanding it is our responsibility to embrace all members and help to educate each other to ensure the future of both the sport and this wonderful community.

Bigeyes

Guys, I keep and eat bass its one of my favorite fish and tastes great!
But the lakes I fish are so heavily populated with bass....keeping one or two for the pan isnt causing any harm to their population. I release the giants but keep fish under 4 lbs sometimes.
Maybe the fisheries are different here in Canada.

Get a copy of your fish consumption guide for your province, it tells you what is good and what is bad...... Big Salmon are loaded with mercury and compared to a larger bass both hold alot of mercury compared to smaller younger fish...... MMMMMM 17" coldwater walleyes!!!!
Mike :)

Better to be loose then tight!

I have always been Catch-and-Release with bass. To each his own I guess. I have a cousin that ALWAYS keeps his. It ticks me off, but thats just him. I have only kept bass one time, well, 2 days in a row. They were good eat'n at the time. We went through hurricane Ike last year and were without power for 2 weeks, after we ran out of our own food the MRE's were starting to get old so we went fishing and caught a TON of bass. Ate em. Don't care if that makes anybody mad or not. I think I had an excuse for it. Ha! Anyway, everthing is back to normal now so it's back to catch and release.

Hollaway

Too much Talkin and not enough Fishin'

Focus your energy on the next win!

Certain fish are meant to be eaten.. Its a way of life.
Respect all species.
as for LMB only if they die accidentally or if they are abundant!

Damon Coppola, VP- WrapThisInk.com

I guess you don't live in Japan right??? ROTFL

Northeast Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass

lmao. Bass are never an invasive species!

One more thing to look at is where the person lives. I take a lot of pictures from my house, which is within casting distance of the lake. They all get released as soon as the pic is taken.

Also, here in Florida a large bass has very few non-human predators. Some lakes (like Kerr) have signs stating "Please keep all bass caught [insert size limit]". I do my best to return all bass alive and well, especially trophies, but a little thinning is sometimes needed. Please note I'm not making an excuse for people that keep everything they catch, but that's why slot limits are in place and it's illegal to keep more bass than allowed. I personally release all bass and never bed fish.

Florida Bass Network Founder and Angler - www.floridabassnetwork.com

donwally - " i hate selfish people who dont catch and release they should be shot!!!"


I hope you not serious dude.

Alon D

I guess you hate fish stores and supermarkets too.
WTF is the difference to you if some anglers like to keep some of what they catch?
Are fish more important than chickens or beef?
Would you like to shoot all butchers as well?
Seeing that you think fish are more important than people, are you affiliated with peta?

Freshwaterphil.com

LOL Yeah Shoot everybody who disagrees with you. I hope thats a joke. If it is, its funny, if its not, read the post above and move on.

Northeast Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass

I have to agree with that;You should see the looks I get when I'm releasing a 14"or larger Crappie.......I only have so much freezer space...lol.I usually keep the 10 and 11 inchers..Snap a pic with those Big mommas and let them go....

Cole

Nice to see others that will let those Big Crappies go, 11 inches and up go back.

Wayne Papp JR http://www.witchbay.com/fishrpt.htm

Yea- goes good with collard greens, chitlins and a little watermellon for dessert. Eat up homies!

floyd

I tagged over 1100 muskies from 1994 to 1997 for the government. 84% were recaptured, some up to 12 times, some in the same day. 12 of those fish had internal radios and were recaptured multiple times by different anglers over the 3 year life of the radio transmitter battery. These are Muskies that are very difficult to handle and release. FISH HAVE NO CHANCE OF SURVIVING IF YOU DON'T PUT THEM BACK.

Musky

I personally have an 8 lb bow in my fridge soaking in Teriyaki and a couple of channel cats in buttermilk.......Which will I eat first?????On the other hand I released over 50 lbs of small mouth this week end.If someone wants to shoot me for that I say bring it on,I've got an M1......Dave

http://www.trolldhl.com

Largemouth i never eat, but smallmouth which are a dime a dozen in my parts, and are in lakes where they do not even belong, i will keep and eat. Selective harvest is the key words. Release the brood stock and keep the cookie cutters. My Grandpa is 98 yrs old, and he will take smallies over brookies, walleye, lakers, pike and perch anyday. So i make sure i keep some for the old boy and myself.