Catch and Release or Keep

**daclozer** · 04-20-2010, 10:00 PM

I release pretty much all of the freshwater fish I catch and about 95% of the saltwate fish. I usually only take a few snappers or a grouper or a dolphin to eat. I like them fresh so I only take what I am going to eat right away. I don't freeze anything.

**Mikey5924** · 04-21-2010, 8:15 AM

I only keep what I intend to eat. But just usually don't even use bait.... goin' fishing is just an excuse to relax and drink.

**excuzzzeme** · 04-21-2010, 10:35 AM

Large stripers are unable to breed (somewhere around 32" they no longer breed) and are worth keeping. The meat makes a very good meal.

**captmicha** · 04-23-2010, 9:17 AM

I like catching and releasing because you get the fun of fishing but the satisfaction of knowing that what you caught will go on living. I use circle hooks because they have something like a 99% chance of going through the lip instead of being swallowed and causing internal damage. This goes for freshwater and saltwater (when I'm lucky enough to go).

I made the decision one summer day when I was fishing off a boat in the gulf stream. We caught over 200lbs of wahoo and mahi mahi. Guess where it all ended up? Uneaten for the most part in our freezer. What a senseless waste of life.

**BioHazard** · 04-23-2010, 10:02 AM

I release them all, just because I don't like the taste of fish.

Although, once we get the flesh eating beetles up and running again, I will mke no promises.

**Scuppers** · 04-23-2010, 10:34 AM

Well, quite frankly, having just moved from Kodiak Island, Alaska I tend to catch my salmon 300lb at a time and find it real difficult to release them! Same with halibut, ling-cod etc.

**Bassasin** · 07-08-2011, 9:47 AM

I catch to many to keep

I keep 1 or 2 if I'm hungry. release if they are too small or giant ( to be caught again) . And for anyone that said LM arent good eating you couldnt be more wrong!

**Zaffy** · 07-08-2011, 11:15 AM

I release everything*.

*except for what I very rarely keep.

**Bassasin** · 07-09-2011, 6:48 PM

Originally Posted by Zaffy

I release everything*.

*except for what I very rarely keep.

why? not to single you out, but your the last post that said it

do you not like fish?

**user_name** · 07-09-2011, 9:02 PM

I keep, often times people complain when I catch them. I find it much easier to just catch and eat as quickly as possible, that way I don't spoil the meat.