Should recreational fisherman keep fish

[captcl]

joeksr want a serious opinion? I'll give you my procedure. When i have a charter I ask them how many(if any) they want to kill. Guys here in Md. decry the size limits but face it 18" should be the minimum size on everything inshore and even then 18"is not that much fish. Catching 100 throw backs to get 1 or 2 keepers for a rec (non head ) boat is wrong! Getting small ones? get the hell off them!That goes for all speices and I took alot of heat for that when I ran up on the Ches for it! Yeah bent rods are fun but after a dozen or so throw backs it's time to move!IMO. I will kill and eat a flounder, seatrout, sheepshead, spadefish, cobia of decent size(24"+)and occasionally a bluefish. I keep fish parts (usually belly strips)for baits as flounder will bite the damdest things sometimes!
I wil not kill a striper,drum or shark(unless I some how luck into a mako)and encourage my customers and friends that fish with me to release everthing. I don't get way offshore as much as the "big boats" but I would keep a few Dolphin for the table and yes I have the Dolphin/wahoo permit from NMFS! How many guys catch them with out that? Lots. Freshly caught and prepared fish is tasty and still healthy and it satifies the "hunter-gatherer instinct that some of us "outdoor people" still have in us! Tourneyment fishing is a whole different deal because there is MONEY, EGO and bragging rights available and yes I fish inshore tourneys.Fishing has been part of my life since early childhood and always will. Kill and eat or release! Well..... you asked for my opinion!

[Robja]

I generally do not kill fish I am not going to eat or that I don't like to eat. We do a lot of King mackerel fishing and unless it is a tournament we don't keep many fish over 25lbs due to mercury. The smaller ones seem to have a better taste anyway.Sharks, AJs, bonito we let loose. Since bluefish in our area dont get up to any size we only use them for bait. I remember several years ago we were cleaning some yellowfins and once we cut the loins out we salvaged what was left of the meat for sushi. Some bystanders thought it was gross when we started eating the sushi on the dock.

[SERprise]

I love fresh tuna...I alway bring soy sauce in packets just in case.

[joeksr]

joeksr want a serious opinion? I'll give you my procedure. When i have a charter I ask them how many(if any) they want to kill. Guys here in Md. decry the size limits but face it 18" should be the minimum size on everything inshore and even then 18"is not that much fish. Catching 100 throw backs to get 1 or 2 keepers for a rec (non head ) boat is wrong! Getting small ones? get the hell off them!That goes for all speices and I took alot of heat for that when I ran up on the Ches for it! Yeah bent rods are fun but after a dozen or so throw backs it's time to move!IMO. I will kill and eat a flounder, seatrout, sheepshead, spadefish, cobia of decent size(24"+)and occasionally a bluefish. I keep fish parts (usually belly strips)for baits as flounder will bite the damdest things sometimes!
I wil not kill a striper,drum or shark(unless I some how luck into a mako)and encourage my customers and friends that fish with me to release everthing. I don't get way offshore as much as the "big boats" but I would keep a few Dolphin for the table and yes I have the Dolphin/wahoo permit from NMFS! How many guys catch them with out that? Lots. Freshly caught and prepared fish is tasty and still healthy and it satifies the "hunter-gatherer instinct that some of us "outdoor people" still have in us! Tourneyment fishing is a whole different deal because there is MONEY, EGO and bragging rights available and yes I fish inshore tourneys.Fishing has been part of my life since early childhood and always will. Kill and eat or release! Well..... you asked for my opinion!

Yes I did ask for opinions.
And a good one it is.

I dont think you see to many sport fisherman covering the dock with fish they wont use anymore. Most take what they will eat or use for bait or win some cash with and release the rest. It doesn't matter what fish you choose to keep, we all have preferences. The point is you shouldnt be treated like a criminal by others beause you choose to keep a legal fish.
Even if it's a billfish. For some it may be the most exciting catch of their lives so far. Let em have some fun and get some pics at the dock. just dont waste the fish.