Should recreational fisherman keep fish

[joeksr]

Whats your opinion.
Seems like whenever a recreational fisherman keeps a fish someone jumps on them for it.
Now we all know there are rules and limits set up for what we can and can't legally keep. If you keep legal fish is it wrong.
Should we berate a recreational fisherman for keeping a legal fish ?


NOTICE THE SMILEY.

Heres my take on it.

Absolutely, do not kill a fish. They have feelings to.
There is no reason for a recreational angler to kill any fish.
I know, I know,
You like fresh fish you say.
You just spent $1,000 on fuel you say.
Your family and neighbors like fresh fish you say.
You should not feel guilty about keeping a few fish for the table you say.
But I'm in a tournament you say.

Wrong Wrong Wrong.

There are plenty of fish available at the fish market, Caught by legitimate commercial long liners, neters and dredgers.
(Folks who truly care about the resource, and I'm sure Japan would sell us some more if we need it).
So why would a recreational fisherman have to kill a fish ?
The fish at the market are not fresh you say.
Moslty they have a slight odor you say.
Usually previously frozen you say.
Your not sure how they were taken care of you say.
You think your getting the bottom of the catch you say.

So what.
Getting the bottom of the catch is a good thing.
It's called aging the meat and the slight odor you may smell,
Well, that just proves it has been properly aged and enhances the flavour.
So, In closing, Lets chastise any recreational angler killing a fish right of the dock.

Now, I would truly value each and every opinion on this subject but try not to get all hot under the coller.
Except any eco terrorists that might choose to answer,
(get as pissed as you want), because, frankly, I find just about everything you have to say humourous anyway.



Reelscreemer, If you read this, Nice catch dude.

[Questsportfishing]

with what I am going to eat...nothing more! And fresh fish is a good thing! If it smells - don't eat it!

[Run&Gun]

I don't care what you do. If you want to keep them, go ahead. If you want to release go ahead. Just don't preach to me what I should do. I keep some, I throw some back. It all depends how I feel and if I like the fish caught

[seapower]

I find fish and deer alike are alot easier to eat when they have been on ice for awhile, no PETA here !!!!! IT's food.

[SERprise]

Fish is num nums as my daughter would say. I say take whatever you can eat. Fresh fish is good there is no substitute for fresh caught fish. I spend money to catch fish so why shouldn't I keep some. Just do it.lol Now if your bottom fishing I don't think you should keep a 4-6" snapper or grouper like I see some times. I mean whats the point, not much to eat there.

[Ebbs]

In most cases if a rec fisherman takes their limit home its ok. If you decide to take those fish, make sure your going to use it and not let it go to waste. Bringing home a 6 man limit of big bass may rub some the wrong way, but if the fish is to be eaten fresh and not wasted it's in the fishermans rights.

As a angler you have to use discretion when deciding what to put in the box. There is no reason to bring 15 drum back to the dock, when you know that 1 fish per man is more than enough to satisfy everyone. That meat will last a few days and will not freeze well. There is a reason we have a great drum and bass fishery here in south jersey. If we continue to use good judgement and act responsibly when on the water hopefully it will last for years to come.

[Deep C]

I have not bought fish in a restaurant or sea food market for as long as I can remember. I have sold fish in the past and I know how poorly they are kept in many instances. I also know a lot of the "substitution" tricks out there. I will buy crabs and shrimp and shell fish on occasion but even there its with much scrutiny... I get really pissed at the idea of paying top dollar for scallops and find they are ray wing a la cookie cutter...

I keep what I eat. If there is left over seldom is there a freezer involved. I find no trouble in finding friends and neighbors in a position to take my surplus goods. My tastes are very very snobish when it comes to fish. Mako or good yellowfin will always have a place on my plate. Two flounder dinners a year is all I want there. One striped bass is my annual quota. My wife loves dolphin so I keep a few for her.

If I'm in a tournament and am fortunate enough to get a killin class marlin I will take it in a New York second without so much as a second thought. If I do take one it will be eaten, period end. No appologies or remorse involved.

Those that moan and complain can kiss my scuppers. Heres something to think about... As a pro I get to see a lot of gut contents. Open that striper and find a dozen baby flounder or pop open a dolphin and find 50 one inch long blue marlin in there then think about the millions of tons of that stuff going on every day. Next dog fish you release think of how many baby ling, whiting, cod and other bait species it will consume during its nearly hundred year life span. Next time you have that shrimp cocktail think about the 15 pounds of baby redfish, trout, and other species that were shoveled over before picking out a pound of shrimp. Farm raised don't seem so bad now does it.

[joeksr]

Where are all the nay sayers ?.
This is your opportunity to give me a good laugh with your
"You killed a bill fish ?, brought a tuna to the dock ?'
philosophy. Now, don't get your chucks in a wad, Just explain
why you feel it is wrong for a fisherman to eat what he catches.
Try to do it with humour since this is supposed to be a humorous thread.
This is the place, leave others that are proud of their catches alone.




.QUOTE=Questsportfishing;377953]If it smells - don't eat it![/QUOTE]

Some things with a slight pungence are still good to eat.

Fish is num nums as my daughter would say. .

YES, Fish are Num Nums.

If you decide to take those fish, make sure your going to use it and not let it go to waste. .

Yes, Waste is bad, Fish R good.

And Deep, Right on Dude.

I will kill anything legal that I, My family, or my friends will eat or I will use for bait to catch something that I can eat.

[SERprise]

oh and if your boss likes fish I'd say slay everything you can. Giving your boss fish gets you brownie points.

[joeksr]

oh and if your boss likes fish I'd say slay everything you can. Giving your boss fish gets you brownie points.

Now thats funny.

Friend of mine took his boss out fishing one day. They caught some fish ( don't remember what they were).
His boss told him he was lucky he could catch his own fish cause they were so expensive in the fish market.
don't think my buddy told him the fish he caught and was going to eat were about $50.00 a pound.