Keep a trophy fish vs. releasing?

[skinnywater]

A friend had a rockfish live mounted and his cat ate part of it. Get a glass mount.

Very true that mercury, pcbs etc accumulate in fish. The bigger the fish the more toxins.

The number of catch and release fisherman is slowly growing in the saltwater world. Look at the redfish situation. Everything over 27 inches has to go back. The fish has come back from overfishing and there is a great industry for catch and release Fishing. And to my knowledge there are no movements to change the rules. Kinda tells you something doesn't it.

My largest rock was 41 inches. I caught it on a charter boat trolling an umbrella rig. I don't have a pic and the fight was forgettable. Catching fish on umbrellas is not sporting to me at all.

There are so many arguments and situations in the catch and release vs. catch and keep debate that it has become a waste of time to debate it. Although there are some passionate anglers on both sides that can get very nasty. Best to mind one's own business and not get involved.

Personally I don't think you get enough meat on a 20 inch rockfish to make it worth the trouble to clean it.

Good luck to all this season.

[azmdted]

Keep or release? Moot point for me today. 6 hours out and a few marks but that was it. Beautiful weather and a great chance to try my new yak so all good. Dodged an ethical dilemma there

[Raptor]

I'm sure there is someone on this forum that works with, or understands the work of the Scientists at the DNR. So . . . I'm having trouble understanding the "one fish per day over 40" part of the new regulations. If they are trying to protect the breeder stock aren't these fish the very breeders that they are trying to protect? The only thing I can come up with is - maybe after a fish gets 40" plus they don't lay as many eggs as the slightly smaller fish? But still don't these fish have the genes that you would want to keep in the pool? I don't get it - is there something I'm missing?


T.

[Big Mike]

I'm sure there is someone on this forum that works with, or understands the work of the Scientists at the DNR. So . . . I'm having trouble understanding the "one fish per day over 40" part of the new regulations. If they are trying to protect the breeder stock aren't these fish the very breeders that they are trying to protect? The only thing I can come up with is - maybe after a fish gets 40" plus they don't lay as many eggs as the slightly smaller fish? But still don't these fish have the genes that you would want to keep in the pool? I don't get it - is there something I'm missing?


T.

I think you're missing the charters wanting their clients to bring home a trophy. The release slot is a compromise to keep some egg layers in the water and if someone catches one over 40" they have the option to keep it. Probably as much politics in the size limits as there is science.

[reel-em-in]

I think you're missing the charters wanting their clients to bring home a trophy. The release slot is a compromise to keep some egg layers in the water and if someone catches one over 40" they have the option to keep it. Probably as much politics in the size limits as there is science.

Also, the way I understand stand it is they are supposed to reduce the catch by 25% and according to their stats, 25% of fish caught in the trophy season fall in the 36-40 band, that's why they chose that band.

[cryptotek]

I too would release the large ones, but if I get my first keeper of trophy season and the fish is hovering around the 28-30 inch mark, the fish is coming home with me. I'm likely to release subsequent catches during the season.

Separately, I would never give anyone a dirty look for conducting a legal action. That's not my place. Each individual has a choice to make.