Paul D Posted April 10, 2004 Report Share Posted April 10, 2004 As there has been much discussion on the subject of should we keep the big fish or return them to fight another day. Here is a poll on the subject. Vote away. PS: I didn't have this dilema today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 Little too black and white for me. - But Id say that the majority of the time Id return it to fight another day. But depends on what fish, when etc. Good idea for the poll though. I think we should see a definate trend. Maybe we should have more polls on the site? (Should we do a poll on that!?? ) Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 I'm with Adam, It's a personal choice made at the time While i'm all for releasing bigger fish and Adam is a great example releasing an 11lb plus bass last year, it's not always as black and white. I will try to release my bigger fish ( got to catch them first) but i won''t make a hard and fast rule for myself and i may end up keeping one. Theres no point in releasing a Big Bass and then keeping 50 Bream for instance. Conservation and Common Sense should prevail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted April 11, 2004 Report Share Posted April 11, 2004 Quote..I will try to release my bigger fish ( got to catch them first) This is an interesting development in sport fishing. Fancy actualy releasing the fish BEFORE WE CATCH THEM ! Therefore I claim the club record for a 26lb bass which I have released BUT NOT YET CAUGHT..... I really like this system and I guess there must be other records up for grabs too. I bet some miserable begger comes along with some piffeling argument why it wont work......... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Here he goes again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Not an easy one to vote on for me. I depends on the species and all sorts of other variables like the sexual maturity of the fish, whether it is full of roe, etc. I have mixed feelings about a few big cod that are shown in this months BFM. All seemed to be full of roe. One guy released his best ever 28lber for this very reason, the others appear to have kept theirs. I couldn't bring myself to knowingly keep a large cod or bass that was full of roe. The main reason for releasing a large specimen would be to allow it to continue spawning, but this assumes that it has not passed its sexual maturity. Personally, I don't know enough about the sexual maturity of the various species to make an informed decision about releasing it on these grounds. The golden rule for me is to release it if it is not going to be eaten. I'd even give up a British Record if it meant killing the fish for no other reason. But each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 Therefore I claim the club record for a 26lb bass which I have released BUT NOT YET CAUGHT..... ......... Mike Actually, thay bass you have ywt to catch is not only the new club, but a new british record. Congratulations on catching such a specimen, please supply you name, the bait used and the day and time the fish yet to be caught ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 On a serious note tho, I think common sense has to prevail, not much point of returning a dead fish, is there?! I keep most (if not all) the pout I catch, reason being that they die if 'drag' from any great depth (only talking about 20-30 metres). They don't taste too bad either. A story worth mentioning, YYS competition winner 13 year old Nathan Todd of Fratton caught a 35lb 12oz Blonde Ray recently. Nathan came out for only his second boat fishing trip aboard Topcat, out of Langstone. It was around midday on St Valentine's day when Nathan pulled the big old blonde on a cocktail of squid and sandeel, mounted on a 4/0 hook 40lb trace to 30lb braid, and it took him 20 minutes to bring the fish up to the net. The fish was kept alive in a live-bait tank and taken back to Southsea Marina for accurate weighing and photos, then taken back out to sea, where Nathan returned the fish alive. Blonde ray weighing more than 30lb are exceptional fish and only a handful are caught each year, mainly along the English Channel coast. The British boat record, caught in year 2000, stands at 38 lb 9 oz and was caught near the Nab Tower, east of the Isle of Wight. Taken from Solent Fishing Guide http://www.solent-fishing-guide.co.uk 3 cheers to the boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boybilly Posted April 25, 2004 Report Share Posted April 25, 2004 (Pout make lovely Thai fishcakes.) The debate over whether to keep or release goes on and on lads. The final say comes down to the individual and common sense. Yesterday I was out with Loyal Royal and it is a pleasure to see the majority of fish go back over the side. 1 Plaice for the pot, a couple of Pollack to keep Marks family sweet, and some baitfish for the freezer. Watching the fish head back to the bottom is as enjoyable as catching sometimes. BB ( A pang of regret with Turbot though ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted May 11, 2004 Report Share Posted May 11, 2004 With so few votes cast in this poll, we dont really get a true overview of opinion. However, how tempted was I to bang that Bass on the head??? The answer is very!! Truth is, a close friend caught one of 11 1/2lb and kept it. Afterwards, he told me what an awfull meal it made, and he had felt bad on keeping it. If you are able to verify weight, photograph the specimen, and have it witnessed, my personal opinion is that release is the way forward. Its a shame that deepwater species cant be put back, with swim bladders expanding etc, goodness knows how many pollock and ling are removed on wrecking trips.........our freezer at home is at breaking point! Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted May 11, 2004 Report Share Posted May 11, 2004 I agree with you about taste of big fish. Generally, fish like bass and bream are only good for eating if they are fairly small, say up to 3 lb max, (bream I'd say 2 lb) anything bigger taste tough and bland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted May 12, 2004 Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Rich, I think you nailed it on the head and i agree with your mate especially the feeling of remorse bit. I was pleased to hear of your terrific catch cause i had the impression that you were going to spend most of that trip in the loo. Did you catch it while on the throne? We do take big fish for all the reasons you've described and it was marvellous that you were able to satisfy all of them in one go on the boat. I do reckon the pleasure is greater when you let them go. I do understand people who take home trophy fish, lets face it most of us have. letI don't think we should frown on them or make them feel bad unless of course it's excessive in terms of numbers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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