hypothetical C&R question

[storminsteve]

You catch a bass that's 27.5" clearly a short. It's bleeding and you know it's going to die. You try to revive it, and it isn't working. The law says you have to throw it back. I would, and have, but feel bad throwing back a dead fish.

What are your thoughts on that?

[dogfish]

:don't know why:I feel bad throwing back a fish that's dead or dying, that's the cycle of life.

[surfstix1963]

I'm sure most of us feel bad but thats the law. (The circle of life.)

[nitestrikes]

You have to have the rules set in stone somehow. You should see all the poachers on LI docks and beaches. Making an exception would let these guys use that excuse over and over. No way.

[DarkSkies]

^ I agree, you have to draw the line somewhere. It's a shame to throw a dead fish back when someone could benefit, but you can't have fair enforcement when the line isn't clear. As to the bleeding, sometimes a fish will survive early spring or late fall when it's bleeding a little if the water is colder. The warmer the water is, the less the chances there are of that fish making it.