Throwing back bass

[hookedonbass]

In a season what would you say is the percentage of bass which you throw back compared to what you keep?

[gjb1969]

if i get one big bass the rest go back i dont need or want more a 20 to 30 lb fish is fine me and the family will eat well:thumbsup: and i would say i put back more than 75% i dont take that many bass home

[clamchucker]

I throw back around 3/4 of the bass I catch also. I like to eat them between 28-34".

[crosseyedbass]

I throw back about 80% of the bass. Why take more than you need?

[fishincrazy]

Last year I kept 3 bass in NJ and threw back everything elese.When I fish in MD I keep probablly 20% of the bass I catch.I've never kept a bass over 20 lbs.The few bigger fish I've caught go back.

FC:eek:

[Great South Bay Bucktails]

95% of all bass are released . i keep only if i plan to eat it the next day . fluke and weaks are a different story.

[jonthepain]

yeah i'd say around 95% go back.

[surfwalker]

99%. I love eating them/hate cleaning them. It's not a conservation outlook, just too tired at the end of the walk to be carrying a Bass back to the car. I like to keep casting on the return walk back and hate dragging a Bass along the way.

[clamchucker]

I like to keep casting on the return walk back and hate dragging a Bass along the way.

You defined, in essence, one of the driving forces behind surf fishing. It's the thrill of the hunt, the chase, moving and casting. I rarely keep a fish from the surf for that reason. The boat is a different story. When we bring a new person with us, at times they will want to keep a fish, so we do.