Let's talk about catch and release
Catch and release is a big buzzword among fishermen today. A lot of guys pride themselves as being committed to this type of fishing. Other fishermen think that's crazy. So do we really need to address it here? What's the big deal, you get the fish, unhook it, back in the water, and on to the next one, right? No procedures needed, even a trained monkey can do it! :laugh:
1. So what about the genius who takes the fish off the hook, and drops it on the sand, kicking it back on the sand until it hits the water?
2. What about the people who drop the fish from the bridge because they're short. Ya can't keep em, so aren't those people who release them this way C&R fishermen as well?
3. And what about the guys who take the fish out of the water, parade it back and forth to all their crew for 2 minutes, and then release it back in the water. What are the chances of that fish living to the next day?
So do we or do we not qualify the above fishermen as C&R fishermen?
Let's hear your opinion and any info you can share with the community how you do it.
Too simple for discussion?
The thought behind this thread is that some members were talking about this in another post. A few weeks ago a friend and I were fishin at night. He got a 27" bass on clams, reeled it in, and within 30 secs that fish was back in the water.
Yet we couldn't revive it, despite my trying for another 10 minutes after he tried. So we threw the dead bass back for crab food, and we both felt bad. :(
Hey, that's what happens when you put sharp hooks out there in hopes of catching bass. In my friend's case, he did everything right. Circle hook got the bass in the lip, quick removal, but the fish was swimming without buoyancy when he released it. Honestly, we think the fish smashed it's head on some rocks as it ran toward shore, isht happens.
So if we supposedly know what we're doing, and we killed a bass by accident, why not have a conversation here about the things to do, and not to do when releasing bass, bluefish, or any fish that you won't be eating?
A lot of it has to do with the water temp, time out of the water, and the way you hold the fish, but I would appreciate it if some members would chime in and talk about their best advice.
Apparently some people have different opiniopns than others. If one person learns to do things differently because of this thread, it's worthwhile to have the discussion.