Percentage of Fish Released

[JayW]

Just kinda curious on everyones opinion on the amount of fish that get released after catching. Im not talking about undersized fish but fish that are of legal size to keep and bring to the dinner table. Does the high amount of mercury and other pollutants that the epa says exists in our fish make you think twice about eating them? Thanks for the responses

[Toad]

When I was kid we used to rub pure mercury into copper pennies with our bare fingers.Tongue1

I eat all the wrong things.Yuck1

I smoke 2 packs of cigs a day "Smoking Joe's" Menthol 100's that I buy from the Indians in NY.Smoke1

I drink like a fish, vodka is my favorite...at least 1.75 liter a week. When I walk into Town and Country liquors everyone yell's "NORM!!"Beerchug

I heat my lunch in plastic containers in a microwave at work, and do the same with leftovers at home.Yikes

I spent 25 years in the service and was exposed to a sheite load of nasty things from asbestos, to being up to my armpits in cleaning solvents, human waste, and other now considered to be carcinogenic materials too numerous to mention.Swear1

I drive in the cities behind smoke belching busses.Mad1

I spread fertilizer, weed and insect killers myself in the yard.Thumbsup

They say the earth is warming at an alarming rate and it's going to kill us all.MachineGun

Nope, a little fish fillet is not something I worry about at all. I like to say if it smells like fish...EAT IT!Grinning1

Last time I looked no one I knew has checked out of this fish pond healthy.Cry1

I'm not planning a long foray into the golden years anyway. It helps with the long term retirement planning BS.Wink1

[tacoma]

I'd say 90 percent of the time I through back. If the freezer is low and I am in the mood then I may keep but not to often!

[Achilles]

i let go literally all of my fish that aren't trout over 14 inches and of decent girth.

[YOTE BUSTER]

I keep all the trout i catch.They belong in the smoker.Grinning1 As far as bass go.The frist huge L.M bass i caught was 6 1/2 lbs at that point and time i didnt think i would be catching anything much bigger it went on the wall.Needless to say the guy i use to fish with finaly gave up some of his hot spots 5 & 6 lbs were the norm and beleave it or not his spots were all in the city of springfield.When i was selfemployed i was driving by this small pond every day.Stopped one morning for a few cast with a ultra light pole 4 lb test and low and behold 8 1/2 lb L.M Thumbsup Well you guessed it on the wall with a state pin.So the next L.M has to be 10 lbs or more.As far as smallies go the largest was a 3 3/4 caught on the conn. river it went back in didnt want a repeat of the L.M ordeal so i'm holdiding out for a 6 lb or betterNotsure

[Fishstory]

First of all.....Yote, why is it every time I go to read your message I have to scroll over to the rightNotsure . I keep a few stripers every year, but have not kept a fresh water fish in a long time, perhaps 20 years or so!!!Thats why I catch so many fish, they know I'm going to toss them backLaughing1

[YOTE BUSTER]

First of all.....Yote, why is it every time I go to read your message I have to scroll over to the rightNotsure . I keep a few stripers every year, but have not kept a fresh water fish in a long time, perhaps 20 years or so!!!Thats why I catch so many fish, they know I'm going to toss them backLaughing1
fishstory i have no idea what your talking about scroll over to the rightNotsure If you have something to say to me come out and say it don't be bashfull.As far as you not keeping a freah water fish in 20 years maybe you haven't caught one worth keepingLaughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1

[Fishstory]

Thats gonna leave a mark...Bash1 We'll let August decide that one!


As far as scrolling to the right, Is it only my computer or does it happen with anyone else. When Yote posts, his post doesn't fit in the box, I then have to scroll to the right to read it.....Not a big deal, just wondering if its me!

[grizbear13]

Smashhead It's you, your off balance from to many brown bottles!!Laughing1Laughing1 Fishing1

[YOTE BUSTER]

WOOPS Sorry fish i thought you were getting on my caseBow1 Bow1 Bow1 I will be in your neck of the woods this friday maybe you can show me how to catch all these fish??

[Fishstory]

for Ny and VT until Sunday night, one day white river rafting and the rest fishing and Beerchug

one of these day we'll hit the quarries for sure!

[arlow]

I let go everything I catch in freshwater.

[fisher16]

I keep a couple from here and there but the majority of bass ect freshwater are released. Mostly all saltwater fish are kept.

[knotreelly]

99% released 1 salmon, 1 striper per year if i'm lucky, start the grill.

[Sledneck]

Proud C&R fisherman, maybe a striper every now and again for dinner but just good eating size. I like to release all trophy fish for some other lucky soul to catch. I have seen what C&R can do in the Rapid River, ME. If we all practiced C&R we would be in Lunker City.

[noresman]

I release 99% of the fish I catch. Occasionally keep a trout for friends who like them or if the fish won't survive.

[dana_c]

Trout get a pass. Cod, haddock, wolf fish, pollock, and cusk get to swim in hot grease.

It wasn't always so. Ate many trout dinners, but the fishing in places I fished went off over time. Trout streams are fragile, and it doesn't take too many plates full to put a serious dent in populations. Now I'm happy if a trout takes my dry fly and bends my rod. I admire him and let him go.