Catch and release

[FLIPPINB]

Just wondering how many people actually practice catch and release? I think it's always a big debate and just looking for some opinions?

[BARRY J]

I release most fish I catch. I bring a few home for the freezer.

[reelman]

I release all in any T as 98% of the guys in the clubs here do and also any over 15 inches any day...sometimes I keep a few under 15 inches...the most successful spawners (by research) are the 3-5 pounders so those should ALWAYS be released...

[oiltech09]

I don't catch so it's not an issue for me.

[Rebel1]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by reelman &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I release all in any T as 98% of the guys in the clubs here do and also any over 15 inches any day...sometimes I keep a few under 15 inches...the most successful spawners (by research) are the 3-5 pounders so those should ALWAYS be released...</td></tr></table>

[hookem175]

99% of the time I release all bass I catch, but every now and then I keep a few under 12 inches.

[dirtdemon]

depends on how many i catch if its only two or three in the live well i throw everything back (just to lazy to clean two or three) if theres a bunch i ll keep enough to eat and throw the rest

[SUSHII]

I release them about 3.5 lb or over other than that I keep them until I get my limit. The best eaters are 10-12"ers

[Mike_z71]

I keep some if I plan on a fish fry soon. Other than that, release.

[Bradrodfish]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by FLIPPINB &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Just wondering how many people actually practice catch and release? I think it's always a big debate and just looking for some opinions?</td></tr></table>
Interesting Question!!! I do practice catch and release. Tooo many other species that I can catch that are just as good to eat. To name a few Sac-a-lait, perch, Gaspago, catfish, specks, reds, flounders, Choupic(rare), Talopea. Please go catch all the bass you want. Fillet them fry them, it don't matter. You will be dead as I will and gone. Your children and grandchildren will say why don't they have any bass any more?

[fishingman1984]

I don't catch a whole lot so I generally release them right back

[FLIPPINB]

Just wondering, I always release bass. But I see alot of people putting them on ice while I'm fishing...big, small and under the legal size.

[no land]

if the first fish of the day is a keeper ill keep 5 over 14". junk fish i keep for my neighabor. if the first one is a dink i dont keep any for the day. by the way ive been giving away a bunch of stripe bass because i thought they sucked to eat until i had some. choe pic are tasty too. keep a .22 handy and shoot them gars when you get them next to the boat. gar balls rock
be cool

[lakebouef5]

I have never had anything against keeping some bass to eat, lots of people enjoy them. But, when I started out bass fishing in the early 60's, bass fishermen were few and far between. Most bass were caught by accident by people fishing for perch or sac-a-lait.... and most called them green trout. Now, there are a ton of people fishing for mainly bass. I've seen spots over the years that were awesome producing spots become a place where you would get excited to catch just a bass or two. People have really gotten good at catching bass....more knowledge, better equipment, and more free time.
If I were the Head of the Wildlife and Fisheries, I'd get a regulation passed that said you could only keep one bass over 3 lbs. per day. Fellas, if you want to keep bass for the table, keep the 2lbs. and under bass to eat. Even the heavily pressured areas would have good fishing for everyone to enjoy if people put the nicer bass back into the water and not on a fillet knife.

[bullrider]

[joeyp]

Heat the grease baby!! I release everything over 3, dont have a problem with keeping the smaller ones.

[DLAB]

I fish some Txs, and Will release any big ones i catch, Took a Pic of my biggest, weighed it and threw it back, But if they stacked up ill keep a limit to fry up. Ill keep 9 in the box, had an Azz hole game warden one time give me a hard time because i was fishin with 10 in the live well, reached down threw one back and said, YOU HAPPY NOW! and kept fishin for my limit!

[bayoubullet]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by lakebouef5 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I have never had anything against keeping some bass to eat, lots of people enjoy them. But, when I started out bass fishing in the early 60's, bass fishermen were few and far between. Most bass were caught by accident by people fishing for perch or sac-a-lait.... and most called them green trout. Now, there are a ton of people fishing for mainly bass. I've seen spots over the years that were awesome producing spots become a place where you would get excited to catch just a bass or two. People have really gotten good at catching bass....more knowledge, better equipment, and more free time.
If I were the Head of the Wildlife and Fisheries, I'd get a regulation passed that said you could only keep one bass over 3 lbs. per day. Fellas, if you want to keep bass for the table, keep the 2lbs. and under bass to eat. Even the heavily pressured areas would have good fishing for everyone to enjoy if people put the nicer bass back into the water and not on a fillet knife.</td></tr></table>i agree, but these trailer where ever you want tx are the same thing as taking the bass out and filet them. i mostly fish BB. i let 3,4 & 5 pounders go then a tx fisherman catches them and trailers them to a weigh in spot that releases them in waters that i dont even fish . thats bullshit !!! he gets a check for a fish that i released and i dont get to benefit anything from it and no chance to reap the benefits of letting a spawning fish go. how many spawning fish get transported to another location not even in the same body of water ?

someone made the comment above about keeping other species of fish rather than bass...what is the difference ? wildlife and fisheries have creel limits set for a reason. bass 10, sac a lait i think 25. specs 25. reds 5. all of these are in place for a reason.
not trying to be a dick, but i know alot of tx fisherman act like they are hollier than thou and its a sin to keep bass. when those fellas pay $4 per gallon for me to fish then i might give 2 shits about their opinion. till then i will fish for fun and follow the rules enforced by the state that i am fishing in.

lakebouef5, this is not directed at you bro jus didnt feel like making a second post

[90xpress]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bayoubullet &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">i agree, but these trailer where ever you want tx are the same thing as taking the bass out and filet them. i mostly fish BB. i let 3,4 & 5 pounders go then a tx fisherman catches them and trailers them to a weigh in spot that releases them in waters that i dont even fish . thats bullshit !!! he gets a check for a fish that i released and i dont get to benefit anything from it and no chance to reap the benefits of letting a spawning fish go. how many spawning fish get transported to another location not even in the same body of water ?

someone made the comment above about keeping other species of fish rather than bass...what is the difference ? wildlife and fisheries have creel limits set for a reason. bass 10, sac a lait i think 25. specs 25. reds 5. all of these are in place for a reason.
not trying to be a dick, but i know alot of tx fisherman act like they are hollier than thou and its a sin to keep bass. when those fellas pay $4 per gallon for me to fish then i might give 2 shits about opinion. till then i will fish for fun and follow the rules enforced by the state that i am fishing in.

lakebouef5, this is not directed at you bro jus didnt feel like making a second post </td></tr></table>

i agree with you on this buddy

[SUSHII]

Tell them how ya really feel buddy.