C&R the Pigs: Convince 'em!

[BruceMN]

I never have a problem convincing fishermen to release the big Eys or Bass. They never go back on it, either. This info is more convincing than playing on conservation ethics.

1) Trophies: Rather than kill one, I always take their grinning picture and measure in the water (side or livewell), then toss it back. Graphite repo done will cost somewhat more, but will outlast the fisherman. After years, dust can be washed off, can't do that with a skin mount. After a few years, skin mounts dry and crack. Take 'em in any bait shop and show 'em old mount, they'll be disgusted over the skin details.

2) Meat Hunters: Predator fish accumulate toxins, PCBs, and mercury faster than panfish, as they retain poisons in their prey. As the predator gets older, it will hold more contanimants than the younger predators. Have 'em read toxicity warnings in the back of DNR's regs, for evidence. True, most of the bad stuff stays in the fat and can be trimmed, but gloss over that, why take the additional risk? Now, fish aren't poison, and moderate consumption is still healthy... but why kill a 8 yr old 7 - 10 lb fish for meat knowing it will have more toxins than several 3 yr old 2 lb'ers.?

Don't play on sympathy or ethics, talk this over on the ride to the water BEFOREHAND, and most people see the common sense over catch and release of the big ones.

[cmb]

adding fuel to YOUR fire.
Sory, but I would much rather keep, see kept, the big pigs!
1) they are much less fertile that the 3-5 lb fish that are the best eaters
2) the amount of meat obtained = 2to4 smaller fish, and can be just as tasty if handeled and prepared properly
3) the consumption advisorys are verry conservative (at least in ohio) and are much stricter than the FDA guidelines used for the fish you buy in the store.
4) I have yet to catch that once in a lifetime fish, but when I do nothing compares to a WELL DONE skinn mount
5) If there are no slot limits... you have the right to keep your limit of whatever size fish you have.


with this said, most of my eye fishing is done on erie, when I do fish inland waters I usualy release my fish (unless I am camping-nothing beats fresh fish on a campout).


SHUT_UP AND FISH!:>

[M.R.Fish]

Hey, we're all standin' in the cutter, just that some of us are lookin' at the stars. All life has value, yesterday's, today's, tommorrow's, Is it fish that nourish the body or fishin' that feeds the soul.
the're always bittin'

[Hawgeye]

For the most part I agree with you Bruce. I have no problem with the occasional angler that catches a trophy to keep it and hang on the wall since the fish may never be caught again and will likely not produce much offspring.

As for eating large fish, meat fisherman like to do that so they can be legal by keeping big fish to fill the freezer. I do wish the 4-5-6 pounders would be released. I am all for slot limits for this reason. 4-5-6 Pounders have the best shot at turning into a wall hanger and the more of these there are around, the more trophies there is to take pictures of. Eating that size fish hurts the chances of trophies as well as removes the best breeders from the lake.

Let all 22" - 28" fish go!

Just my opinion which I and all in my boat follow.

[cmb]

so I should release all (ok 90%) of my Erie eyes?
the 22-26" fish are 75% of our catch! these 3-6lb ers taste great and are what Erie is about.

[Hawgeye]

I think Erie is an exception rather than the rule. With that type of fishery, I think it would be difficult to "fish out" that lake (Mini fresh water ocean).

I should clarify that I am mostly speaking of the more common "inland" water, not the great lakes. Minnesota lakes seldom produce fish in the 22-26 inch range because whenever they are caught, they are kept and we all know that fish of similiar size like to school up. That means that one fishing boat can harvest a limit of 4-6 pounders and fish out a lake in no time.

I have to get out to Erie someday but I suppose my 1775 Pro-V is a little too small to fish it.

[HENK]

CMB,
AS LONG AS THE FISH ARE LEGAL, DON'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT EATING THEM. JUST DON'T WASTE THEM! I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T WASTE A BIG FEMALE JUST TO HAVE A WALL-HANGER, BUT IF THE FISH IS LEGAL AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DESIRE, GO FOR IT.
I'M TIRED OF HEARING SO MANY "PRO" FISHERPEOPLE PREACHING C&R, THEN HAULING THE BIG FISH AROUND ALL DAY IN A LIVE WELL. FROM THE SOUNDS OF THINGS, MOST PROBABLY DIE FROM STRESS AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED AFTER WEIGH-INS ANYWAY. "LET THE BIG ONES GO...UNLESS THERE'S MONEY TO BE WON!" "CATCH AND RELEASE, BUT DON'T RELEASE UNTIL AFTER THE WEIGH-IN, AND THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE!" READ THE POSTS ON "FIZZING". SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIVING BY DOUBLE STANDARDS. DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO.
AS YOU CAN GUESS, I'M NOT A TOURNEY FISHERPERSON. I FISH PURELY FOR ENJOYMENT OF THE OUTDOORS. I KEEP WHAT FISH I WANT TO EAT. I "IMMEDIATELY" RELEASE WHAT I DON"T.
MAYBE EVERY TOURNAMENT SHOULD BE COMBINED WITH A FISH-FRY. FILLET AND COOK ALL THE FISH WEIGHED IN. OR MAYBE DONATE FILLETS TO HOMES OR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. JUST DON'T "RELEASE" LEGALLY CAUGHT FISH THAT MIGHT PROBABLY DIE ANYWAY. USE YOUR OWN CONSCEINCE.
THIS IS MY OPINION, WHICH I AM ENTITLED TO, JUST AS YOU ARE YOURS.

[gertzie]

RIGHT ON, if we follow the advice of every pro. out there the whole balance of nature would really be %^%$^% up,They think they can go all over the country,fish any lake,stress out the fish and its alright, but when you or I talk about catching and keeping a few fish to eat(anywhere between 2-10lbs)we don't have the right to talk.I say if you buy a license then you should have the right to keep and eat anything you want.For all of the pro's(or want-to-be's)shut the ##### up. Try and go out for once and just fish,no money involved you might like it.

[tim(wi)]

Henk I agree with you. I was up in Gladstone MI after the tourny last year and there was nothing but dead eye's floating all over the hbr were they released the fish after the weigh in. I also keep what I want and release the rest. The law says I have that right being a holder of a fishing license. Can't understand people who try and tell us who fish and eat what we catch how to fish but turn a blind eye to there own practices because they have MONEY to win.

[james_walleye]

cmb you said 75% of the walleyes you catch are 22-26". So what about those other 25% that are under 22". Why not keep them? You dont have to take a limit home. 2 or 3 nice eyes under 22" make a good meal. I hear about this on Mille Lacs here in MN only we have a slot limit and some people have to complain about it. Ya its true somedays 4 of 5 fish you catch are in the slot and ya cant keep em. Big deal...ya still have a couple 17"ers in the box to eat. Why is it such a disappointment for some people to not come in with a limit??? Why is it such a bad deal to have to release these fish??? You have a good meal with the 2 or 3 fish ya could keep......

[Backwater Eddy]

A sad fact of life is the levels of contaminants drastically increase in walleye 22" and up, the bigger they are the more contaminant's and potential health risk's.

Lakes with a large industrial base on or near there shores are areas of high concern as are some rivers with agricultural run off. There are some form of consumption advisories present in the entire geographical home range of the walleye.

Don't louse sight of the fact these smaller fish (22" and less) are safer fish to consume, and in my opinion much better eating.

Backwater Eddy

[cmb]

I do keep eyes under 22" they just make up a relativly small proportion of our catch. My personal minnimum is typicaly 18", but may be increased on a good day. Although the limit has been 10 fish I have never kept more than 7, and usualy keep 2-5 fish per person. my piont was that size is relative to the water you fish. rarely do I keep fish from inland lakes, to me it is like keeping smallies from a small river-stream or lm bass from a small pond. occasional keepers are ok, but to do it regularly has too much potential for damage of the populations.

as far as eating the larger fish, they are every bit as tasty as a 20" eye. yes, contaminant levels may be higher, but if you trim off the fatty tissues (belly and lateral line areas) you decrease potential levels. furthermore, the fish consumption guidelines are verry conservative. there are no safty issues if you stay within these guidelines. also, these advisories are much more conservative than the USDA rules used for commercialy avalable fish. your "contaminated" 5lb eye probably has less toxic substances that the fish you would buy at the seafood counter in the market!

yes, the size of a fish (actualy age of the fish) has an impact on the bioaccumulation of toxins. but, unless you fish in an area with highly contaminated forrage, the differenc betwene a 2-3 lb fish and a 4-5 lb fish are marginal at best.

Keep what you want, but please do not impose your personal view onto the law abiding fishermen that choose to keep a limit or to keep a larger fish.