woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

It seems like the guys on this site are pretty sensible about their catch, keep, or release standards, especially the ones that are fishing machines. So then I was thinking about what happens when people go fishing together on a boat, and what was making me think about this was a guy and his dad that were fishing bass tournaments professionally. My friend was the father of the son that owned the boat we were using, he shared my sensibilities about eating Bass...we both like to keep and eat the smaller ones in the pound to pound and a half or maybe two. They're good eating, put the bigger ones back to breed and get bigger.

So I catch a pound and a half LM, perfect for eating, and I said go ahead and put that one in the well, he's a good eater. The guy's son looked at me like I was going to eat his first born child, he says oh my god, I've never kept any Bass, I like to put them back to catch again. I asked him if he was okay with me keeping a few in the pound and a half range and putting everything back, and he said that sounded alright to him. He even asked me if I wanted a clean looking one he caught and I told him yeah sure, thanks...I only want three or four for dinner.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

I've only got a couple of pet peeves with someone I'm fishing with...
...a fish that swallows a nightcrawler deep, or gets otherwise mangled taking out the hook is a keeper, no release for dead or dying fish for a bigger fish.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I agree with all you've said. Those are the same feelins I have as well.
The ONLY difference for me is SOMETIMES a small Striper get hooked too badly and will bleed but you can't keep it. They HAVE to be a minimum of 18 inches to keep.
We feel really bad but nothing else we can do. Lots of osprey, eagles, seals and other critters that'll eat them if they don't make it though.

DC Loc: Washington state

got to do what is legal first and formost,

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

I agree and I think taken some of them smaller bass out helps the bigger ones get bigger. With in the law of course. Alot of lakes around have a slot of 12 to 15 has to go back an a limit of how many you can keep. The State of Ohio has taken the 9" Limit off of some lakes for crappie because they was having way too many small crappie and nothing was getting bigger to keep. Those fish biologists have a tough job 👍

DC Loc: Washington state

I think that is what it is here also can keep under 12" and can't keep any 12- 14" and only 1 over 14" or something close to that I don't fish for or keep any bass so I don't worry about it

Papa Jack Loc: Indianapolis

I seldom keep bass. However, I have no issues for those that do.

JMW Loc: Foresthill, CA

My fishing partners and I usually discuss whether we are fishing for food or fun prior to putting the boat in the water. As mentioned by others, if the fish is bleeding out we will keep it or sometimes if an osprey or eagle are sited, feed it to the bird.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Eat em Loc: Nevada

Fish are for good
Eat ‘em’ boys!!!!!!

Eat em Loc: Nevada

Good!!!!
Stupid phone

Eat em Loc: Nevada

Food

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Your lucky 28" here and only can keep one.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Your lucky Saw here In Massachusetts salt water stripers have to be at least 28" and there's a cap on them to that has slipped my mind right now.🎣🙂👍🇺🇸

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Yeah, right now it's an 18 inch minimum and no max. However, they are thinkin bout goin to a 20 to 28 inch slot. 2 fish limit.