The Never Ending Catch and Release Debate

[Anonymous]

There are way too many anglers who don't know the rules. Just this morning, I read a report from Wildcat Lake that the angler kept a 13 inch largemouth and commented on how good it tasted. I did remind him to check the regs. I'm sure he did not mean to break the law or he certainly wouldn't have posted the report.

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

I was fishing a body of water yesterday where at the launch was the remains of a 2 - 3 pounder with the fillets missing and the head 15 feet away. Except for my first keeper bass I caught last year I do practice C&R. I do not have an issue with people keeping their catch but leaving what is left after you clean the fish at the public launch makes me shake my head and say "Some peoples children". This is the same complaint I have with all the trash I see scattered all about.

[BentRod]

Although I'm a C&R person when it comes to bass I do not mind people keeping some fish within the regulations.

My problem is those who intentionally or ignorantly break the rules. Blackmouth suggested a test prior to obtaining a fishing license. I think it is a good idea, but it wouldn't correct the problem. Have you seen the way people drive? Obviously a test doesn't keep people from knowingly and unknowingly breaking the law.

I was crabbing at the Mukilteo pier one time and I saw a guy throw two undersized crab in his bucket. I had seen this before there and had had enough, so I walked over and politely informed the guy that those crabs were not of legal size (there was a bit of a language barrier). He picked up a crab (female mind you) and jiggled his crab gauge over the carapace (which was a good inch smaller than legal size if it had been a male) and said "close enough" and threw it in his bucket. I had seen this routinely up there and notified the WDFW a couple of times. In the two years I spent crabbing/fishing off that pier, I never once saw an agent come out and check the people fishing there.

The fishing regulations will only help for those who follow them. There will always be those individuals that ruin it for everyone else. This doesn't really apply to the debate, but I needed to vent. Thanks.

[tnj8222]

bisk, was that at the trout lake launch? i talked to the guy that caught it, and informed him about catch and release. nice guy just a trout fisherman who got lucky

[Dustin07]

We do have tests now before we can get our WA state hunting licenses....

as for C&K vs C&R, I do both. varies by fishery. If it's a popular fishery, or private fishery, I tend to focus on C&R of non-stocked fish (with the exception of delicious perch). For more remote, yet large and less used fisheries that do not experience the same pressure as Sammamish or Washington, I'd keep some if I were hungry, but typically I still C&R unless I'm really setup well to cook the food. I don't like it to sit around.

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

bisk, was that at the trout lake launch? i talked to the guy that caught it, and informed him about catch and release. nice guy just a trout fisherman who got lucky

Yep it was at the Trout Lake launch. I dont have an issues with the trout guy keeping it .. just having a little bit of respect for the area and resources we all share.

[Anglinarcher]

I was fishing a body of water yesterday where at the launch was the remains of a 2 - 3 pounder with the fillets missing and the head 15 feet away. Except for my first keeper bass I caught last year I do practice C&R. I do not have an issue with people keeping their catch but leaving what is left after you clean the fish at the public launch makes me shake my head and say "Some peoples children". This is the same complaint I have with all the trash I see scattered all about.

Leaving the remains of fish is a seperate issue. Most biologist consider this healthy for the system.

I do completely agree regarding the other trash.

[Bisk1tSnGraV]

I was fishing a body of water yesterday where at the launch was the remains of a 2 - 3 pounder with the fillets missing and the head 15 feet away. Except for my first keeper bass I caught last year I do practice C&R. I do not have an issue with people keeping their catch but leaving what is left after you clean the fish at the public launch makes me shake my head and say "Some peoples children". This is the same complaint I have with all the trash I see scattered all about.

Leaving the remains of fish is a seperate issue. Most biologist consider this healthy for the system.

I do completely agree regarding the other trash.

Is a good point and I had been thinking about that after I posted it. Think I just needed something to start a rant on all the trash I see. Thanks for the other view Anglinarcher!

[Amx]

Ya, I hate all the junk on the lake bottom around the docks. Stuff that gets blown off in wind storms and people are too lazy to pull it out, like chairs. Then all the crap people obviously THROW in the lake, like beer cans, ect. Then there is all the golf balls.

[jens]

I tried in vain several months ago fishing at a local lake near my home, a couple was catching trout after trout after trout. I got a closer look when I was loading my boat I noticed they were using powerbait and power eggs. I asked them if they caught more than 5, the guy said he lost count and he released them all anyways, so what does it matter, for him, he wasn't using bait..I seen several smaller trout near the shore dead.
The private lake that I live on, holds many large bass in the 5+ range. With all the recent people moving in and moving out, I have heard of some nice bass being caught. I can only hope they were released unharmed but that is wishful thinking for me. So, for me, I wish people were more educated in this topic. I fear that the toads in my lake are no longer alive.