Peahead
Well-Known Member
Comparing C/R in the rivers and ocean is completely different in terms of mortality.
Trying to justify feeding played springs to the seals ain’t cool....
Should be once you have your limit stop fishing....just like when you kill your hatchery steelhead!
Interesting topic for sure. Most of my fishing trips I quit fishing once I have retained a limit because that is my choice and I always have a million other things to do on land lol. I however occasionally have switched tactics completely and done some "test' fishing for a while after a limit has been reached. Absolutely nothing illegal or unethical as long as I fish, handle and release in a way that gives the fish the best possible chance to survive. I choose to limit my time doing that as well. BTW Catch and release is also done to gather DNA samples which help our fishery (despite not a 100% survival for releasing). For those insisting a released fish must stay in the water lol, ....well that is not realistic in these cases as the fish has to be removed from the water for ease of DNA sampling.
All opinions respected ( if legal of course ). One question I have to those that feel it is unethical to continue to fish C&R after their limit has been retained:
... is there any difference in your opinion for the fishers who enjoy to fish catch and release all the time and have no interest in keeping any fish at all (with the exception of keeping an occasional bleeder ) ?
Just trying to determine if the issue some have is with the continuing to fish after keeping a legal limit or whether they have a similar or equal issue with catch and release fishing in general ?
I look at it this way - It is completely legal to catch and release all day so I have no issue with it. What I'd like to see is that they learn proper release and handling techniques and also limit their time doing it. If there is non stop undersized fish present, move. Its legal also to keep a limit and then switch to C&R afterwards so I don't have a problem with it as long as good techniques are learned as pointed out above