Ethics and catfish

[Atticus]

So I can work this out before the spring thaw...

If I have catfish chewing-up my whiting/pompano tackle, is it sporting to maybe NOT let them back in the water after they come off the hook?

They don't do much for bait, maybe I could fillet them and use the slabs as bait or something... I don't know. I hate those things with all my soul and they get bad where I fish from shore. I haven't mustered up the guts to let the little buggers die though. Wanted an opinion on the issue.

[dbplug]

catching catfish = move to another spot

[tin can]

In all my years of fishing I have learned one thing. Everything is there for a reason. Even though the snot cats are a pain, they're the vacuum cleaners of the water. But I feel your pain, Luke. Snot cats are as agrivating as ................................Oh, I don't know................................ Law Students.

[wevans]

Can't vote either way on that one I release them, but they usually have a pretty good headache when I do

[CSMarine]

Let em go unharmed, to stab someone else another day.

[RC]

I release them but their condition depends on my mood at the moment. How much trouble they are giving me and how many I have caught in a row.

[Tom Keels]

I release them but I generally want to see just how far I can chunk them, err.., I mean release them from the boat.

[Sir reel]

Atticus, whether you release them or not you should always carry some type of air tight container with you and harvest as much of the slime as you can. It has many uses (some of which are yet to be discovered) not the least of which is a buffer or an anti venom in case you do get stabbed by the next one. Apply some to the area affected and it will remove most of the pain. It has also been used in some applications as an industrial lubricant with some success. It can be used on door knobs in place of the proverbial..... and it can be used as a hair dressing (I use it all the time). There has been some experimentation as a lower unit lubrication but the results have not been definitive as yet. Hope this helps.

[Sea Fox]

I use my slinger so not to get finned, its a stout wire with a sharp bend in it. Once you get the hang of it, it works real good. I have also been thinking of snipping the fins off and useing them for offshore bait. Has anyone tried that?

[Chalk]

After getting stung by a small one a few years ago, no catfish crosses the gunnel unless I can't get it off....The slime trick doesn't work or it didn't for me, think CSM said Clorox will do it though, but who washes clothes and fishes at the same time?

Now my dad, that is a different story. We were red fishing the last time we went out. You know all quite, he catches a cat, I'm concentrating on the point we are approaching and all of a sudden, WHAM, WHAM, I will teach you SOB

Or he either takes out the knife and gives the cat some new style lines and releases him

[Atticus]

I think them darned barbs scare off all the game fish

Thats why I thought maybe I could fillet those things, chunk the fillets out on a circle hook, keep the slime , and leave the cat to die somewhere away from my eater fish

[dewyafish]

Cobia will eat them!!

[Cranfield]

A decent sized sailcat, puts up quite a scrap on trout tackle.
I see no reason to abuse them, they are just another fish.

[Sir reel]

Cranfield, don't think Atticus was talk'n sailcat. The're fit to eat.

[CSMarine]

Chalk, I didn't say Clorox, I said vinegar. Learned that from my ole grandpa. It does work. Neutralizes the acid in the slime or something like that.