Throwing cold water on somebody's nice catch...

[FHC]

It seems to be happening on here quite regularly. Somebody catches a nice trout and keeps it for supper and the "should have released it" comments get posted. Worse yet is when someone's wife or child catches a gator trout, probably their biggest fish ever, and here come the calls of "should have released it to lay more eggs". Imagine if you were a kid and caught your biggest fish ever and an adult tells you that you were wrong for bringing the fish home and enjoying a couple of meals with your family from that fish. Don't take the wind out of someone's sails.
If you are good enough and get to go often enough that you catch gator trout all the time then please do throw most of them back. Keep a couple of smaller ones for supper. Most of us don't get to fish that often and gain the knowledge and local experience of what the fish are doing to be able to consistently get a limit, much less catch a gator trout. If you want to complain about resources being depleted look at the commercial guys who can keep 25 per trip. Go tell them to release the breeders instead of bashing someone's wife or kid for catching and keeping their biggest trout ever.
I apologize for being argumentative and try to post mostly positive stuff but this has been getting on my nerves for a while.

[fireant21]

Every time we have a span of rainy days, everyone gets a little testy around here. Reminds me of the flounder gigging thread a few years ago.

I am a huge advocate of catch and release. I grew up trout fishing in VA and that was just what folks did. When fishing in someone's farm pond for bass, I also catch and release. With that being said, I believe that the good Lord provides us with fish for us to eat. If the state biologists are comfortable with the bag limits that they set, then we should be too. I think you should only keep what you plan to eat and nothing more. It drives me crazy when folks fish for Sand Trout and keep hundreds, just because they can! We are all sportsman here and should do what we can to conserve our fisheries for the future. People have been catching and keeping fish for a very long time and they are still around. We must remain responsible and not abuse the wonderful gift that we all enjoy.

[Ranaman]

Blame Me Rhett & Salty I gave Hit -N- miss that number so his family could fish before scalloping, they would have never have been there if it weren't for me, I am certainly remorseful that I contributed to this horrid killing of a legal GATOR trout.(two fish total creel for the family that day BTW) I will forthwith prohibit myself from such behavior in the future, please no forum members contact me EVER for waypoints, references or how to find your way around an area you've never fished / been before. Release all you big fish and please hold them properly for picture if you have to actually take them out of the water please do so quickly and in a proper manor. Oh and please let all those big snapper go during the Fall snapper season! They too produce many more eggs than a typical 16 inch snapper so please limit yourself to harvesting only 16-17 inch fish and vent and release all those HUGE ones just remind me (waypoints please) where it was you released them ...

You know all sarcasm aside I think Mrs. Hit-N-Miss will probably only have one or two chances like that in her life to harvest a fish of that stature and when the text came to my personal phone that morning; well before the forum report, with a picture and with thank you(s) and gratitude for the help in learning a new area, I felt a warmth in my heart for such great people to be sharing the waters I've fished for years and for the Mrs. landing such a great fish. As an Environmental geographer with a minor in Conservation Biology a LEGAL angler and captain the thought of "she should have released that fish" NEVER even crossed my mind. I don't debase you for making the remark SGator, I don't even think it is a bad thing for thinking that releasing a fish like that would would be helpful to the gene pool, I don't think we can help ourselves sometimes from making errant comments on forum posts, it happens. In my eyes this simply was a great family outing with gracious people who kept a legal beautiful breeding keeper trout and we as anglers and fellow sportsman should be grateful that we have waters that enable such a catch and praise a family for teaching their youth the value of god’s gift.

Peace.

[mpa_72001]

i am all for releasing big trout too but if my wife caught one that big i am sure not gonna make her throw it back unless she wants to.i know she probably would of liked a pic of it at least and if someone catches their biggest fish like that and wants to mount i don't have a problem with it either.i like to mainly keep slot fish personally if i am going to bash someone for keeping one like that especially if its their biggest one ever she probably would of liked showing it off to people like a lot of hunters do their deer afterwards.just my two cents.

[Salty Gator]

Guys, I apologized to hit and miss. I never made any mention of why they were there or who gave them their waypoints. If there is something else I should do please let me know. All I can do is offer a sincere apology, which I have done.

[Flint River Pirate]

Guys, I apologized to hit and miss. I never made any mention of why they were there or who gave them their waypoints. If there is something else I should do please let me know. All I can do is offer a sincere apology, which I have done.

I don't think Hit and Miss expected that. Don't apologize brother, you stated your opinion. This would be a boring world if we all agreed on everything. Everyone on here has their own opinions. I am personal friends with many people on this site and i can assure you that we are a dynamic group. If I was a Moderator, I would close this silly thread. Ha!! Who's going this weekend????

[big bend gyrene]

If I was a Moderator, I would close this silly thread. Ha!! Who's going this weekend???

The primary moderator stays too busy playing to moderate. Truth! And he knows it, too!

Hope he sees this on his "yet another vacation". Think he's giving our Commander-In-Chief a run for his vacation money...

[big bend gyrene]

If I was a Moderator, I would close this silly thread. Ha!! Who's going this weekend???

The primary moderator stays too busy playing to moderate. Truth! And he knows it, too!

Hope he sees this on his "yet another vacation". Think he's giving our Commander-In-Chief a run for his vacation money...

HAVE TO ADD, thankfully he's got friends like TODEN to cover his six o'clock position.

Have to give credit where credit is due, Toden is a man who works for a living!!! You can take his word to the bank! Literally!

[Flint River Pirate]

Bman likes to play, that's for sure. He works hard when he is around though.

BBG, if Dr. Kennedy ever decides to fire you, I think you missed your calling as a Cobia guide!

[MarkM]

Here's my .02 cents. Don't keep more than you're going to eat and some to share. Don't be greedy. Don't pollute and use ethanol free gas, for your boat, that you buy at Lanark Mart.
Joe, I'm calling you tomorrow!!!

[Ranaman]

Here's my .02 cents. Don't keep more than you're going to eat and some to share. Don't be greedy. Don't pollute and use ethanol free gas, for your boat, that you buy at Lanark Mart.
Joe, I'm calling you tomorrow!!!

LOL that's it I quit! Just kidding Mark you can call me ANY time brother! Great thread don't' close it BMan hope your enjoyed that mountain view pizza! Salty Gator Nicely done on the response!!! Hit-N-Miss utilize all that they catch never waste and are Very nice people I am blessed to know them and about that Rhett character well Hummmm Lets go catch some fish and have some fun!! Good luck to all fishing the tourney think the storms not going to happen so I'll be in NC so don't ask me where the dang fish are!

[slayer]

I refuse to feel guilty with regards to keeping ANY legal fish....and since I earn the money that I invest in my boat payment,fuel, tackle, motel rooms, launch fees, ice, food, drinks, out of state saltwater fishing license ect.ect ect.....I personally dont tolerate lectures from people that feel their way is "better" or more appropriate than mine. If I am 100% legal with regards to size and creel limits, then its NONE of your business with regards to what I do or dont do with my catch...

I get 1 or 2 chances a year to travel down to the coast for trout and reds, I have to plan these trips as far in advance as I can, then I have to hope for good weather and water conditions, and now I'm suppose to calculate in the "bunny hugger" factor....nope !!! AINT gonna happen!!!!!!

As Si Robertson on duck dynasty would say.....naaaawwwwwwwwwww

[MudDucker]

Guys, I apologized to hit and miss. I never made any mention of why they were there or who gave them their waypoints. If there is something else I should do please let me know. All I can do is offer a sincere apology, which I have done.

I don't think Hit and Miss expected that. Don't apologize brother, you stated your opinion. This would be a boring world if we all agreed on everything. Everyone on here has their own opinions. I am personal friends with many people on this site and i can assure you that we are a dynamic group. If I was a Moderator, I would close this silly thread. Ha!! Who's going this weekend????

Hey Pirate ... who asked for your opinion? No one and then you got to share this smelly one! Come on man, you got to straighten up. Just because you can legally post this post don't mean you should. Ain't you got no sense of direction in your life!

Now, all I want to know is who do I need to get with to get those numbers. I've got hush puppies that need to be hushed and fries that need to be fried and they don't take kindly to doing it alone!

[bman]

And I have been watching this thread. I think you guys are doing a fine job self policing and working through the issue.

Again, what I want to see is some of the more "conservation minded" anglers posting photos releasing big fish... and handling them correctly.
Lead by example.

Oh I've been too busy... busy with phone calls and emails for one particular client

[Flint River Pirate]

Guys, I apologized to hit and miss. I never made any mention of why they were there or who gave them their waypoints. If there is something else I should do please let me know. All I can do is offer a sincere apology, which I have done.

I don't think Hit and Miss expected that. Don't apologize brother, you stated your opinion. This would be a boring world if we all agreed on everything. Everyone on here has their own opinions. I am personal friends with many people on this site and i can assure you that we are a dynamic group. If I was a Moderator, I would close this silly thread. Ha!! Who's going this weekend????

Hey Pirate ... who asked for your opinion? No one and then you got to share this smelly one! Come on man, you got to straighten up. Just because you can legally post this post don't mean you should. Ain't you got no sense of direction in your life!

I think I am going to drive to Valdosta so you can take me to lunch. I can tell that you miss me.