Catch and Release

[astral]

I was watching some people fishing off the beach today. A fella pulled in a dog salmon, and proceeded to pose with it in various ways, with its mouth still flopping open and closed, while a woman with him took pictures. This included holding it out horizontal in front of him in his arms, crouching with the fish on the rocks while he actually looked as if he were petting the fish like you would stroke a cat across the back, and all kinds of examining the fish and moving it around on the ground. After a good five minutes of this, he put the fish back in the water holding it by its tail, swooshing it forward and backward as if encouraging it to come back to life and swim. Well it turns out the fish wasn't dead and it eventually did come to and flop and the fella let go the tail and the fish swam away.

Then his wife or whatever took the pole and squealing with delight she immediately had a bite. She pulled in the fish and they went through the same thing taking pics of her, with a bit more trouble because she would scream and jump backwards every time the fish flopped his body on the rocks. This time they had the fish in torment for even longer, probably ten minutes, and then I was mildly surprised to see the guy bash the fish's head with a rock -- apparently this one was a keeper; they just wanted to let it die slowly like a cat would do.

I was grossed out and creeped out both by the ignorance of human nature and to see two adult people be so weird, even if it wasn't most likely illegal what they were doing.

Doesn't catch and release mean unhook gently and immediately release?

I suppose I should report this to Fish and Game and maybe they can post some 'guidelines' in the area for people. I am dumbfounded by this.

[Tobin S.]

1. While some people might have a moral problem with that

those people didn't do anything "wrong." There are rules in place that protect fish in some areas of the country. In a lake that is close to me there is a size limit on crappie and bass. They have to be above a certain length to be kept. Any fish that are too small must be returned to the lake unharmed. Some places also have catch limits. In that same lake you used to be only able to keep 3 saugeye a day and they also had to be over a certain size.

Beyond that kind of stuff there is no protection for fish unless they are endangered. You can catch an unprotected fish and do whatever you want to with it.

[armyowalgreens]

2. When I catch and release...

I get the hook out as quickly as possible, measure the fish, and put it back. I also use de-barbed hooks because they are less likely to tear or get stuck.

If I want a photo, I hold the fish under water until someone has a camera and then I pick it up briefly for the photo.

Most of the time, the fish is out of the water for no more than 2 to 5 minutes. If the hook gets lodged, it can take longer. But I always try to get the fish back in the water as quickly as possible.

[Richardo]

3. I don't understand fishing

That is all.

[Bunny]

4. God invented fishing to give people something to do while they drink beer.

You fill the cooler with beer and some worms, head to the water, put a worm on the hook, cast the line, then you sit and drink beer for a few hours. When the beer's gone, you take the line out of the water and head home.

At least that's how I used to fish. :shrug:


:hi: Richardo!!! :pals:

[Richardo]

5. I tried that a few times and got a sunburn, a beer headache and no fish.

:shrug:

Now I just eliminate the middle man, and drink beer outdoors. I can get up when I want, avoid worm contact, save money on fishing gear, and either read in the shade, or engage in shop talk with a buddy.

:hi: Bunny! :loveya:

[Bunny]

6. Well, reading and shop talk are fine, but I prefer the more athletic

pursuits. Like fishing. :eyes:

:D ;)