What would you do?

[sea hermit]

I made a comment in another blog about the keeping of a truly large striper, and had a couple of replies to the comment. I do not want to steal the thread, but would like to ask the question above. I've often wondered what I would do if I caught a really big bass. Would I keep it, or release it? Since I do not have enough time to properly fish in the LBI Surf Tournament, the prizes are not meaningful to my decision. I believe that large stripers are special because they carry genes for large fish. The fish in question was a monster, weighing over 67 pounds, and was kept. The question came up whether or not the lost eggs from that female, now that she was no longer alive, were truly a loss. One angler felt that she had layed enough eggs in her life to populate the waters with more "large-gene" fish, and that perhaps by keeping younger fish, more would be lost than by keeping one large female. A good point, but I would like to add another thought, there have been documented bass caught up to 125 lbs. This to me means that this fish still was only possibly half-grown. I prefer to release large fish--fish over 32 inches, and feel great when I see a nice one swim off. How do you feel?

[fishpro28]

I only keep what I am going to eat. With that said, I would throw It back. I prefer to eat smaller bass like to 20lbs. I think there would be more harm done by keeping a larger fish as they lay eggs and smaller fish don't. I am speaking for myself and if someone is going to eat that 67 pounder I have no problem with that. If I was in a tournament though...Iguess I would be eating a 67lb. bass:D

[Even Steven]

Keeping only what my family and I are eating, and since it's just me and the wife, we ain't eating no 50+ pound fish. Well, then again . . .

[phish4fun]

Thats A Tough Call. I Have Not Even Joined The 30lb Club. I Probably Would Keep One Huge One To Show Off .

[eelball]

I have a special place over my mantle for a fish like that. I would kill it, and not think twice.

[Mullica Bob]

I'm with eelball I'm most likely killing my 50 when I get one. If I get a 60 she's goin too.

[SIC Wit It]

I'm with bob and eelball
Plus I have no problem eatinf fish out of the freezer, as long as it is properly handled and cooked it isn't a problem

[fishpro28]

I have a special place over my mantle for a fish like that. I would kill it, and not think twice.
:D :D :D :D That was funny:D :D :D :D

[enzo]

that fish would be on parade all day, then the wall i also kill alot of deer 1 doe to eat an only shoot a buck if hes going on the wall 7 on the wall so far 125 to 152

[gotboost1]

there is a group that belive a fish in that size range is already egged out,and will produce far less eggs then say a 20lb'er would,so killing a fish that size isn't really hurting the breading stock,
I guess to me it's more of a respect thing I have for the eldery:) I would never keep a fish that size as long as she is able to swim away,if she dies a day later she dies but I know I did my part to save her,Almost every Rock I have caught over say 30lbs,well they all make me wonder how many time's they have been released before me,

The way I look at it is any fish no matter what size you kill at any time of the year is taking a fish out of the breeding stock,plus I don't eat them anyway..

[JoeyZac]

If you're gonna eat it, keep anything legal that you want.

I personally don't like killing a fish just for a pic, but if one wants to make a wall mount out it, while still not my preference, I can understand that too.

What really burns me is the person who keeps a large anything (usually drum or blue) just to take a pic and then throw it in the garbage.

[Absecon_bass]

First off say lots of things like holy sh|t, no way, wow, where am I gonna put this fish, etc. Then wake up enough people that I would become a very hated little man. Take pictures from 300 different angles. Call my father in South Carolina, my grandfather in Bricktown, and the President of the USA. At this point my feet might touch the ground. Lots of things would go through my mind if something like this happened. Health of the fish would definitely be taken into account. If in good shape, she might just swim free. Never know, hope I have the chance to find out.

[Reel Nice]

I keep only a few each year and I eat them. If I was in some kind of tourney I might keep the monster but then again I release 95% of the fish I catch..I would probably measure the length and girth and then release it after about 50 pictures and a couple minutes of video for proof that the monster bass do exist..That is a tough question..

[zar2754]

right in the box.

[bass ackwards]

i would keep her. just because fish is small doesnt mean it does not have big fish genes. If u keeep a small fish w/big genes u cut off prime reproduction years. u keep a fish that size u know it has had time to reproduce. ya big fish have better chance that they have big fish genes but at that size age she had plenty of time to reproduce. My guess is that 30 to 4o pound fish is the best to throw back, but who knows.

[Reel-ality]

If I didn't have my legal limit I'd keep it.

[gone_fishing]

I would release all stripers 35"+ unless it could be the world record. Just my personal belief. I get most upset at charter boats that consistently keep 2 fish per man each trip. I understand that is part of their business but I think they could spend some time to educate their fares to release and keep 1 28-34 per man. I'm not even going to go into Oregon Inlet's practices.

[mcmahojo]

let em go.

[Spooled]

Since I already mounted my large I would release unless a Tourny or possibly a +60lber or a world record.

I filet & release my limit, but prefer to keep the smaller size stripers.

If your fishing with me and want to kill a large as long as legal go for it.

The condition of the fish would have to play into it

[The real Clamman]

I made a comment in another blog about the keeping of a truly large striper, and had a couple of replies to the comment. I do not want to steal the thread, but would like to ask the question above. I've often wondered what I would do if I caught a really big bass. Would I keep it, or release it? Since I do not have enough time to properly fish in the LBI Surf Tournament, the prizes are not meaningful to my decision. I believe that large stripers are special because they carry genes for large fish. The fish in question was a monster, weighing over 67 pounds, and was kept. The question came up whether or not the lost eggs from that female, now that she was no longer alive, were truly a loss. One angler felt that she had layed enough eggs in her life to populate the waters with more "large-gene" fish, and that perhaps by keeping younger fish, more would be lost than by keeping one large female. A good point, but I would like to add another thought, there have been documented bass caught up to 125 lbs. This to me means that this fish still was only possibly half-grown. I prefer to release large fish--fish over 32 inches, and feel great when I see a nice one swim off. How do you feel?

You are a Gentleman thank you for starting a new thread ;)

[sea hermit]

Clam man, Thank you for the kind words, and for the great post about that monster bass.

[NJWardy]

I would keep my limit.

[Capt.Mike4108]

I already have a 35lber on my wall but I'd be a liar if I said I would release a 60lber if I caught one. I release lots of bass to fight and reproduce again and only keep what I'm going to eat. But, I do like to eat them.

[Dirty Rotten]

I will eat whatever I take and take only what I'll eat. But a fish like That!!! Yes, that fish will take a trip to the bait shop for pictures. I'll cut it, and eat it. Regardless of how it tastes the entire fish will be consumed out of respect. Every time someone posts a big fish on here whether its a striper or another large species someone always has to say "What a Shame it is". If you're that concerned about killing fish. Stop Fishing. I don't kill fish indescriminately. I'll assume others on this board don't either. Poachers are Wrong. We all know that. If the fish is taken responsibly, legally and eaten. I say Well Done!!!!!!

[bass ackwards]

i would personally want the actual fish as a mount, i dont know how taxidermist do it but i dont think it would be wrong to just mount a fish like that and not eat it, thats almost a world record fish.

believe me i never waste fish or kill a fish i dont plain to eat but I would think that fish could creates an exception.

[Mddletown]

I would let it go and have a mount made from the pictures. Although I don't know where I would put a mount that big! I'd rather eat the smaller fish anyway. :)

[The real Clamman]

Clam man, Thank you for the kind words, and for the great post about that monster bass.

Anything over 60" is going on my wall ;)

[underdogg]

if i caught a 67lb SB and took first place in the LBI classic i would be driving up and down the island with it strapped to the roof of my pickup

then the fish fry

last but not lease - skin mount

125lbers are few and far inbetween in my opinion
i personally believe a 67lber lead a productive life for the species and derserves to be honered

[What the Puck]

I won't lie about it, that fish would be in my cooler faster than you could blink. That being said the condition of the fish after it has been landed helps make the decision for me. I don't break any rules or regs (damn flounder reg!) but qas long as you are within your limit and you are going to eat it, I say go ahead take it. I have let plenty of bass

[meanbean8111]

I'd take the pic to one of those taxidermists that work off pics. Their mounts look very real....and the fish lives.

[freaky One]

depends on how hungry i was at the time....:D

[junkmansj]

After being on these boards for quite a few years and reading (NO Disrespect)
literally Dozons or more posts on Keep or Not, One stands out from A Commercial striper fisherman from New England. He posted that he had caught and Cleaned a Lot of Stripers Over 50# and that Most of the Big stripers were Barren (no viable Eggs).

My first fish over 50"/50# is going on the wall! Now having said that I might change my mind after that. But it will be Filet and release until I do.
I Vac seal all my Striper filets and eat it all winter