Let the big ones go PLEASE

[27 sailfish]

Reading all the reports of big (40'' +) rock being killed has me worried.Might be a good idea to start letting these big rock go so they can breed.The fishing pressure on these big fish has really grown in the last 5 years.Milder winters and better boats and info has really taken a toll on them.On my boat we let all 40'' and bigger rock go.I won't be fishing the spring tournaments this year because I feel too many big rock get killed by my boat during that 3 day event.A quick photo is proof of the catch.I know there are tons of reasons and excuses for keeping big rock-however this is what happened back in the '70's when the fishery collapsed-we killed all the breeders.A 40'' rock is 13 years (hatched in 1993) old so one hatched this spring won't be that big until 2019 !!! Let's (as sport fisherman) start to spread the word-release the cows.Think back when marlin were brought in and killed-now very few are killed-in fact it is looked down on as a waste.Enjoy the challenge and the fight but PLEASE release her to lay eggs and grow even bigger so our kids can enjoy this sport.The first one is tough to release but deep down you'll know what you did was right for the future of this great fishery.:) Skip

[Persistence2]

I've personally kept (for myself) maybe a dozen Rockfish in the past month, probably not even that many but I can't recall the total number. I've killed 4 fish over 40"...

I can keep (in the bay) one fish over 34"...how am I hurting the population? Not every boat out there is killing big fish. How many are killed by commercial interests?

I'm sorry, I'll keep my one big fish per trip thank you. I've released far more over 40" than I've kept this year.

Glenn

[justkiddin]

Glenn! I feel what Skip is trying to say is that there is nothing wrong with keeping a few fish. Its the big ones that everyone is seeing lined up in coolers and in photo's where everyone is holding a "cow". It does make you wonder as yes there are many pleantiful smaller fish in the waters, but just how many big ones are there????? If is is about the meat, the smaller fish do taste better and you can obviously keep more of them. I read on here about everyones concerns as well about the commercial fisheries hurting the population and threads on the menhadedn boats killing fish! Skip is just asking that maybe we do our part in preserving this highly saught after gamefish which so much of us love! Everyone has their own opinion, but I will help do my part in trying to spread the word and have even started releasing more fish this year than I ever have. On several occasions I have not kept one fish and it does not bother me- especially knowing they will be there another day to catch. Hats off to you Skip for voicing your concerns as I am willing to do my part to support the effort. Most of us have paper hanging all over our walls and many probably have freezers full of meat, but take a moment to really think about this issue and the great times we have with our fishing buddies and family, dont we want to continue it??????????????

Scott

[Persistence2]

My point is I DO my part as best I can...I fish once per week, maybe twice and many trips, I don't keep ANY fish, big or small. If I have fresh fish in the fridge, I don't keep any. I made a point in one of my earlier posts that I'm glad we have a large slot limit right now...if we did not, many more big fish would be taken since it is what the regs would allow.

I've been FOR many regs stating smaller limits (like flounder, 4-6 per man is plenty) but I have an issue with these posts and I've been "called out" on my posts by people and that stinks. I don't disagree, I just don't like these posts on this forum.

Glenn

[captdavdavis01]

for the last 3-4 years i havent fish for striper, 1, i hate the cold, 2 i hate the boat traffic(especilly at night)

in the last 2 weeks, ive been 3 times, weve caught about 60-80 bass better than 40 inches, one per angler(over 34") allowed, a total f 8 fish killed over 44 inches.
perhaps we need to throw more dinks(18-28") back, have they had a chance to breed??? i dont know, but im guessing that those larger fish have done their part to help the population.


personally, ill continue to KEEP MY LEGAL LIMIT if i can be so lucky to catch it. this goes for all species. stripers, seabass, cobia, flounder, tuna, purple spotted puppy mullet...whatever species im targeting

the cca has taken peoples money, and in return, basically given away our allowances

release for the beneft of the species is the same junk that the cca has been pushing for the last however many years. they are for the fish, not the fisherman. they took our cobia, their taking our flounder, cut our limit of spades,sea bass, tautog.

and what happens, nothing, they give our "left over quota" to the commerial guys, they get to make thier living, get we get the shaft the next year because they caught too much.so our quota gets cut again....this pretty much is an on going thing, year after year

this is merely my opinion as well as an observation, please make your own.


theres not alot that can be done till the commercial fishermen get their hands out of the gov't back pocket. too much money involved.



danny

[rlott]

I just follow the regulations. They're obviously working.

[TIE ONE ON]

Just think how old the big fish are and what they have been though to reach that age. Just a thought.
Jimmy

[ccx2]

AGAIN this comes up , its been debated over and over. Go Hug A TREE,ILL KEEP MY FISH UNTILL THE RULES CHANGE,THANKS FOR CAREING:D MERRY CHRISTMAS:)

[27 sailfish]

I'm no tree hugger-love to fish and eat fish 2-4 times a week.My concern is that DNR is behind in the regs.We (the fisherman) see what the true harvest is.We got it real good right now-maybe too good-I just want it to continue.Better safe then sorry.Image going back to catching 1-2 fish for an all day trip.More of us fishing now with much better equipment.We need to slow it down -that's all.When we fish the ocean I allow 1 fish per man-not the 2 the rules allow.We fish for sport and fun.1 fish provides plenty of meat. Skip

[mahimadness]

regulations seem to be working just fine. if you feel like letting them go thats just fine but get real if you think we are all going to release are trophy fish. i have a suggestion for you go join the turtle turnarounder crew that work on the beaches of the outer banks that will make you feel even better about yourself.: