[Erie660]

I'm not trying to start an argument here but I was out Friday most of the day and watched what looked to be a charter boat fishing the same area as myself. They looked to be using spot tails and were keeping every legal smallmouth. They were two different groups,one in the morning and one in the afternoon. My buddy who was with me said he has seen the same boat for the last three days in the same area. I know it's none of my business but that's alot of smallmouth. They must be really good eating.

 

[billyraybar]

I would think most charters do not keep fish nowadays. I know 15 years ago and longer they did. If these charters are keeping fish they ought to be ashamed of themselves if not hog whipped. I've had smallmouth before and they're really not that good to eat. Where exactly was this charter fishing?

 

[joemama]

I have heard of people stocking there ponds with them. Dont know if that is legal or not, does not seem right thou. you might want to call dnr and ask them, You can always get the boats MC no,

 

[waterfordmatt]

do walleye charters keep their fish? do salmon charters keep fish? Is it illegal to keep bass? myself I like bass and think it tastes pretty good. I see nothing wrong with it if they do. if somebody pays for a charter I really dont see a problem in them taking something home for their money. We have more bass than anything and really dont see a problem with people taking them. its like anything else you have to thin the herd to have a healthy population.

 

[Captain Tim]

QUOTE(waterfordmatt @ Aug 8 2009, 09:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>do walleye charters keep their fish? do salmon charters keep fish? Is it illegal to keep bass? myself I like bass and think it tastes pretty good. I see nothing wrong with it if they do. if somebody pays for a charter I really dont see a problem in them taking something home for their money. We have more bass than anything and really dont see a problem with people taking them. its like anything else you have to thin the herd to have a healthy population.

The answer is yes, yes, and no. Bass is fine to eat although I don't eat them myself and as far as the rest of your reply your right on no arguments here.

 

[Big Dog]

If you are fishing legally with a license and within the rules and regulations set by the DNR you have every right to keep any legal sized fish you catch.
Some charter captains/guides set their own personal rules for C&R or keeping the fish, that is up to them and their business.
Do I keep the bass I catch, very rarely, unless I know the fish won't survive I release them. They are edible, but there are others that taste better IMO.

So yes it is legal, and it is a personal decision, to each his own.

 

[DR.hook]

they paid the money for the charter if they want to keep them they can. i keep small mouth every so often when i dont have fish in the freezer but i trow the bigger ones back... small mouth are acculally pretty good...

 

[heimskr]

Keeping legal sized fish is fine and C&R is a personal choice. The only problem I see is pounding a spot to death but even that isn't much of an issue. It's not like they can catch all the bass in the lake

 

[DR.hook]

i never herd of a herd of smallmouth...

...

 

[workingman]

I'm a believer in catch and release and that is all I practice with the exception of perch and walleye.

Fishing and keeping fish to eat is one of the oldest practices know to man. It is our choice to practice catch and keep or catch and release and I don't ever want that privilege taken away from me. That is why there are limits set. I'm not a fan of smallmouth for table fare but I don't like liver and brussel sprouts either. That is why there is chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc... Everyone has different taste. I think the amount of smallmouth kept is very low compared to the amount released and has very little impact on the fishery.

I'm more concerned about the kill rate from improperly handled fish at tournaments. I fished open and club tournaments for almost 10 years and one of the reasons I quit was because I couldn't handle seeing how poorly some jerks handled and released their fish. I recall one tournament close to the end of the season where there were 25 to 30 huge fish belly up floating in the coffee colored muddy water by Harley's launch. Almost all of these fish were 3.5 to 4.5 pounds and a few in the mid to high 5 pound range. I good number of the fish were from the top finishers that dragged them all the way from Erie in nasty conditions that beat the hell out of them.

People always have the right to keep and eat their catch as long as they stay within the limits and seasons.

 

[Fins and Grins]

i dont small mouth fish so im staying outta this one