Let’s suppose you were travelling from one spot to another today, and you had to pass by another boat that was fishing. You’re idling by and they have a few rods out. You politely ask them to reel up so you can get by. At first they are annoyed they have to reel up, until you explain, “Dude I’m trying to go close to you so I don’t motor over where you are fishing.” Suppose they still don’t get it and you have to do a little reverse and are sitting 8’ short of their boat. Then you see one of the guys is messing with a fish at the side of the boat, and finally just lets it go at the side of the boat, and it’s all belly up. Closer look and it’s about a 2.5lb trout, and it’s floating off.
So then you ask them, wtf is up with that fish? They say it was throat hooked and is going to die. You ask, “Well why didn’t you keep it?” “Well we tried to revive it but it’s too messed up. It’s just going to die.” So you ask, “Well why didn’t you keep it?”. Answer - “Got some stuff to do tonight so don’t have time to mess with it. You’re welcome to it if you wan’t though (as its floating off)”. I ask, “So you’re just going to let it float off?” “Yeah, but you can have it.” So we grab it and move on.
The moral of the story? I don’t really know? Sort of really bothered me. Young adults, no respect for the fish, Yeti cooler, and an aluminum boat.
Hoppy, I don’t like what they did! If you can legally keep the fish you should! That’s Wanton Waste. But on the other hand, suppose it was an over slot Red! What do you do in that case? But Officer, it was going to die anyway, so I didn’t want to waste it!
It has been said it takes a village to raise a child , having said this I would say if you had a chance to teach the younger adults something about living a responsible life that would benefit them as well as others it would be your duty to speak up . Sometimes you can’t because some people are not teachable but a little seed put in their head might go a long way .
We have all done and still make mistakes . I know I have made more than my share but glad I had family , friends and strangers to shed some light on the things I did . Sometimes I learn form the kids themselves . I think people in general think what they do is right if only right in their mind .
A few words put in the right tone to these adults might be all it would take to get them to think . I wonder how many fish were killed by adults testing nuclear bombs in the ocean . Hoppy , you have a responsibility to teach and help your brother fisherman just tell them nicely or just say : I saw you kill that fish and I am going to let it go this time but if it happens again , well I’ll have to kill ya .
Usually the only trout and reds I keep are the ones that are gut hooked or gill hooked and were going to die anyway. Unless they are over or under slot. Got to turn those loose even if dead. But keeping things in perspective, nothing in that river goes to waste and it still ends up at it’s ultimate end, dead in the water and food for others. The crabs and other creatures have to eat too. I sure wouldn’t do it myself, but if I don’t eat it something else will, so it’s not really wasted in the overall scheme of things. But I don’t like it and wouldn’t do it either myself. I try not to kill anything I can’t eat, except armadillos, mosquitoes and gnats:face_with_head_bandage:
Why go fishing if you don’t eat the fish? I’m odd like that, I guess? I’ve been a few times bill fishing, just don’t see the sport in it. I personally go fishing to catch a mess to eat. otherwise I just ride and enjoy the water and scenery. Even if I’m not going to eat the fish, I know many neighbors that I’ll get a big tight hug around the neck for bringing them some delicious fishes. Can’t beat it!
On a side note, on all fish to catch why would you not want to keep a legal trout? mmmmm most delicious. No time for cleaning? put the whole danm thing in the freezer and clean later.
“If Bruce Jenner can keep his wiener and be called a woman, I can keep my firearms and be considered disarmed.”
Let’s suppose you were travelling from one spot to another today, and you had to pass by another boat that was fishing. You’re idling by and they have a few rods out. You politely ask them to reel up so you can get by. At first they are annoyed they have to reel up, until you explain, “Dude I’m trying to go close to you so I don’t motor over where you are fishing.” Suppose they still don’t get it and you have to do a little reverse and are sitting 8’ short of their boat. Then you see one of the guys is messing with a fish at the side of the boat, and finally just lets it go at the side of the boat, and it’s all belly up. Closer look and it’s about a 2.5lb trout, and it’s floating off.
So then you ask them, wtf is up with that fish? They say it was throat hooked and is going to die. You ask, “Well why didn’t you keep it?” “Well we tried to revive it but it’s too messed up. It’s just going to die.” So you ask, “Well why didn’t you keep it?”. Answer - “Got some stuff to do tonight so don’t have time to mess with it. You’re welcome to it if you wan’t though (as its floating off)”. I ask, “So you’re just going to let it float off?” “Yeah, but you can have it.” So we grab it and move on.
The moral of the story? I don’t really know? Sort of really bothered me. Young adults, no respect for the fish, Yeti cooler, and an aluminum boat.
Made me sad…
Thoughts?
I agree with Cracker. Other things have to eat too. BTW, Hoppy, what do you have against Yeti coolers and aluminum boats?
Hoppy, as a Guide, whether admittedly or not, I think you view our Natural Resources as a far greater value than recreational fishermen. In my opinion, as a Guide, you walk a fine line between entertaining clients, and protecting the Natural Resources that are your livelyhood. Sure discarding a wounded fish will feed the scavengers, but they somehow manage without it. Todays youth have the mindset that being one with nature is old school, and outdated. As a young fellow I was taught to honor all that the outdoors offered me. I feel that such honor has somehow been lost in today’s youth. Killing, afterall, is not a sport, harvesting is!
I’m not sure about your disdain for the aluminum boat though? I’ve caught four Largemouth’s over 12#s out of a little 10 footer. It was the only way I could get to 'em…
…Politicians aren’t the “Oldest Profession”, but the results are still the same.
When they come for my guns and ammo. I plan on giving them the ammo. first!
Thanks for the reply’s. All good logic. I agree that “Nature Wastes No Protein” and it’s all going to be recycled and put back into the food chain. That said and understood, why not be able to leave a deer, or ducks, birds, rabbits, etc on the ground where you shot it, just because you were, busy that night and didn’t have time to deal with it? Is there really a difference? I was more po’d at the cavalier “too bad it’s going to die, but we just don’t have time to deal with it tonight” attitude. I gut or gill hook fish from time to time that I have no intention of keeping. When I do I can always find someone who wants it. I guess I’m saying I assume some responcibility*…
I’m not sure about your disdain for the aluminum boat though? I’ve caught four Largemouth’s over 12#s out of a little 10 footer. It was the only way I could get to 'em…
I get it. That kinda bothers me too. But knowing what cracker larry does wIll now help me make better decisions when I find myself in similar situations.
Why did it float off? Even a gut hooked fish will swim off most of the time. I’ve read studies on mortality rate of gut hooked fish and I was surprised that a lot of them lived if you just cut the leader as short as you can. Most of them that the hook was removed or tried to be removed died.
Why did it float off? Even a gut hooked fish will swim off most of the time. I’ve read studies on mortality rate of gut hooked fish and I was surprised that a lot of them lived if you just cut the leader as short as you can. Most of them that the hook was removed or tried to be removed died.
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
Chances are, they probably tried to extract the hook before giving up and by that time, the damage had been done. That’d be my guess.
Thankfully, I don’t have that problem with artificials.
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
I find it very sad and concerning that no one really has an issue with killing and tossing a nice keeper fish and ok with tossing it because you didn’t have time to deal with it. Not why it was hooked, how it was hooked, or what you had to do tonight?
What’s the difference between killing a fish, and killing a deer and just leaving it, because you didn’t have time to deal with it? The fun is in the killing, correct?
I find it very sad and concerning that no one really has an issue with killing and tossing a nice keeper fish and ok with tossing it because you didn’t have time to deal with it. Not why it was hooked, how it was hooked, or what you had to do tonight?
What’s the difference between killing a fish, and killing a deer and just leaving it, because you didn’t have time to deal with it? The fun is in the killing, correct?
Hoppy, You said in your first post that they were trying to revive it so give them some credit. The difference between the fish and deer scenario is that these boys went out to fish (catch and release) and they accidentally maimed a nice fish. The deer hunter goes out to kill a deer. You can’t shoot and release. The kid who “let it go” may have thought you would give him a hard time for killing a nice female and was hoping it would sink it then be no issue. Just saying, hope you don’t take offence. Wish I’d been there to snag it when it went by.
Miss Lilly, I respect your opinion, but I gotta say - Yeah but…
Here’s a story. Back when I was a famous bird shooter my group was invited on a really nice dove shoot. Plantation house, pig roast, people waiting on you hand and foot, wagon ride to the field, you get the picture.
The field was in walking distance to the house, and as people finished shooting most just walked in from the field. The guy hosting it greeted everyone as they walked in, asked how they did, and pointed out a fellow to give your birds to. He would breast, wash, and put them in bags for you. Really nice high brow shoot.
Anyway, one of the guys with us came out of the field, the host greeted him, asked if he enjoyed himself and how he did. He said great and thanked the host. The host gave him the spiel about taking his birds to the fellow to clean. Our guy said he didn’t have any, at which point the host asked why not and where were his doves? He said they are still in the field. The host asked why he didn’t bring them in. Our guy said, and straight faced, “I didn’t pick them up”. The host asked why not? Our guy said, “Well no one told me it was a dove pick up. They said it was a dove shoot.” We were never invited back to that one, and rightfully so.
But really, what’s the difference? You kill it and accept responsibility or you don’t. What if you “wing” a bird and leave it there to just hope it will gather up and be ok. At the end of the day, what’s really the difference?
