Florida Bass Fishing Forum
Smallmouth, Largemouth, We're All About Bass!

Why is it so necessary to release Large and Smallmouth bass?

I mean people take every other fucking fish in the lake especially the big ones that repopulate the lake. So why is every damn bass fisherman so anal about the keeping of bass. It's as if you will be hunted down for it. They're just another fish. People have told me because the fish never get stocked regularly, so what about panfish such as redear they don't reproduce all that much and people keep them as if there is an unlimited supply.

Public Comments

1. I release bass because I don't eat them.

2. some people are quite religious about their catch and release I personally don't get it I practice catch what is legal and eat it, fortunately I haven't had any big arguments about it on the water

3. ...I am an ex baseball player so I am very superstitious...I think it is bad luck to keep a fish that I try to catch for points or money...I never keep them, but my club keeps small ones from time to time for our yearly fish fry, but I try to avoid it...I am so superstitious I wear the same under ware (washed of course) t-shirt, jeans or shorts, and hat every time I fish for money or points...I also don't like the taste of Bass...Crappie is a different story though...

4. I would say it's because it takes so long for a fish to grow to a "trophy" size. So are they anal about releasing small ones or just big ones? Depending on where you are at, it may take a Smallmouth close to 20 years to be a 20" fish.

5. I don't release them. I catch my limit of 10 per day and what I don't eat immediately goes into my freezer to be eaten at a later date. Release yours if you wish, but I'm eating mine.I hunt all fall and winter, and must catch enough bass in the spring and summer to last all year.

6. Personally, I think Largemouth Bass don't taste so good. Smallmouth can be tasty if caught in a cold water environment.

I don't really care if people keep their limit of Bass.

However, I always remind people that Bluegill/Crappie/ general Panfish are MUCH easier to catch and there will always be many more Panfish in a lake VS Bass.

Most Bass-fishermen know that once a Bass population reaches a certain "low spawning rate" it's tough for the fish to rebound. If you cull out only 12-14" fish to take home "occasionally", your generally not affecting the Bass populace. But, if your taking home 4-5LBers every trip, within 5-6 trips you will be greatly affecting the Bass populace in your area lake.

With as many great tasting Panfish, Catfish, Walleye, Pike, in any given watershed WHY take home the one that doesn't taste all that "sweet" and puts on a great "show" when hooked?

Good fishing.

7. It's all for the quality of the fishery. If you keep your limit of 10-15 inch bass that's fine. However if you keep big fish that's just lame because now no one else can ever have the opportunity to catch that big fish. Also there are many more little bass in a lake than big bass so you are hurting the population if keeping big ones.

If you catch a monster bass, like let's say 8 pounds and you want it mounted, there are other alternatives. Measure and weigh the fish and take pictures of it from different angles. Now release the fish. Then take your pictures and measurements to a taxidermist and ask for a reproduction. They look just as good and last better.

I hope you understand now why it is important to practice selective harvest and release the bigger fish.

8. i don't keep them cause i'm too lazy to fillet them. unless i go fishingwith someone else

9. it is the same with a lot of trout fly fishers. it is mainly for the sport. bass are a self-sustaining fish like bluegill and crappie. but l am another that doesn't prize these highly as eating fish. l would much rather eat a fine mess of crappie. l do eat an occasional bass but l release all the big ones to help maintain a healthy gene pool.
and you are mistaken. bluegill, redear and other panfish will very quickly overpopulate a lake if not kept in check by larger predators such as bass.