I understand where you are comming from Dave, and have to tell you first and foremost that I have never kept a fish, I throw them ALL back. That being said, I do intend to keep a fish in the future, if it meets certain criteria. I believe in being a good steward of the waters I fish and respect and adhere to the concept of catch, photograph, and release. I do not howerver condem someone for keeping a high quality fish for a trophy. What is the harm in doing so? True this fish may produce many fish in the future, but how limited is that future? Would you rather toss a trophy class fish back into the water, only to have it cought and released a few more times before it goes belly up? The problem is with people keeping short fish and fish that are cought that barely exceded the minimum size limit. Those are the fish that need to be returned because their spawning potential far exceeds that of a large older fish, not to mentioned the comparitavely minimal effect on the ammount of forage available. I respect your attitude about throwing them all back, but what is the danger of me keeping that big-un' if it is the only fish I have kept in 10 years?
-Keep on chuckin'
Reply With Quote