Okay, I'll ask the question. You all know I mess around alot, but am not heartless. So here's the question to ponder.

If I catch a Striper in warm water and keep him, the mortality rate is 100%. Caught = dead. Eaten yes, but dead none the less.

If caught and released, and mortality is 80 %, then 20% still live. 20% more fish to be caught by someone who may want to eat, or 20% less to stock next year. Caught and released if mortality rate tops at 80% is still less than 100% caught and eaten.

Now another way to look at it. All organic things that die will benefit some other living organism. Be it a bottom feeding predator, a crustacean, or an ameba. Organic things decay to organic matter that feeds eco systems.

So if I catch and release and 80% die, that 80% to some means will benefit something in the eco system. The 20% that live will reduce stocking costs and benefot the next fisherman. If I keep what I catch, 100% benefits me and me alone.

Glad to hear other thoughts, but rememeber, this is a sport, and sport is recreation, and recreation by its very essence is wasteful to some degree. If for no other reason than productive time is spent in a recreational effort that could have been spemt being productive.

Okay.......how many of you now know I used to be a logistics analyst, and how many of you just think I had too much Tequilla again?

I just want to share one thing with everyone on this board. I really enjoy all I read here, it broadens my horizons, I've learned alot, and I admit to trying to return the favor when ever I can.

Gotta go, laptop battery is dying, and I need to set my cot up in the van.