Common Dilemma - Returning Big Fish

[Ell]

We must all have faced this problem at some time or another returning a big fish. I speak mainly about Cod(ling). What do you do with a Good size fish. 10lb plus, no camera, could be returned safely and you\'ve got plenty chicken dippers in the freezer. I\'ve never been put in such a horrible dilemma. I have an awful feeling I might keep it but a conscience that says I shouldn\'t. I\'m glad I\'m never going to have to face this situation in reality. Whaddayous reckon?

 

[TC]

Got to admit, Ell - I have kept fish even when the frezers been full of cod, ling, coalies, whiting & mackerel.
I fillet them and either dish them out to the neighbours or the lads at work.
I\'ve still got some fillets in the feezer from Summer trips out with Dave.

 

[mark]

I made the conscious descision, with much soul search a while back that any cod I catch that is over 25lbs will be returned poste haste. The last one I caught near that size left me in a similar dillema, but once the staff at the sea life centre had threatened police action and barred me for life the descision was a bit easier. They confiscated me hand line as well. I would of gotten away with it if me wellies hadn\'t come off in the tank

 

[Ell]

Aye Tony, many of us do that m8. What I am getting at I suppose is the difference in the way some fish are treated in a conservational sense (Not to be confused with conversational sense, we all talk to fish that\'s not at issue) e.g. Bass, specimen fish are returned to live and fight another day, spawn more and generally increase the health of the whole stock. Mullet, Wrasse, Tope and many other species are treated in a similar way. I get the feeling that Cod may be getting the poo end of the stick.

 

[Ell]

I\'ll leave it to someone else to do the ROTFALMFCABO Mark- just cut and paste it next

 

[mark]

WTFITSTMCIHTFIWYATA

 

[Ell]

Got as far as \"What the fuck is that shit that Michael Caine is hiding .......\" :exclam:

 

[TC]

I knew what you were getting at Ell and I think I was looking for a reason / excuse as to why I\'d keep such a fish.
I fully agree that this is a dilema. And, like you - I\'d INTEND to return the fish..........but would probably end up keeping it.

I also think that you\';re right in what you say as regards other species; bass, wrass, etc. I think I WOULD return them on \"conservation grounds\" - so why not cod.

It\'s strange, but when fishing from the shore, I\'d (and I dare say MOST of us would) keep a codling of 2lb. When boat fishing - the self policing of sizes seems to increase and I\'d probably return any under about 3lb.

 

[mark]

I\'ve always thought there is a strong argument to keep the smaller ones and release the bigger ones on the basis that if they made it that far they must be good survivors, so their genes would be better put to strengthening/furthering the species rather than keeping my chips company

 

[Ell]

Points taken lads and agreed with. I think the Dilemma as I put it is genuinely about these proper big fish. The buggers are as rare hens spectacles and I think my desire to at least beat the wife over the head with a double figure fish 1. to make up for the constant taunts of being not up to it in the fish department. and 2. It would hurt but leave few marks (Forensics found fish scale like identations in the victims side head area and a faint whiff of luggy on the breath. Free digital cameras for all sea anglers, and therapy for the partner could be the answer.

 

[Ell]

Err just to clarify.....would you return a 15lb shorecaught cod?

 

[TC]

Not intentionally :exclam:

 

[mark]

not up to it in the fish department

hmmnn, you might want to think that part over again!

 

[Ell]

Aye very funny Cutter This site is visited by many people that catch big fish on a regular basis. Gogs and people who fish near Gogs to name but a few. I\'m sure this issue is discussed on a regular basis at clubs stretching from Cleadon (just north of Gods own Country) to the badlands of Longbenton and beyond. Maximum size limits I think should be agreed upon.

 

[mark]

Aye very funny Cutter Cleadon (just north of Gods own Country)

EH! when did they move cleadon?? Hope they all satisfied lengthy quarantine and body cavity searches before they let em over the water

 

[Ell]

Just to set the scene...... I have purloined a laptop (fuck me you should see his favourites list) I have started using Tennants Super again. Got to Tynemouth on Sat. about 9:30 and found an offy (get in!) Perused the strong cider section to no avail. Asked assistant retail drink operative wether they had any \"Shit white cider\" \"Polite laugh\" no! So got a posh bottle of merrydown and 4 cans of \"The Old Purple Tin\" (By far the cleanest and best strong lager in the world), Carlseberg special has got secret chemicals in that make you go funny. Before consulting a doctor about ANY problem I would suggest a short course of Tennants Super. Just drank cans from back of car plus extra cider. Yeah that stuff about fish! Fuck em the lot of the them, the slimey little sea people making us cold. BOLLOCKS TO FISH,
This message was written by Richy and hacked into my computer,

 

[willywetegg]

After reading through this several times and wondering about Tony\"s special jam,i decided to go for the serious bit lol.i have had some funny looks and comments off anglers when returning fish of about 5 or 6 pounds.\"whats the matter, you not like fish\". I happen to think that a smaller fish tastes that bit sweeter.I also think along the afore mentioned lines that the bigger fish have more chance of producing more fish. I don\"t return all the bigger ones as you saw from saturday night, but just some times it gives a nice feeling to see one swim away after a good scrap. One fish that was not mentioned was the Bass. I was told (years ago) that it takes about 8 years for a bass to reach its legal catch size. No doubt quite a few people will read this and think legal size so what. I think the legal size for bass should be raised by a couple more inches. well not just bass. anyone that has fished roker pier will have been disgusted by the pratts that take undersized whiting. A legal sized whiting is not very big but there are still some that say \" I\"m just taking it home for the cat\". (are great are we getting a cat dad). I\"m not having a pop at the people that fish Roker i know it happens everywhere I have just seen it happen more there. The anti\"s have enough ammo at the moment and we are going to be next after the hunting gets banned.

 

[TC]

\"After reading through this several times and wondering about Tony\"s special jam.....\"
Jim, you\'ve got me wonderin\' now, m8 ???

\"One fish that was not mentioned was the Bass. \" ???
I did mention it, Jim.......\"......you\'re right in what you say as regards other species; bass, wrass, etc. I think I WOULD return them on \"conservation grounds\" \"

I agree with you about the minimum size for Whiting, Jim.
An \"in size\" whiting of 27cm is tiny. Not much left once it\'s filletted.
The minimum size is bad enough, but as you say, MANY undersized whiting are also taken. It won\'t be too long before there\'s virtually nothing left to catch if they continue to be taken at the current rate. I think anglers may be falling into the trap of believing that because they are catching Whiting there are plenty of them out there.
Isn\'t that what the trawlermen believed (and some still do, apparently) about Cod?

 

[BILLYB]

If you have enough fish in the freezer you should put fish back,Most anglers end up throwing fish away out of the freezer that has been there for months. Ell you can buy a camerafor a£5.00 that you can keep in your tackle box but i am sure it will be passed its use by date when you catch a big fish 15lb plus ha ha

 

[mark]

J Carlseberg special has got secret chemicals in that make you go funny.

Its all starting to make sense now, all those special brew and 1080 snakebites. didn\'y make me hair fall out tho