Does size count?

[rossysmallcast]

When I go fishing am always looking to put food on the plate, but only keep sized fish...

But...

On friday I went down the tyne at shields near the call centre and caught 3 codling, 3 whiting and 2 collies - All undersize - so all put back alive and safe and noting in the pan.

Now...

Am dissapointed with this as no fish supper - but my question to you guys is?

Would you class these catches in your running totals or do you only class sized fish in your running catch totals, and should i be disappointed or giving meself a little pat on the back for 8 fish.

Answers on a postcard - looking forward to the replies - oh and all were 2 hours after high tide!!!

 

[kingcod deano]

According to our lass yes size does count lol

 

[Charlton]

a pat on the back for putting all the fish back, some would keep undersized fish, personally I never counted undersized fish in my tally and to be honest never kept a tally of how many fish I caught.

 

[lingking]

great question

i only fish from the boats,but only count fish that are size or over:exclam:

 

[09gmarsh2009]

i also put back undersized fish,dont see any point keeping tiddlers,seen a few people keep fish they have landed and they have been tiny

 

[g.ordon]

non uk 'anglers' seem to be the worst, everything gets bagged regardless of size or species.

 

[Holl5080]

i also put back undersized fish,dont see any point keeping tiddlers,seen a few people keep fish they have landed and they have been tiny

I too have seen people take ridiculously small fish. It really baffles me why people do it?! What sort of meal are they going to get off a tiddler? My other pet hate is people who don't despatch size fish they are taking for the table and just leave them flapping around suffocating. It is not hard to kosh them on the head. Some people are literally too stupid and ignorant. I'm suprised they can do anything other than concentrate on breathing!...rant over!

 

[phill_itofish]

I'm 90% catch and release, not that I've got a problem keeping or with anyone else keeping underside fish, i much prefer fresh fish to frozen so im im not going to eat it the next day it goes back. I am of the opinion that size matters we all love catching big fish that said I would count all fish in a running total, at the end of the day size or not you've still caught it.

 

[Charlton]

did you mean running total for the session or year etc. Kept total of sizeable fish each session and that was about all

 

[2 Rods]

i used to keep most of the size fish for me brother in law as he loves fresh fish now ive completely changed my outlook if its lightly lipped regardless of size it goes back for another day only keep size fish that are deeply hooked ,its less fish for him but i feel better for it

 

[Pete from shields]

If a fish is of legal size and has some meat on it I would keep it if its for the table, all undersized fish or even sizable fish with but no meat on them go back to get bigger.

To answer you question size does matter lol and any woman telling you different is lying haha.

 

[rossysmallcast]

so was it a good session playing with 8 tiddlers ?

 

[clarky]

I too have seen people take ridiculously small fish. It really baffles me why people do it?! What sort of meal are they going to get off a tiddler? My other pet hate is people who don't despatch size fish they are taking for the table and just leave them flapping around suffocating. It is not hard to kosh them on the head. Some people are literally too stupid and ignorant. I'm suprised they can do anything other than concentrate on breathing!...rant over!

Exactly mate

 

[codcatcher3000]

u can report about the fish here regardless of size bud, but keep only legal ones if u want them for the table. yes some ethnic folk do keep the tiniest of fish ... puzzled me one day when i was on the wear ...he kept 2 palm sized flounders and maybe 4 green crabs. spoke no english but always smiled. said 'i home now' and offered me his bait..which was about 7 giant tiger prawns ~( raw). puzzles me to this day ....

 

[codseeker]

whenever undersize fish are kept the biggest excuse is "or they for the cat" or the dog a bet the cat or dog doesnt even excist of eat fish

 

[g.ordon]

whenever undersize fish are kept the biggest excuse is "or they for the cat" or the dog a bet the cat or dog doesnt even excist of eat fish

Yeah yer right seeker, some guys will use any excuse just to show the misses what a great angler they are, then the bin

 

[treeboa]

only time i will keep undersize if its that badly hooked that its not going to survive, with me yes they do feed the mutts, i have two, a lab and a terrier, both get fish in thier diet even if it means me buying it from asda, they been brought up on fish from pups, you cant have fish in this house without the begging , i do though prefer to get them back in if at all possible

 

[rossysmallcast]

I hope you guys realise I put all the fish back safely and alive....

 

[phill_itofish]

I hope you guys realise I put all the fish back safely and alive....

yeah mate we do, sorry we seem to have went a bit off topic

 

[Davey-m]

I only keep and count sizeable codling and the ones under 1lb 1/2 unless gut hooked would always go back also anything caught smaller than the largest fish of the session would go back if i had caught enough.

Am not dissing anyones catch but other species are just for fun or to keep me busy and if sized could count also if were gut hooked would be given away to other fisherman who wished to keep them.

Cod fishing is my bread and butter in the winter off our coast am starving at the min lol.