What am I going to do with all that...?

Jennie@ifish · 11-30-2003, 03:17 PM

It took me a long time to figure this out...

I don't have to kill everything I catch! [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

How many times (and how many years) have you come home and thought, "Now, what am I going to do with all of this salmon, crab, steelhead, halibut, tuna?!"

Well, guess what? I don't need to kill it all!

I have found it's almost more fun to let what I can't eat, go.

It's not necessary for me to always feed my neighbors and friends. If they want to learn to fish, then they can. If they really want some, then I'll ask them before hand, and plan on that for them.

However, there aren't that many fish left in the sea!

It kind of hit me when someone on the crabbing post posted, "Only take as many crabs as you can eat!" How simple, but how true!

Besides, it's a kick to let a silvery bright chinook go! Hey! I don't need all that meat, and who knows? If I let it go, maybe It would make a difference!

My freezer is full of salmon. I really doubt that I'll bonk even one steelhead. OK, maybe one or two, for fresh on the BBQ, but I certainly don't need to be bonking them all. Of course, with clipped steelies, some say you should kill them, so that they don't mess with spawning with the wild steelies. Maybe there is something to that.

But, with chinook, tuna, crab, halibut... Do we need all of that meat? Can you let some of these creatures go, or stop when you've caught all you can eat?

There is something that I see happen when the fishing is really hot. It's like people get caught up in some animal ritual and everything gets slaughtered and the blood flies. I know the feeling!

But-- You know, there is plenty to enjoy besides hooking and bonking when you are out at sea, besides the fish. Same when you are on the river, or in the bay. Watch the birds and other marine life.. take pictures, whatever! Break out a picnic, pull over to shore, and enjoy yourself a little.

Will that make a difference? I tend to think it would!

Tell me if I'm all wrong. It's happened before! :smile:

Jen

Gone Fishin · 11-30-2003, 03:34 PM

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Jennie,
I couldn't agree with you more!

ampersat · 11-30-2003, 04:09 PM

Gee, wish I had that problem. I got a lucky break this year and picked up a three fish limit on the upper Sandy and two of them were 10+ pound fish. I smoked some fish, I've eaten some fish and I still have some fish in the freezer. I've only tagged about eight fish this year. It was a good year for me. As I get a little better though, I probably won't keep every fish. As for crabbing, seeing as how crab doesn't freeze all that well, I probably won't over crab. Just what the wife and I can eat in a day or two. It just makes sense.

Jennie, good for you that you came to this realization. Hopefully others will follow in your path as well. You know, bringing home fish isn't the only measure of a successful fishing trip.

letsfish · 11-30-2003, 04:10 PM

I too agree. We have this mentality of get it, kill it, tag it. How about get it, let it go and keep fishing(no need to worry about a limit)?! I think we are prone to feeling a need to bring home a fish to verify our fishing experience.But we need to think bigger, that is prove to who? If you have friends or family that question your prowness then that is their problem not yours, don't let it be your problem.
If you don't need your catch and you don't see yourself carrying for it, then let it go. Maybe someone else can catch that same fish and use it.Or if the fish is lucky, it might impart the next genteration of fishies.

FEAR NO FISH! · 11-30-2003, 04:15 PM

Jennie,
It only took me 15 years to figure that out. I thought of all the steel that I have killed in the last 14 years. It changed the way I do my night fishing. I have only kept 3 this year and let the other 60 go. Now Springers are a whole nuther story. [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img] :grin:

Full Freezer · 11-30-2003, 04:22 PM

I,m with FNF. I'll keep my delicious springers & maybe most the chinook/coho and only hatchery steelhead & keeper sturgeon & halibut & lingcod &..... :grin:

Pitch Pocket · 11-30-2003, 04:24 PM

I have a shopping list....40 lbs salmon, 20 lbs clean crab, 600 shrimps, 60 lbs halibut, 40 lbs sturgeon etc. to put into the freezer vacuumed packed. Next year, I'm going to add tuna to the list. When I get my list filled, I'm either catch and release or on to the next species or activity.

Jennie@ifish · 11-30-2003, 04:26 PM

No kidding! I don't think I could release a springer without at least taking just one small bite out of it's side!
Oh! It's wounded! Keep it!
:grin:

SSPey · 11-30-2003, 04:53 PM

"A fish is too valuable to be caught only once"

Lee Wulff

There's plenty of photos of Lee with keepers, but he was certainly onto something. Now that we understand that returning salmon are needed for healthy rivers, I hope that we'll see more of this.

Interesting that guided trips which "limited out by 9 am" are considered the most successful. I personally cherish my time on the water more than what I bring home.

Would today's best-known salmon guides (some of whom advertise on ifish) be willing to tolerate C+R if it meant that they had to put in a longer day?

food for thought...

Chukrchaser · 11-30-2003, 05:10 PM

Wish I had the problem! This discussion is soooo on the opposite end of a scale! I really like trout -- I fly fish for trout -- You should have seen and heard the comments from a couple of "Orvis catalogs" when I bonked 2 for my supper -- caught 8 or ten that afternoon catch and release -- then the last 2 were destined for the pan -- I was lured into a discussion with these folks and they were convinced that I was totally wrong. (this was in a section of Montana river that the Montana Fish & Wildlife says has about 1100 fish per mile of river or some such astronomical number).

What a country!

Jennie@ifish · 11-30-2003, 05:18 PM

...and then there are those that think catch and release is cruel. I have a friend who does my oil changes in town, that says you eat what you catch. Period. Anything else is cruel and pointless.

I can see so many points of view! He does have a point that has given me much to think about.

and then, there is PETA. :smile:

Jen

SturgeonKing50 · 11-30-2003, 05:30 PM

I grew up on a small farm and learned at an early age that you should never keep more than you could eat and always put a few back or let some go. This was for both fishing and hunting. We should all be good stewards of the world we live in. I will always say I would rather have something to fish and hunt for. Eating is wonderful but being able to fish or hunt for something is much better.

WheresMyBobber · 11-30-2003, 05:34 PM

I used to be the same way - I think it's kind of an addiction. I'd fill my freezer, give some to friends and family, then start filling my parents freezer. Any more, I only to catch enough to make we have some in the freezer, share some with my parents, and after that I cut back on my fishing time and enjoy the outdoors in other ways such as hiking and biking. Since I've changed my ways, my fishing days seem to mean more to me, and I have more time to do other things I enjoy.

I think some of this may also have to do with the "stages of fishing", as well as the "stages of life" a person may be going through.

Jennie@ifish · 11-30-2003, 05:43 PM

So, what if I can only eat a half of an elk?
[img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]
Do I just release the rest?
Jen

duckcall · 11-30-2003, 06:01 PM

My hunting partner and I have a rule that only one elk for the two of us. That's enough for each family. We also have sat in the blind and enjoyed ducks coming into the decoys and taking off again and never taking a shot. Oftentimes the best trip is when we had good fellowship and enjoyed God's Creation without "filling the bag".

All Wet · 11-30-2003, 06:08 PM

If you have some elk meat that you can't eat send me an e-mail.

rob allen · 11-30-2003, 06:13 PM

On the north coast there is a very good way to determine which ones can go in the freezer and which can go back to the river

hatcheries go in the freezer wilds go back in the river.

fishbait · 11-30-2003, 06:35 PM

Jen,

I agree with you, took me 15 plus years but about 10 years ago it became easier to release fish. This year for the first time in many many years I still have tillamook punches left on my tag. Released large chrome hens with sealice and it really just didnt matter as it was the fishing and friendship that was important. I no longer consider processing fish for the freezer/smoker a necessity for a successful fishing trip. Now that being said it is easier to practice C&R when you DO have fish in your freezer. Now the trick will be to release a fin clipped springer in early April......... not

Jennie@ifish · 11-30-2003, 06:39 PM

Maybe Bill's 50 some years of experience rubbed off on me, early. :smile:

We have a thing now, though... after fishing and releasing.

He'll turn to me and say, "Your turn to clean the fish."

Of course, there are no fish. But it makes us both smile. :smile:

and hey, don't waste that backstrap. If anyone has any extra backstrap... please send it my way! I'll catch you a fish, if you need it! :smile:

Dang, I love that stuff!

Jen

2slow · 11-30-2003, 06:54 PM

Hats off to all of you!! Fishing is what is best, catching is a bonus and killing is just not necessary. There is nothing wrong with eating what you catch, in fact it is manditory if you kill it. We have to learn to enjoy our resources without destroying or hurting them. The ability to do this seperates us as sportsmen and women from the neanderthals who need to kill to declare their outings a success.

FASTWATER · 11-30-2003, 07:15 PM

after 100's of fall fish this year my freezer is empty but my heart is full!!!PEACE!!!

salmurai · 12-01-2003, 10:19 AM

I figured out a long time ago, that it is easier to turn it loose than clean it. Besides, when does a fish in the freezer need company?

greenbuttskunk · 12-01-2003, 12:09 PM

very true. It is alot more fun to catch than to always kill and fill the freeze. It's a good feeling to let a big beautiful fish go and know just maybe it will help out it's own gene pool.I bet alot of folks end up with freezer burned fish that they really meant to eat but did'nt. Then it ends up being tossed or used for crab bait. I guess for some it's a catch and kill mentality that goes back to the caveman, it's instinctive. For me the pursuit of the prey, and the fight is were it's at. getting back to the dock or house and not having to fillet a mess of fish is sure nice too, especially after a very long day.

Fish_N_Russ · 12-01-2003, 12:20 PM

Wow, those of you with the 'extra fish and meat problem' should feel lucky. Many of us fish and fish and fish and are never successful as some of you, especially those who live really close to good fishing :smile: I have about 10lbs total of fish/shellfish in my freezer and most of that is store bought.

slabhunter · 12-01-2003, 01:26 PM

Ethically mature fishers contribute to enjoyable fishing today and in the future.

Spot · 12-01-2003, 01:39 PM

OK, I'm as guilty as everyone else here of having kept more, at times, than I should have.....
If you're on the fence with this issue, try releasing a legal fish in front of somebody who's been at it all day without success. The look on their face will make it all worthwhile.

will_e_fish · 12-01-2003, 02:20 PM

That is the golden rule we all should live by.
Can't eat it all, however if you do you will be a bigger person for it. So it is not necessarily a pretty thing to keep putting new notches in your belt and you run out of belt.
My neighbors all love smoked fish but dont go through the effort to fish. Sometimes extra fish goes to them. Sharing beer for fish is always good.
I waste little and recycle everything,has to be very bad to go to the garbage.
I only eat fish and other water dwellers.
I will always have room for more crab, springers and TUNA.

Jennie@ifish · 12-01-2003, 04:38 PM

We did that, Slab, on the Nehalem this year. I've never seen bigger eyes!
LOL!
J

pearl · 12-01-2003, 04:58 PM

This post is very timely.

Yesterday myself and a friend drifted the lower N Fork of the Nehalem. Our goal was to catch steelhead but we did stop at one salmon hole on the way. We found one big nook that took a jig on my buddies rod. During the 15 to 20 minute fight we had a conversation. Should we keep the fish or let it go. Conversation started as... is the fish brite or is it dark? About mid way through the fight we talked about do we need any more salmon at home? We both decided no we don't. Freezer has fish in it and I like to be out by the time January rolls around. By the end of the fight we made a joint decision to release a very nice 30+ lb nook and it felt good! At the end of the day we shook hands and thanked each other for a great day on the river.

Pearl

P.S. I did have one hidden agenda though. It was the first trip out for a drift boat I bought a while back and I'm a firm believer in releasing the first fish caught in a new boat back to the fish gods. And yes Jennie I had to release a Springer in February of 2000 when I purchased my NorthRiver. People thought I was absolutly freaking crazy but the gods have been very kind to that boat over the last three years.

rebell · 12-01-2003, 07:06 PM

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Katfish [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Great post.

I am so proud of everyone here, this is the start of better things to come for all of you. And way to go Jen, you have just graduated to another level.

There is nothing wrong with CnR when done corectly, it sure beats wasting a fish that gave you so much pleasure. If you are going to keep any fish, show it some respect by taking care of it properly all the way to the dinner table.

Katfish · 12-01-2003, 11:50 PM

I definitly think it is a life stages thing. As we get older we find our self worth in other things. When we are young and full of vigor (read testosterone) our whole purpose is to be on top of the food chain. We find define ourselves by how many fish we catch or how big the rack is on our deer/elk. Our focus changes as we get older and especially when we have kids of our own! It is our job to take what we have learned and pass it on to the next generation. Hopefully, it won't take them as long to learn the lessons it took us so long to learn.

12-01-2003, 11:55 PM

Katfish! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Empire · 12-02-2003, 06:14 AM

Two weeks ago I took my 3 year old son trout fishing. He managed to catch a good sized Sacramento Pikeminnow (similar to a Northern, but a different fish native to CA). He kept it in the livewell to watch it for a while. He even gave the fish a name. We took some pics of the fish then let it go. I was proud of him as he watched the fish swim away. My son is so proud of himself he tells everyone of the fish he caught and released, and how it was his first!

Here is a pic, I had to put the fish on a stringer because he would not hold it.

Bonneville Dan · 12-02-2003, 06:55 AM

Couldn't agree more with you, Jenny. I've known people who have hauled home dozens of crabs, some of which end up buried in the garden. Same with smelt when the runs were consistently strong. What a waste. At least when left behind, it can do some good in the natural reproduction cycle.

Besides, any fish or seafood is so much better when it's fresh, or second choice-frozen for a short time. Freezer burned fish or clams, or flavorless crab doesn't appeal to me anymore than falafal or beef tripe. The Foodsaver helps, but some fish doesn't freeze well in my opinion, such as sturgeon. In the off seasons, I'd rather eat an occasional chunk of [reasonably fresh] store-bought farmed fish, which is also MUCH less expensive.

Glad to hear this subject discussed. Lots of great posts!

Dan