Are you more likely to keep a fish now?

Mako · Post by **Mako** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:48 am

Blindmullet wrote:I really don't keep anything. I did take a red around christmas time. A good supply of fish makes it my way from family. Just had some mako steaks last week and will have some more this weekend.

this is just wrong man

Mark R · Post by **Mark R** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:21 am

Mako wrote:
Blindmullet wrote:I really don't keep anything. I did take a red around christmas time. A good supply of fish makes it my way from family. Just had some mako steaks last week and will have some more this weekend.
this is just wrong man

Hey do mullet count? Fresh mullet fried, yummmmm.

Todd · Post by **Todd** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:43 am

I have always kept fish. Keeps "she who must be obeyed" happy. Our family eats fish, usually the day I catch them. Have not frozen fish in a long time, to me it does not matter how you freeze them it is still not the same as fresh.

Will always keep a redfish, if I catch a keeper. The occasional snook, I dock fish a lot so I see plenty of keepers, don't always catch them, but when I do I will keep a few a year. Rarely ever keep trout, especially since the red tide. Snapper/grouper/cobia definitely keep.

Vercetti · Post by **Vercetti** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:56 am

I haven't caught a legal fish in 2008, so I know my input is irrelavent. Regardless, I don't ususally keep fish unless I am camping.

Silverspoon · Post by **Silverspoon** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:23 am

My family loves fish so yes we keep fish if they are legal. Am I more likely to keep them now as opposed to a year ago? No, since I would generally always keep them a year ago also. I am happy for all those people who have no economic incentive to keep fish but I like to cut expenses whenever I can. I will bend over to pick up a penny on the ground every time I see one. If I can save on my food bill by keeping fish you betcha I am all for it and I am also more confident of the quality of the fish. I just don't like eating fish which I don't know where they came from or who handled them or how they were handled.

mudfish · Post by **mudfish** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:43 am

Silverspoon wrote:...I just don't like eating fish which I don't know where they came from or who handled them or how they were handled.

If you're ever in NY and ever get the chance, check out the Fulton Fishmarket at 3am. You'll see EVERY kind of fish, mollusk and crustacean, and then some. Keep a cautious eye open for fish getting flung through the air like a skitterwalk across a flats.
Was a neat experience.

Snook712 · Post by **Snook712** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:01 pm

I only kept three fish (2 reds and 1 trout) last year and all were gut hooked and bleeding so bad I knew they would croak. It is such a hassle to keep them fresh on the water and then during the hour drive back home from my fishing grounds.

I find it is easier to buy fish from Publix when in the mood but have no objections to people keeping a few for the table.

mudfish · Post by **mudfish** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:05 pm

Snook712 wrote:...It is such a hassle to keep them fresh on the water and then during the hour drive back home from my fishing grounds...

A fish bag on the LHDB and a cooler full of ice in the ride home works quite well for TS1 a & I. Guess it all depends on if you feel up to the hassle of loading and carting those in the morning or not.

LivelyBaits · Post by **LivelyBaits** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:15 pm

FishingDL wrote:
I never fault anybody for keeping a legal fish but those that keep fish against the regulations should be fined and lose the right to have a fishing license for at least a year.

I vote for this proposal.

pbr · Post by **pbr** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:02 pm

This fish bag has worked out great, refreeze ice pac's fit in pockets. I put the fish in a plastic bag to keep things clean since I keep my drink and lunch in it too. Load it in the morning, lasts all day no problem, easy to sling over shoulder and carry.

Capt Bob J. · Post by **Capt Bob J.** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:35 pm

I haven't kept a fish for over 4 years. I've ate so many fish over the years that they're much more important to me in the water than on the table. An interesting thing is not one of my charters has asked to keep a slot fish in all that time either. I'd be lying if I said that bothered me, actually I think it's great!

Dustin · Post by **Dustin** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:04 am

I keep fish almost every trip. I like to eat them at least two days a week. That said, I never freeze fish...always fresh for me. I don't keep any snook or 5lb+ trout. Reds, flounder, smaller trout, cobia, etc. are all fair game though. They're good for ya and it does help offset the cost of fishing to some degree.

Snowman · Post by **Snowman** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:12 pm

Yes and no......I Came home with 4 keeper Gag grouper and a nice Mangrove snapper last friday. ....i went out on this trip with the intention of putting some meat in the freezer. Offshore fishing for me is not relaxing.....it's hard work and chum, bait and fuel are expensive. I enjoy the pay off of putting a few grouper filets in the freezer 2 or 3 times a year.
I have on occassion kept a legal slot red or snook........or a trout or two but it's rare. I'm not saying that keeping one secies over another is better........I just prefer to catch, release and relax while kayak fishing.
I don't see a need to keep packing the freezer with fish trip after trip.

Dreads · Post by **Dreads** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:52 pm

Salt, Pepper, Old Bay and minced garlic, battered and fried golden brown.
with cheese grits and shrimp gravy.

Need I say More.......

Paddle-Fishing.com

Are you more likely to keep a fish now?

Are you more likely to keep a legal fish now than you were a year ago?

Keeping fish..