Eat your catch or release?

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

The spotted seatrout are hitting everything in sight.

I love to catch and devour spotted seatrout. Last out, near Chokoloskee, we busted out our limit less than 2 hours. They were hitting like freight trains. Out at 4 in by 6 dinner by 7.

 

[sasto]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

The biggest thing about fishing, for me, is just being out in the boat on a nice sunny day with a warm breeze. Catching a fish is just another bonus.....

Got that right! Sometimes I feel like just throwing a hook and sinker out the back of the boat. I don't want to be bothered.

I love to catch and devour spotted seatrout. Last out, near Chokoloskee, we busted out our limit less than 2 hours. They were hitting like freight trains. Out at 4 in by 6 dinner by 7.

Hoe is the fishing this year in your area, idonthaveaname? I've seen more snook, tarpon, redfish, and trout caught this year than in a long time.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

This is one of the best threads! Everybody participating seems to understand fishing and why we love it so much. Yeah it's great to catch fish but that's not the most important thing to us. There's days when I just let the line drift and grab a book or listen to the radio and there's day's when I'm on the hunt with a vengance. Either way I come home feeling sooooo much better than when I left. Eating the fish I bring home is a rule for me. I don't waste that precious commodity. If I'm not intent on eating it, I release it if it will survive. Otherwise, I cut it up and send it back to the bottom as food for the other critters in the food chain.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

Got that right! Sometimes I feel like just throwing a hook and sinker out the back of the boat. I don't want to be bothered.

I with you guys on that....as my tag line shows.

Hoe is the fishing this year in your area, idonthaveaname? I've seen more snook, tarpon, redfish, and trout caught this year than in a long time.

The last time out it was slow as mentioned above...$500 for one fish. Then again, it's not about the fish. Good days or bad days, it's all better than having to go to work on Monday. So far this year, we have been so busy around the house, helping family, and me rebuilding my little run-about, there hasn't been much time for fishing. According to my buds in the area I haven't missed much. The Keys and the Glades are slow and my two favorite places. I'll probably head down to Key Largo in a couple of weeks...may be some crazy fishing or just sunset with a couple of Coronas.

 

[sasto]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

I'll probably head down to Key Largo in a couple of weeks...may be some crazy fishing or just sunset with a couple of Coronas.

I'm planning a trip to the Keys within the next couple weeks......for a Corona! Since I don't have a trailerable boat, I may borrow a 17'er from a friend. I was thinking about going to Islamorada. Where do you stay in Key Largo? Any recommendations of a place in Islamorada? I'll bring some extra Corona in case (pun intended) we run into each other.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

I used to have a place in Islamorada, but that was long ago. Before that, when we needed a place to stay Breezy Palms was nice. It's ocean side and has a ramp. If you want to stay in Key Largo, PM me with the dates. I have the nice place, bay side, that is very reasonable and maybe it is available.

 

[sasto]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

I used to have a place in Islamorada, but that was long ago. Before that, when we needed a place to stay Breezy Palms was nice. It's ocean side and has a ramp. If you want to stay in Key Largo, PM me with the dates. I have the nice place, bay side, that is very reasonable and maybe it is available.

Thanks for the info. I did see Breezy Palms the last time we were there. Prices are reasonable according to the link you posted. We have boat races to attend on the weekend of the 15th and probably the following week head south. I will keep in touch!

Hey WIMUSKY, I have always wanted a big musky. Never had a chance to hook one up. I spent some time in the UP of Michigan on a lake a couple times. I had no luck.....and at the time there was nobody around to show me the ropes.

Someday I will get one.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

I've never been much for catch & release - if it hits my fish box, it will be on the supper table, as soon as possible.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

Thanks for the info. I did see Breezy Palms the last time we were there. Prices are reasonable according to the link you posted. We have boat races to attend on the weekend of the 15th and probably the following week head south. I will keep in touch!

Hey WIMUSKY, I have always wanted a big musky. Never had a chance to hook one up. I spent some time in the UP of Michigan on a lake a couple times. I had no luck.....and at the time there was nobody around to show me the ropes.

Someday I will get one.

When that time comes--- Do not thumb it! A friend has what I believe is a musky, stuffed on his wall. That mouth has hundreds of little needles in it. Not really teeth but definately not thumbable.

 

[sasto]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

When that time comes--- Do not thumb it! A friend has what I believe is a musky, stuffed on his wall. That mouth has hundreds of little needles in it. Not really teeth but definately not thumbable.

Got that right, foodfisher! I wan't one that needs to be netted, not thumbed.

Released 7 Seatrout yesterday. Not much skill involved lately. A hook, a live shrimp, and a popping bobber. We had a couple days of cold weather (high 30's, low 40's) a couple years ago which killed off alot of our gamefish. They are really making a comeback.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

Thanks for the info. I did see Breezy Palms the last time we were there. Prices are reasonable according to the link you posted. We have boat races to attend on the weekend of the 15th and probably the following week head south. I will keep in touch!

Hey WIMUSKY, I have always wanted a big musky. Never had a chance to hook one up. I spent some time in the UP of Michigan on a lake a couple times. I had no luck.....and at the time there was nobody around to show me the ropes.

Someday I will get one.

Are those the offshore races at Orange Beach AL?

Yep, anything but a Musky or Northern is just bait! At least up north. They can be tough to catch alright. Have spent many hours on a lake and haven't even seen a fish. Yet, we still go back just for a chance at a big one. My biggest was 45". Put it back in the lake. Looking for a 50" or 30#s. Never weighed it, but, it was somewhere around 25#s.

Northern WI has some of the best water for muskys in the lower 48. Lake of the Woods in Mn is very good too. Or, get into southern Ontario, Eagle Lake. We used to always catch muskys on Lake Vermilion in N Mn until word got out. They're still a bunch around, but are tougher to catch. Doesn't help that they have 2 tourneys each year. Still drawn to that lake since I grew up in that area....

Big musky baits, a stiff rod and structure will eventually land you a fish.....

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

sasto...

i fish trout with lures. red/white top and sinker and sometimes DOAs. Sometimes it puts the challenge back into it rather than the ol' shrimp and bobber technique.

 

[sasto]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

Are those the offshore races at Orange Beach AL?
QUOTE]

It's in Stuart, FL, WIMUSKY.

I have friends in upper Michigan I plan on visiting this fall when the leaves change. There is a large lake where there isn't many fishermen and not much pressure on the fish. He has a little boat, big rigs, and large baits.....Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

sasto...

i fish trout with lures. red/white top and sinker and sometimes DOAs. Sometimes it puts the challenge back into it rather than the ol' shrimp and bobber technique.

I always carry DOA's. As a matter of fact, Capt. Mark Nichols, the founder, is a personal friend of mine. We would sometimes meet at a waterfront restaurant during an afternoon storm. He with a client, me with my dog. I enjoy lazily drifting thru the flats with live bait anymore. Get me offshore.....that's a different story that changes me from leisure fishing to something more serious.

 

[angus63]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

You left out the third option for some....

I sell what I catch!!

Sometimes, yes, I sample some of the profit

"Over the rail and in the pail!!" Nothing goes back inside of size and daily limits.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

When that time comes--- Do not thumb it! A friend has what I believe is a musky, stuffed on his wall. That mouth has hundreds of little needles in it. Not really teeth but definately not thumbable.

Seen a thumb stripped by a Musky, not nice. They saved the guys thumb but lost most of the use of it..

 

[Johny25]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

I still have 6 scars on the top of my left foot from a Northern Pike that was dropped on my foot by my sister when I was 8yrs old. It was about a 5-6 pound pike I had caught and she was holding it by the tail and when I asked for it back she dropped it on my foot! Almost 30 years later and the scars are still easy to see.

 

[HANGEYE]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

Hook em and cook em

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

love to release unless a tasty trout is on

 

[sschefer]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

5 smallies this morning, 5 still there for next time. I'm not into small mouths but they're fun on ultra-light gear.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Eat your catch or release?

It's in Stuart, FL, WIMUSKY.

I have friends in upper Michigan I plan on visiting this fall when the leaves change. There is a large lake where there isn't many fishermen and not much pressure on the fish. He has a little boat, big rigs, and large baits.....Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

I know Orange Beach has them too. I believe it's in April(not positive). I'd love to see them in person. It looked like the race is in front of a condo we rent. Top floor would make some good viewing!

Like the ol' saying goes, "you can't catch a fish if your bait isn't in the water". Cast, cast, cast until your shoulders feel like they're going to fall off. Then cast some more!:facepalm:

Good luck, Sasto. Catch a big one! Don't forget pix.......