Ok I know I dont have a right to be mad,maybe upset or disappointed.
Saturday I took my youngest son to Lake Alvarado and when we arrive a guy asked if I had any good scales which I said yes I have a digital one and he asked if I would weigh a fish he thought might go 5 lbs but his scales said 4 but he thought it would go more. I agreed to weigh the fish which weighed 9.1 on my digital scales. The man thanked me and put the fish back into the livewell and finished tieing down his boat and said this will be a good meal tonite and drove off. I practice catch and release as wekk does my son who saw rthis and he replied dad that man did wrong. I told him in our opinion he did yes ,but it was his choice not ours.My son said froom now on we will weigh a fish if asked but first the person must promise to release the fish back to which I was happy my son does see the impiotance of catch and release.

I agree but he did catch it.. I would like to see a big fish go back but he is within his rights.

Maybe you should ask people what religion they practice before you help them as well. UNBELIEVABLE!

+1 If he wants to keep it it's his fish HE caught. Doesn't matter if YOU like it or not. I've seen some good fish taken to the grease, as I have as well. Mine were out of tanks they(owners) wanted cleaned out so it didn't bother me ONE BIT.

It's his fish.
You can be twisted in half about it, but to me it wouldn't matter.

I know you you said it was his choice and not yours but that's not entirely true.
In the bigger picture there was an opportunity to teach your son that elected officials we elect create regulations which allow us an opportunity to enjoy the outdoor experience. Your viewpoint and your sons are commendable. Just my .02

I very much believe in catch and release and practice it myself. I have been an advocate for tournaments to go to a three fish limit instead of five fish because it is better for the fish. Now all of that being said. The man you talked about caught the fish and it was his fish to do with as he pleased, as long as he broke no laws in doing so. Taking it home to eat it is certainly not breaking any laws.

I can understand you are proud of the belief you have instilled in your son, but I personally ( and this is just my opinion) believe you may have taken it a step too far. If you want to believe in absolute catch and release with no exceptions, that is your right and no one should hold it against you. Same applies to your son. And the same thing applies to the man that wanted to take the fish home and eat it. You should not hold that against him either. To me you should not in the future insist that someone subscribe to your belief's before you are willing to help them. Its nice when people feel the same way you do, but should not be a requirement for your assistance when they ask for help.

Make sure you tell them to hit them on the head before they clean them....

This past Saturday my youngest son and I went to Lake Alvarado since this is where he likes to go and its not far from home. When we arrived there was a couple of guys getting ready to leave when one of them asked me if I had a good set of scales to which I said I believe they are accurate. The gentleman than said he thought he had a good fish and would I weigh it for him to which I agrred. The bass weighed 9.1 the man then said wow I know what Im haveing for dinner tonite and then thanked me ,put the fish back in his livewell and drove away. My son then replied dad that man did wrong, he should have put that fish back, I told him yes he should have but not everyone practices catch and release as we do. My son then said thats what a camera is for. Yes I was dissapointed that the man did not put the fish back ,but was made very happy that my son reconized the importance of catch and release

He "should have" is in your eyes and what you practice. He was in his right to keep what he caught. Doesn't matter if you like it or not. I've kept fish, my friends have kept fish. It's all the same. Just because YOU didn't like it, doesn't mean he did anything illegal.

hero fisherman this is a touchy subject on this board. Last year during the spring I think there were no kidding fist fights on falcon because of this issue catch and release of big fish or take them home to eat. Each there own

You catch it , it is yours to do with what you want. Those were some big fat steaks going in the grease. What I may turn loose the next may keep. I've been known to eat some LMB,,,, they're good. My cut off for eating bass is 5 pounds. What is yours??????????????

Mine is about 2.5 pounds.

Mine's about the same. Although I did keep a 6 lber out of a tank here in Central Texas the owners wanted "cleaned out".

The man did nothing wrong, feel free to live by your morals and leave others to live by theirs.