This is a good topic . I've gotten to the point in life, when (and more likely if) I catch a big one, if I have a camera I'll take a pic. If not, I just handle it as carefully as I can and release it. I keep big stringers of white bass for fish fries, but don't need any more pics. I could care less if anyone knows I caught a big fish or a big stringer. I do keep small lmb's to eat when I cull my pond. Delicious. Perfect for fish tacos.
And to address the issue of the OP, I don't like the idea of someone dragging a bunch of fish around on a stringer all day just so they can take a picture. Seems like a vanity thing. But it's none of my beeswax. I'll still drink a beer with em.

We all fully participate in the management philosophy on so many levels that we never even question. We are removed from the "kill it and eat it" necessity that was historically the driving force behind fishing and hunting long before it was a sport. Now that it is just a sport for most of us we seem to need reassurance from others that we are doing it right. Awards, trophies & photos are proof of accomplishment and some folks need that reassurance more than others. We fish the way we do because we can, not because we are hungry or have needs that will otherwise go unmet. Prosperity doesn't solve nearly as many problems as it creates concerning the human condition. We all need to see the vanity in the mirror first to learn and grow into something truly better.

Do you hear what I hear in Matthew 19:16-24? Are we all the rich man?


The Rich Young Ruler

And someone came to Him and said, �Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?� And He said to him, �Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.� Then he *said to Him, �Which ones?� And Jesus said, �You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.� The young man *said to Him, �All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?� Jesus said to him, �If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.� But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

And Jesus said to His disciples, �Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.�

It is the fortunate few who put up walls to protect themselves from the poor and their needs. In this age we pass laws that make poverty a crime and trap those caught in it. You and I are the rich.

Love it! there are a laughs i had reading the funny comments. Open dialog and guided discussions are the best.

It's been a fun exercise. I know I am better for it. It always stretches my mind to see how others think about subjects and stick around for a good debate. Hopefully everyone has thought about the subject this week and formed a reasoning for why they feel the way they do.

I dont care for pictures... i would rather take a picture for someone than have mine taken. I fish to get away from life and relax. I normaly don't eat the fish i catch, but I have a huge family and they always ask me for fish.

Putting fish on a stringer, dragging it for hours only to have a picture taken and the fish to be released after... wow. I never knew people actually do that, that is really fubar. Most of the fish after being dragged around for hours are nearly dead and will not make it. I put fish on a stringer later decided that I didn't want them or too lazy to clean them... I actually paddled around and ask bank fisherman if they want them. Most will gladly take them.



why not? i've been told they taste great.

I've heard peacock bass are even better!

I'll vouch for Peacock Bass and Largemouth Bass both tasting great! Plecostomus, not so much, though the natives I knew in Peru ate them. I ate piranha too, but the peacock bass tasted better. I don't get elevating LMB to some sacred status, if you are following the game laws and want to eat a bass or two while camping, nothing wrong with that.

As far as posing with fish you are going to release, with the ready availability of inexpensive waterproof cameras, seems like it would be easier to have the camera with you and take a picture of each fish and release it right away, rather than waiting until the end of a trip when they are sure to not survive. But I see nothing wrong with a stringer of fish at the end of the day that are going to be cooked/eaten.

We eat LMBs caught at my uncles farm every now and then. They are quite good. No fishy taste at all. In this case it is good to thin out some of the smaller ones as they can overpopulate a pond. The big ones are all CPR'd to fight another day. Big fish of most species won't taste as good, at least that has been my experience. In fact they often taste just horrible.

I seldom allow my ugly mug to be captured on film anyway as it is oft confused with the southern end of north bound grizzly bear.
And I even more rarely take a picture holding a fish. And even more rare than that is it a LMB. I'm more likely to post a pile of crappie on the cleaning board, or a lineup of cats on the tailgate than I am myself hoisting a bucketmouth at the lake.
So no, I am not a poser. In any sense of the word.

I'm definitely in the non-poser category. I'll take pictures, if it's a good fish, or memorable occasion. I have a lot of pics of just the fish, without my mug in the shot. Preservation of the fish is more important than any picture for me. I will say I've taken pictures of some weak fish.

I have a strong opinion on how the fishing scene seems to be these days. I don't share it, because I seem the be in the micro-minority.

As far as general photography goes, I think it is safe to say that most people aren't too concerned with taking pictures. However, I also think it is safe to say that EVERYONE is interested in looking at fishing pictures. This forum itslef, in fact, is proof of that.

As to the issue of dragging fish around on a stringer, yeah, I would have to agree with most of you that it should be discouraged. People are in their legal right to do so, but photographing your catch immediately after the landing is certainly the best option.

Now, in the spirit of this debate, I would like to bring up another question. Lets say you are fishing a smaller body of water in your kayak and you land a 14 pound largemouth. As you are holding this fish, do you begin to entertain the idea of entering it into the Sharelunker Program? If so, how will you keep the fish until they arrive? Would you consider putting the fish on a stationary stringer?

I can say, in complete certainty, that I wouldn't keep the fish. I wouldn't feel compelled to do so because I do happen to be proficiant in photographing myself with fish.

I'd take pictures and measurements and put it back in. I'd do the same even if I were on public water if I am in my kayak. A large bass boat with aerator pumps, chemicals etc, maybe if on Fork or somewhere where there is a marina that is setup for keeping the fish alive. Even then, I'd struggle with it.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker/handle/

#4 is very difficult from a kayak.

Also, the one SL to come from a kayak died before it reproduced. #485

in your kayak and you land a 14 pound largemouth

Man, that's what I dream of. I'd turn it over to the program if I was somewhere I felt it could be kept alive. I wouldn't string it up and I wouldn't drive it all over the country if I was in an out of the way area. I fish Fork some and usually have a plan set up to get the fish to the marina as quickly as possible. I carry one of those weigh in bags they use in tournaments( until I lost it) and my dad lives in the area and will gladly meet me on the bank somewhere if it's too far to paddle to the ramp. Now I just need to catch one of those behemoths!!

Good question/scenario:

I'd probably take a pic of the #14'r and release it immediately. Then I would quickly paddle over and take my pic with mjmfc's 5 supermodel girlfriends.

Then I would wake up.