The other day I was out fishing with a buddy, and we weren't having much luck. A guy passed by and asked if we wanted his catch, because he didn't feel like cleaning anything when he got home.

I politely declined, but my friend said yes almost immediately.

While my friend was excited to have dinner ahead of him, there's just something about cleaning fish I didn't catch that bugs me.

Does anyone feel the the way I do? Is it more about dinner on the table, or the fun of CATCHING the dinner on the table for you?

No one feels like cleaning fish after a long day on the lake. Put a couple bags of ice on them and clean them the next day. You'll feel better and the fish will be easier to clean.

As for the guy who wanted to give the fish away, perhaps he should have just let them go.

I never mess with cleaning fish. If I want to eat fish I go to red lobster....

I've been on both sides of this. Had days where I had to knock myself out, only to end up with a whopping 2-3 sandies, and at that point it doesn't feel worthwhile to clean them. Don't want them to go to waste (and they're already dead in the ice chest), so I've given them to someone else. Have also had days where someone else offered me the fish they'd caught & it was worthwhile for me to say yes.

As long as the fish in question are of legal size, and doesn't put the person who has them over their bag limit, I don't see a problem with it.

I have given my catch away a few times. I mostly bass fish, and never keep them for myself, but there have been a few times that either my fish was deep hooked and wouldn't make it, or the fisherman just asked and looked like it would mean a lot to them. I do keep sand bass, crappie, and catfish from time to time.

If someone offers me fish I take them. That way I know they won't go to waste.

I have given a lot of fish away in my years when fishing alone. I have been offered fish by others and will take them if my bite has been slow and I am fishing alone but only if the fish are still alive and legal.

Years ago that was comin practice to offer your catch to other fisherman especially if u just had a few and thought it might make someone who also had a few a mess for supper. Guess we were hungrier back then. And no one had herd of catch an release

I've had some bank fisherman give their fish, especially if they only caught one, and saw I had two of one, I've also given some of mine to others when I felt I would have been to busy to clean it anyway.

I wouldn't mind taking them if I have some of my own to go with them but I very rarely have had anyone offer me fish for some reason, in fact I can't remember it happening once. I guess I look like I am good and I don't need to be given fish , just kidding!!! but I have given them away many times. I do it when I only have a few and I see someone fishing on the bank, usually at the boat ramp that look like they might be fishin for their next meal. They are usually very happy to take them in my experience. If not, I let them go. when I don't feel like cleaning them. Just my

C&R..as if anyone who doesn't is just uninformed.

I've given a lot of catfish away over the years, usually when I just have a few. There are a lot of folks who fish for food and I don't mind helping out.

In my opinion, if you don't plan to clean a few for dinner, they should be released. I also put my catch to clean in a ice cooler for a day or two before cleaning. Much easier to clean with little mess.

this comment tells me 2 things-
1.)the fish you catch must taste terrible

2.) you must not know that Darden, Inc. (Owns Red Lobster, Olive garden, & other chains) is a MAJOR financial contributor to The Enviromental Defense Fund (EDF), one of the lead players in trying to eliminate recreational fishing
Why ANY angler would support a business like that is beyond me.

as far as gifting fish, it's fine with me as long as it fits w/in game laws.
I've been the giver & receiver in this situation, & both ways left me feeling pretty good.

I like Red Lobster. I'm betting that you support MANY businesses that do things that are not exactly what you want. It's called the REAL world.