CPR so my grand kids and theirs get a chance to catch them.

You have to fish for big fish to catch big fish, when there are no more big fish what are you going to do , just my 2 cents

I fish because I enjoy it - not to compete and not to fill my freezer. Catching 1 - 5 lb. catfish is a lot of fun. Catching a 20+ lb. catfish is truly thrilling - nothing else like it on freshwater that I've experienced. So after experiencing the thrill of landing that big cat, I've taken all I'm going to get from the experience. There's no pleasure in killing and eating him - at least no greater pleasure than I would get from the filets of a 2 lb. fish.

I release the bigger fish with the hope that I can fight him again another day, or that some other fisherman can experience that thrill. In my opinion, slaughtering a trophy fish is just purely selfish. You are denying others the opportunity to experience the excitement of landing that trophy in their own boat.

If I just wanted the meat, Kroger is just a few blocks away - and a helluva lot cheaper too!

CPR all the way here. A lot of reasons why. There is nothing like catching a pig!

Most my my fishing is c-n-r. Especially over 20 lbs we dont freeze fish at my house. We catch, clean and cook the same day or the next afternoon. My kids wont eat the junk they call fish at the school lunch rooms. Cant remember last time buying fish at a store other than for bait.
Larger fish are no different than the smaller ones just takes extra steps to cook and get the same taste at the table.

It is not my place to govern or force cpr on people as often seen in the forums.

As told by a biologist " Taking a larger fish will often make room for others to take its place. "

God gave us fish as a food source. What we do with it is our choice not some body else's.

.

It is a choice. And I respect others right not to practice CPR. But I believe it's the best choice to protect the future of blue cats. Maybe it's because I started fishing blue cats 3 years ago on Lake Lewisville that I think this way. I don't know. But I think about the big Tawakoni blues over 40lbs that where caught on my boat and one other boat Jan and Feb this year that where let go free. I think the number is around 13(not bragging). I'm just saying that this is just 2 boats. Not counting the other peoples pics this last winter. If we all kept these fish and we're lucky enough to have another great year next winter I believe it will have a negative impact on the blue cats.

Big fish are harder to skin, taste is not as good, CPR is the best way to go. But is there a window for catfish when they are to big and old to reproduce as well? It's that way with almost all land animals.

I release all fish I catch. I just want the excitement of catching them. The other day I was fishing Twin Buttes and was catching nice 8-10-12 Pounders. The guy fishing next to me was astonished that I was throwing them back. I told him that I was trying to preserve what fish were left in the lake/pond. We talked about the benefits of CPR and a little while later he caught a 20 pounder. I smiled when he came over to me and asked me to take a photo of him with the fish, then he released it. Now maybe some youngster fishing with his dad will be able to catch that fish and make memories.

I was just about to make this same observation when I saw your post. I usually don't have to trim filets of 2-3 pounders at all, but the percentage of waste goes up the bigger the fish.

CPR YES. If you're going to eat them, eat the smaller ones - 10 lbs or less. Protect the sport and its future.

That could be why lake lewisville has a 30-45 inch slot limit ?