Just a random thought.

[Man Workin]

I like many of you other lunatics fish for the Tog like it's my religion.
We fish from AH to south of P.P and it seems to me that there has been a good amount of fish being caught this year that weigh in the teens. I know many of you and a lot of other anglers that I don't know throw back these fish when they will survive. Do you think that this is the result of consciousness anglers releasing their catch.
Or maybe its just one of those things?

Brian / M.W Crew

[Joey Dah Fish]

I think a lot more people are practicing catch and release than ever before. The thrill is the catching not so much the killing. I enjoy releasing larger fish because I believe that larger fish are the breeders and would love to see the fish grow even larger for another angler to get the thrill I did. I also feel good about it when I do. After all isn't fishing about the feeling you get when out on the water and the thrill of the chase? I also believe that seeing others releasing their fish is a good feeling for me and let's face it who does want to feel good as many times as possible. This in no way shape or form means I feel bad when others take their catch. It's your catch do what makes you feel good.

[bunker dunker]

I think they are just a tuff fish to catch and allot of peeps don't fish for them because of that.less pressure more growing

[Man Workin]

Yes that's true to, my wife thinks I'm cheating when i go out in the freezing cold in Jan / Feb, lol.

[Capt. JJ]

I think that the reason one year, for any one species, is better, or worse than another has SOOOOOOOO many factors involved... that to try to say its because of a guy catching and releasing a 14 pound tog is way too specific and granular.

Catch and release prolly plays a part in it, but Im not sure we CATCH and release enough massive toggies over 10-12 pounds to make a significant impact on any given 12 month period.

The big ones are there, and almost assuredly always have been...I think the reason we are catching more is prolly due to:

1. Better equipment than ever before
2. More people fishing for them
3. More productive bottom every year....(Ive read that as reef material ages, it becomes more appealing to any species seeking shelter.)

While tog fishing has been around for........well, forever??? And old salts can assuredly argue with my position that one didn't NEED better equipment 20-30 years ago and still caught all the big tog you could ask for....

20 -30 years ago Loran got you within 100-200 feet of your waypoint.

Now its down to....inches?????

LOL. (that's an exaggeration but you see my point)

Some folks keep...some catch and release....

I just choose my charter boats WISELY.

: )

JJ

[frugalfisherman]

I think if you added up all the tog I caught this year it would be in the teens.

[Man Workin]

A lot of good points J.J thanks for your input.
figured see what people thought on this windy day.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I have to believe throwing back the big breeders makes a difference. How big a difference who knows, but definitely a difference.

Many of the articles I've read say that tog are very territorial and stay in localized home ranges to spawn and return to the same areas every year. So, it would stand to reason the more we release the more fish there will be in a given area.

As mentioned above, the more reefs, rubble and rock piles that are out there, the more fish we are going to have.... Build it and they will come and when they come they stay.

Also as mentioned above, the gear and technique has improved. Strong and sensitive braided lines, powerful but light weigh reels and rods, better hooks and people are using heavier leader then they used to.

We've also had a very mild winter so a lot more people have been getting out.

Having said all this, it's been a great year, but I personally have had better.

[Detour66]

I catch & release 99% of the big fish I catch. I have much respect for these fish since they have been around for a long time and I also believe it's good karma. Plus most of these larger fish are breeders.
Also the smaller fish most of the time taste much better than the older ones! I say "to each his own". I can only speak for myself!

[torchee]

Yes that's true to, my wife thinks I'm cheating when i go out in the freezing cold in Jan / Feb, lol.

HA!

Had that argument. I warned her not to make me choose between her and fishing.

[MVP]

I am good either way what one wants to do with a legal fish they catch regardless of size. I love to bring home fish when ever I go out as I like to bring them to my parents and sisters house as well as take care of my neighbors and the handyman I know who helps with fixing things at my parents house, my elderly neighbor and my place. You would be surprised how a fish or two goes a long way. Over the past 7 years or so since I have been fishing down south with Monty on the morning Star I grew an appreciation for releasing big females as well as other fish over 10 pounds. He has been preaching catch and release for many more years than I have been fishing with him. Another thing I picked up from him that I personally adhere to when running a pool on a charter I run is to have the pool fish determined by length rather than weight. This way angler has the option to either keep the fish if he likes and measure at the end of the day or take a measurement after it is caught and release it right away. By running the pool this way you do not have to wait till the end of trip and most likely have dead fish in cooler that you saved because you had a pool contender.
When it comes to blackfish sometimes a long male that weighs a pound and a half less than a fat female will win the pool.

This year alone I have released 8'of the 9 double digits that I have caught. As Joey said it know gives another angler the opportunity to catch what may be the fish of his lifetime for that angler. For selfish reason I also believe it brings me good Karma as by letting these fish go I hope that I will be blessed with a new Personal best next time I go out. Also hopefully those 10-14 lb fish that I release will grow up to become 20 pounders that I dream about. I am starting to see this type of behavior becoming more and more popular by many of the guys we fish with. If they decide to keep it for table fare that is their choice and I do not frown upon like some may. If fish is all stressed out and his ass is all blown out then keep it unless you can put him in a cooler with water or hang him over ther side in a mesh bag to see if it decompresses and comes to life. Reviving fish is a seperate topic all on its own
Who knows your next PB blackfish may be one that was released just recently or several years ago. Many of the blackfish caught that have been tagged and have been caught years later do not stray to far from where they were originally caught. Regardless of what you decide to do with fish once you have been diagnosed with BLACKFISH FEVER there is no cure but to just keep going fishing

[FishnChips]

Very well said MVP .

[Capt. Debbie]

I love that. It's funny.

Me too

I think if you added up all the tog I caught this year it would be in the teens.

[UglyStick]

I think a lot more people are practicing catch and release than ever before. The thrill is the catching not so much the killing. I enjoy releasing larger fish because I believe that larger fish are the breeders and would love to see the fish grow even larger for another angler to get the thrill I did. I also feel good about it when I do. After all isn't fishing about the feeling you get when out on the water and the thrill of the chase?

X2 - Without getting into a whole argument on the topic, it's nice to see salt catch and release gaining more momentum as it has in the freshwater arena

[RussH]

X2 - Without getting into a whole argument on the topic, it's nice to see salt catch and release gaining more momentum as it has in the freshwater arena

I always did find it interesting that the few times I fished fresh water I threw everything back without even thinking about it, but salt water it was always for the keepers. I definitely would have no issue tossing a teenager tog back to the depths if I thought it would survive. But that said, Salt water fish are DELICIOUS! The couple years I didn't fish I terribly missed having fresh fish at the table. Just not the same cooking the crap the market sells.

[CCMPmonmouth]

Yes that's true to, my wife thinks I'm cheating when i go out in the freezing cold in Jan / Feb, lol.

I think my wife is cheating when I go fishing.

[Capt. Debbie]

Funny. Stop going and she may divorce for being there.

I think my wife is cheating when I go fishing.

[TheTenman]

Mild winter = twice the anglers