Re: Dead sticking trout
 

The only good thing is if you do want to eat a few fish the one fish you don't have to feel bad about taking home are trout put in ponds and lakes in NJ. Most will not survive summer and are stocked for the purpose of taking home and enjoyed in a meal. But I do understand how you feel when you dont intend on taking any and hook it deep. That really is the down fall of fishing with bait

Re: Dead sticking trout
 

Don't get me wrong I'm no bleeding heart! I understand they'll die at some point. Either to us or to the birds/turtles/eventual heat. I just don't like needless suffering and it's nice to give others the opportunity to catch. They're fragile fish though and probably next time I go out I'll keep what I catch either to eat or strip, salt and freeze to use as fluke bait.