Dichotomy among njfishing members

[RnK]

Originally Posted by Fin Reaper

Grew up on lake Musconetcong and fished every damn day but we only ever kept / ate perch caught thru the ice. Everything else tasted like the lake smelled which wasn't always a good thing (especially in August). We also had family with boats in Point P so we did a lot of Fluke fishing and kept everything we were legally allowed to...I think it comes down to not just taste or an investment of time / money I think there is this subconscious thing that a bunch of fish from the ocean wont be missed but a bunch from the lake will...can't defend it, just saying

Having done a lot of fresh and salt, I think that is a very good summation.

Besides the resource seemingly so much more limited in fresh water, plus with the exception of a few fresh water fish (perch, walleye) they simply are not good table fare. Native trout are delicious, but hatchery fish leave a lot to be desired from what they are fed. I'd venture to guess there many fishermen of largemouth bass that have eaten one.

Everything that comes out of the ocean is excellent table fare, with very few exceptions and some of us would argue even what most turn their noses up at, like blues, can be delicious if prepared in a compatible manner, like smoking blues. Additionally, salt water fish freeze very well short term and that shelf life can be extended 3-4x by vacuum sealing.

[catfishonthelake]

I'm almost a total 100% catch and release but, but I keep a few fish every year. I caught a couple good eating size walleye on Greenwood Lake last December and cooked them, they were pretty good. The next day I drove down to Sea Isle and caught a pile of tog and then cooked them. I'll never waste my time with another walleye.

[GetANet]

I'm NOT FOR OR AGAINST taking fish to eat! I don't have a problem with anyone taking some fish to eat, to each his own.
I fish both fresh and salt water and Do occasionally take fish to eat but normally always release them.
I understand both sides of the coin. My issue is people who load their BUCKETS with anything and everything they catch totally disregarding the law and people who take TROPHY FISH just because they caught it and wanna to parade it around and then it ends up in a trash can! I agree with one of the previous posts I think catch and release is practiced more in fresh than salt and I think that is what helps keep the fishery going. I think that a lot of anglers think that saltwater fish are a never ending source and that is definetly not the case, any fish can be harvested to near extinction especially when your taking the breeders!!! How much you spend shouldn't determine whether you eat it or not! Not looking to preach just my opinion!

[NoLimit]

What Fin said and you should have kept the walleye and released the smallmouth.

Freshwater fish taste like mud compared to saltwater (except walleye and perch and crappie through the ice) and our kids were raised on a fair amount of fish and game because you know it is not loaded with crap.

Flyfishing is fun but who has time for fun anymore - I like filling the freezer with the best food on earth.

[Capt Derek Fisher Price 3]

All i can say is that i personally don't like freshwater fish to eat. I fish freshwater for both bass and trout and don't really care to eat them. As much as I am out fishing, i eat striped bass on occasion, (maybe 3 times a year), I love fluke and flounder, and blackfish and ling are at the top of my list.

[papabear2611]

Originally Posted by Capt Derek Fisher Price 3

All i can say is that i personally don't like freshwater fish to eat. I fish freshwater for both bass and trout and don't really care to eat them. As much as I am out fishing, i eat striped bass on occasion, (maybe 3 times a year), I love fluke and flounder, and blackfish and ling are at the top of my list.

Agree with above, and most posts. I live by at least 5 streams and lots of lakes here at the base of the poconos, I dont care for most FW, some walleye or perch, sometimes a few salmon, as for me, nearly everything FW gets C&R, (The "bucket brigade" here mainly refers to hatchery trout that are stocked in places that many wont live to a year, still I release them myself, or hand the pole to the dad with kid who isnt catching any.

I have been on 6 packs and PBs where we had a (legal) pile of fish, as for me, every one of mine I consider a blessing from above and treat it as such, bled, final finish dressed at home, v bloodline removed, packed to death if not eaten right away. In fact I have been meaning to ask why no one seems to save cheek meat out of stripers? Seems like a lot wasted? If it is half as good as other fish cheek meat? Never understood that one, anyone try it?

I don't get to fish the salt much but love well cared for striper and tog and will keep what few I do get, Unless its a breader/cow etc. Every bite is up there with a lobster dinner for us, special occasion dinner.

WHAT I DO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT: Not doing more for my part to stop the slaughter with netting commercially that goes on down south for stripers or them being killed as bycatch, just the pics of the hundreds floating the other year still makes me sick. If I knew more what I could do, I surely would.

[Capt Sal]

First of all stripers do not taste like a burlap bag.If they did the commercial worth would be zero$.Most of the pictures posted are for the purpose of making a living on a for hire boat.I do agree action pics are way better.I eat a few bass a year but that is because I catch tuna,fluke,sea bass etc.Not everyone has that opportunity.I also fresh water fish in Florida.When there I only keep crappie.A good day of fishing is about having a good time and if you get a couple of meals out of it consider it a bonus.We all need to practice conservation so only keep what you need.Most fish do not freeze well and fresh is best.

[Duffman]

di·chot·o·my
dīˈkätəmē/
noun
1.
a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
"a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism"
synonyms: contrast, difference, polarity, conflict;

Don't lie.... Some of y'all had to look it up too.....

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal Cathy Sea Charters

First of all stripers do not taste like a burlap bag.If they did the commercial worth would be zero$.Most of the pictures posted are for the purpose of making a living on a for hire boat.I do agree action pics are way better.I eat a few bass a year but that is because I catch tuna,fluke,sea bass etc.Not everyone has that opportunity.I also fresh water fish in Florida.When there I only keep crappie.A good day of fishing is about having a good time and if you get a couple of meals out of it consider it a bonus.We all need to practice conservation so only keep what you need.Most fish do not freeze well and fresh is best.

You're right.. Burlap bag is not correct.. More like a kerosene rag...
Its been a while but I just was never crazy about them...
Maybe the ones I ate were fresh out of the hudson... It was a long time ago that I last kept one, back when any striper was a rare catch in the 80's...
When I lived in union Beach and caught them I usually released them...
I may try another smaller one some day...

In any case, I get distressed seeing the pics of all those big girls laying in bloody piles... IMHO they are a noble fish, and we forget how they were pretty much absent for decades... I say a little self restraint goes a long way, and I give a lot more credit to the guys that keep a keeper size schoolie to eat, and release the big cows... I like fish too, but keeping all those big stripers every spring and fall to eat??.. Just doesn't bode well for the future... I hope i'm wrong, and those big stripers keep showing up every spring and fall..

I guess my problem with all of this lies in the general nature of many human beings..
A lot of us appreciate the resource and want to preserve it.. A lot simply want to exploit it... Some simply don't care either way, and sadly there are some that would be more than happy to catch the worlds last 40 pound striper and eat it, or shoot the worlds last 10 point buck and mound its head in their living room... This is a good and respectful discussion,, thanks to all.. bob

[PAMonger]

I think a lot of it has to do with how you were raised. For instance, my dad always taught me not to do something that would injure an animal just for "sport". If there is an injured animal or if you are hunting or fishing, everything possible gets used as a manner of respect for that animal's life.

With that said, I don't like to fish for species that I won't use because of the amount of stress you put on the fish through the fight, the handling, etc. and the chance of a swallowed hook or foul hook. If I am fortunate enough to be at my limit of fish or if I have all that I can use/handle, I stop fishing, unless there is a reasonable chance that I can get something else (i.e. striper limit, I switch to bluefish). I only get out 2-3 times per year on the ocean, so with the vacuum sealer at home, I will take home anything I'm legally allowed to for the freezer.

But, that's just my personal experience.