50 Pound Bass - Would You Release It?

[hammer4reel]

RELEASE IT

Would take the time to swim and revive it after some quick pics. and watch that giant broom tail slap away with a smile on my face.

Been fortunate enough to see a few go back unharmed to allow another person the same joy catching a fish of a lifetime .

There is NO WAY the person who keeps one is ever going to hoot and hollar while eating it , like he did while catching it .................................

[Njmat567]

Originally Posted by Bucktailboys.com

I know that we are all in search of the 50 pound club but wondering how many people would take some pictures and release it? I am still trying to catch it and know what I would do...

Here is a great question ... What about a party boat fish with pool money involved... Toss away a 40lber and 120 bucks or take the beast....

[1captainron]

Originally Posted by Njmat567

Here is a great question ... What about a party boat fish with pool money involved... Toss away a 40lber and 120 bucks or take the beast....

Good question.....on the Fishermen a sign posted in the cabin clearly states "CATCH AND RELEASE" count toward the pool, both the daily and seasonal. Never had a complaint from the second place guy. (Wouldn't matter if they did)!

[Bucktailboys.com]

Ron,
Great policy for those willing to release big fish.

Keefe

[SaltLife1980]

I would release her after taking lots of pictures and getting all the measurements so i would be able to get a wall mount of her..

[Pauls1976]

Ideally, I will say release it after a quick picture. However, there are too many variables for an honest answer to me. Am I in a tournament or not? How and where is the fish hooked. Trebles hooked in gullet or spoon right in jaw or circle hook in corner of mouth? I wouldn't release if she was hooked bad and bleeding out the gills when I got her boat side.

I killed a 47lber once, that was only because the fish inhaled the Stretch 30 that was being trolled for blues (shark bait), the trebles mangled her jaw and gullet.

[Super]

Besides all the BS that goes on with party boat pools, I don't enter the pool because I don't want to need to keep a 50lb bass just for the pool money.

[broken bobber]

DEAD.... not a hypocrite....

[irishc]

Always said I would... But I guess it would depend on the circumstances

I look at it in somewhat the same way that Gerry mentioned about his 40 lb release. Keeping it and bringing it back to the dock will give you 24 hours of glory and bragging rights. Releasing a true trophy fish of that size will be a lifetime memory. Grilling a fish of a lifetime isn't a fitting ending and they aren't nearly as tasty as the smaller bass. Chances are if you release that fish you'll still catch your limit for the day based on the health of the current fishery so you'll still have enough for the table. You can almost be guaranteed that a 50lb bass was caught and released at least a few times before attaining that size and if she wasn't released along the way you wouldn't have had the chance of catching a fish of a lifetime. Something to think about if and when faced with that decision. Not bad to pass that same opportunity on to another angler, maybe even your son one day.

To me it doesn't make any sense keeping a trophy bass even for a mount as replica molds are better and longer lasting. Take a picture and measurements and let her go. Unless the fish is gut hooked or can't be revived, let someone else have the chance of experiencing the thrill of a life time. As someone else mentioned, if it was a tournament situation, that adds another factor but seeing a trophy fish swim away to fight another day is something that's hard to put a price on.

Dakota