My response is pretty specific to Small mouth bass, But I am pretty
sure it is applicable to other species also.
I am 54 years old and have fished the lower bruce peninsula
lakes and rivers since I was 10. I fish for Bass and Pike
(Pike: The larger ones, of which are few and far between now,
Why in the world would anyone keep and eat a Pike?).
Much has changed I believe due to the increase in population
(which of course means and increase in persons fishing, which
means an increase in fish killed every year).
I am an adamant catch & release guy. Have been my entire life.
If you cannot refrain yourself from keeping a fish
(Keeping, killing and then eating it) you should never
keep a large healthy fish. A large fish has a much better
chance of spawning successfully and passing it's 'large'
genes on to it's young.
In reference to Large and smallmouth bass:
When I say spawning successfully
I am referring to the ability of the male to protect the females
brood from predators. A small male does not have much of
a chance of doing so successfully.
I have empirical evidence for my last statement.
I am very familiar with Lake Huron on the west side of the peninsula
among the 'fishing islands'. I am aware of several places where the
smallmouth bass spawn. I visit these locations several times in June
to check on the spawning bass. I have seen young/nests survive the
Goby attacks when guarded by larger males (3Lb's +)while the smaller males
guarding young/nests are overwhelmed by the Goby.
See:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@letsfish/documents/document/stdprod_095205.pdf
Topic 3.3 covers spawning. Read it carefully. It is clear if one likes to fish for
Bass, and likes to catch larger Bass, then you are directly at odd's with individuals
whom insist upon catching, keeping and eating larger Bass.
Also at the top of page 25:
"Maximum size limits, however, can be effective in protecting key brood stock bass,
particularly those greater than 35 cm. Protecting large bass is important in heavily
exploited areas and restrictions on size limits could be used to protect repeat
spawners (e.g. 7 years of age or older) (Pyzer 2002, OMNR 2006) and promote trophy
fisheries."
I have a cottage along the Sauble river. The 'Locals' swear that that part
of the river is only good fishing every four or five years or so.
So, every four or five years or so they descend upon 'My' section of the river
and proceed to take out EVERY smallmouth that is over 12". This goes on all
summer. I wonder why the fishing is only good every four or five years?. My guess
is the 'Indians' have nothing to do with it!.
Feel free to disregard topic 2.3 Future Range Expansion – Implications of a Warming Climate
in this document. the Ice coverage has increased by 60% this year (2013) and many of the
same scientist that where sucking off the teat of government research money are
now calling for a period of global cooling (no doubt to collect tax payer financing
for their study of the upcoming global cooling period!).
Do not get me wrong. Pumping CO2 into the atmosphere is certainly not a good
thing and we should stop it, but is 'Global Warming' really true or is it
simply a business?
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/57789
Pike: They do not 'protect' there nest/brood. With a lack of a significant
number of larger fish in the waters they tend to over-populate and stunt as evidenced
by the current condition of the inland lakes on the lower BP.
Many annoying 'Hammer Handle' Pike. And no, I do not believe that taking the 'Hammer Handle'
Pike out solves the problem, one should leave the larger Pike and Bass in the lake.
I am sure someone may take a counter point to this statement, but honestly we will
never know the answer unless the lakes are designated catch and release only.
Here is my very basic and straight forward assessment of
keeping caught fish:
1.) Do not do it. They do not taste very good anyways!
I am not railing here, nor do I mean to offend anyone. It's just that if
you love to fish the way I do why would you ever even consider keeping
any fish at all?
Tiago: If you read the MNR posting you will see why I believe that your
statement 'worthy of keeping based on size' is in direct conflict with
actually being able to catch a Bass of size.
MadocFlyGuy:
'At the end of the day, it's the few who overindulge that put a bad name to those
who want to fry up some fillets'
The problem with this statement is that I believe there are too many of
'those who want to fry up some fillets'.
Cheers!
). 
