For the most part, I am an advocate for catch and release fishing.
Sustaining the fish and habitat in the sport you love only makes sense.
However, sometimes a freshly caught trout, bass, or crappie is just to tempting to pass up. So even though I release most fish that I hook these days, I will occasionally thump one on the head and do my best Emiral Lagassi imatation,as I grill, cajunize, and accessorize my fish du jour.
I have heard many people say that they like to fish--but they don't like to eat fish--and I just don't understand this. To me there is nothing more satisfying then the feeling of being self-sufficient and providing food for ones family or ones self.
Granted, you can head 0n down to the Piggly- wiggly or ask the local fish monger for a nice slab of fresh Tuna, but that primal instinct that man has- to hunt and gather, just can't be satisfied by hunting down your meal with a shopping cart. That's why the caveman invented the spear first and not the wheel. That, and the fact that it is easier to throw a spear then it is to throw a shopping cart. I also never really feel compelled to pose in the seafood section, proudly displaying my handsomely and completely plastic wrapped 14oz keeper! Wouldn't that look great on the mantle.
All that being said, I would like to go back to the issue of taste.
The problem most people have, is that they don't eat their fish fresh. I have caught trout at six-thirty p.m. and had it ready for the blue plate special at six-forty five, and I gotta tell you. to me there is nothing tastier. Peeling away the skin while it still on the bar-b, and savoring a bite of freshly caught mountain trout....makes my mouth water just thinking about it!
Most people think their fish is fresh at the supermarket. The SIGN says fresh. BUT unless you live on a boat, oil derrick in the ocean, or meet the fisherman at the dock with your Hibachi grill fired up, about the best you can hope for is three day fresh frozen fish.
Think about it.
Captain Ahab heads out to sea and runs his commercial operation hopefully in the most efficient and somewhat profitable way. ** ( It is almost impossible these days for any commercial fisherman to make any profit-and they do it mostly as a labor of love. Trust me on this!!) He has to stay out long enough to pay for the fuel, so he may stay out a few days, throw the fish on ice, and head in when he has enough fish to pay for a pitcher of beer, and a steak or pizza. (Anything but fish!!) In to port he comes, where the fish buyers will purchase his catch, and then turn it over to the distributors, who drive, fly, or ship your FRESH fish to market. Then you take it home, throw it in the freezer, where it sits under the frozen taquitoes or egg rolls for two months, having whatever flavors are left to it turned into some sort of papier mache meal fit for only a cat. The final insult to this wonderful finny friend who gave his life to fill your gullet, comes when you roll him in some pasty flour batter, pour a little beer on him and relinquish his flesh to the fry daddy- or equvilent- and then douse him with "catsup"!!
Where is the humanity!!
"Yeah, I love to fish but I don't really like the taste of fish."
That's what most say, and truth be told I have never been a big fan of "Pescado ala papier mache" myself!! AND, after deep frying the sucker into Mrs. Pauls culinary nightmare, there is not much difference between an egg roll and a Salmon.
People always say fish smells "fishy" and while as a whole this is true--the meat when fresh usually does not smell bad.
Most people that I have forced to eat real fresh fish--while at gunpoint-- have always been pleasantly surprised at the taste, and have this look on them like they have just tasted fish for the first time. Itchy trigger finger aside, they seem sincere.
Rarely do they say: "It tastes like Chicken!"-
That's because it tastes better, and if you ignore the mercury poisoning, and DDT traces --it is better for you.
Anyway, like the song says--"All we are sayyying is give fish a chance".... or something like that.
So, keep supporting catch and release fishing, do what you can to improve habitat and the environment in general, but don't feel guilty if you keep an occasional fish and get to experience what is truly one of the great pleasures of fishing, eating ones catch.
A.J. Klott
Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly tack" peddler. A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.
Eel and eelskin lures are used mostly in saltwater to catch such fish as striped bass, bluefish, snook, and marlin. The most difficult part about making eel and eelskin lures will often be obtaining the... Read More
The Newfoundland cod stocks. What has happened to cod fishing off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland? Several centuries ago, John Cabot, sailing under the English flag, found the richest fishing area the world would come... Read More
If You Have Never Used A Blacklight While Night Fishing, You're Missing OutWe all know the benefits of night fishing - bigger catches and calmer waters are just two, however, night fishermen have several challenges... Read More
Successful Fishing: The mysterious "e" Factor.There has always been a strange, and to this day, unsolved mysterious theory in the fishing world.My wife knows of this theory and she thinks I am crazy, paranoid, and... Read More
It was one of those fishing trips. You know, everyone catches fish but you, you loose six or eight of your most expensive streamers, it rains buckets, and you sink the boat. That's right; I... Read More
Like all bass fishing, bass fly fishing has exploded in popularity. The largemouth bass is considered by many the greatest of all gamefish. Once limited to just the Eastern United States, the largemouth bass has... Read More
MABLETHORPE, is a beach resort on the East coast of England. The beach is a long stretch of clean sands with some great fishing. The clean and flat ground is excellent for Flounder and the... Read More
When visitors think of Orlando and Central Florida, they imagine the exciting attractions, breath-taking roller coasters, and swimming with the dolphins. What many people don't know is that fishing in the Orlando, Florida area is... Read More
Many people enjoy a nice, long fishing trip. Others enjoy fishing trips that take them to new places and new types of fishing. Stream trout fishing can be one of these types of fishing trips.... Read More
Lake trout are a type of fish that are completely different then any other fish. Those that like to go lake trout fishing, know that they are difficult to catch. Unless you know just how... Read More
Great fishing supplies are an essential when it comes to netting the big game out at the lake or the stream. You can't expect the fish to bite, though, if you don't bring your A... Read More
The use of light, either chemical or battery powered plays an important role in catching swordfish. There is no question that the use of artificial light increases the probability of catching a swordfish.Swordfish have giant... Read More
Bluefin tuna are one of the greatest challenges to anglers off the coast of New England, and Massachusetts continues to be a center of activity for giant bluefin tuna.Most tuna are caught chunking or trolling.... Read More
I was in Southwest Florida and was asked to go fishing by one of the pro bass fisherman there. Thinking I would learn a lot that day, I graciously accepted his kind offer.So, we begin... Read More
Method 1EquipmentI fish baits at all depths, not just the bottom, in wide-open water. I always set up and fish deep lake structures. Besides an understanding of the contours on the bottom of the lake,... Read More
As part of an email discussion list I'm part of, the subject of following our passions came up. I mentioned that one of my lifelong passions was fishing. I got the following reply... Thanks, John... Read More
Written on the rod blank or handle is a code number which indicates the line that the rod manufacturer suggests is best for most customers; i.e., 6 line. To most fly anglers, this means that... Read More
Hi Lee Palm/Red Rooster crew(San Diego - California).. Keep my rail spot cool for me - won't you? Fishing Report from Nassau Bahamas (8-10-2000)(Thursday)(Air Temperature 92 degrees. Water temp. ? mid 80's degrees). Clear skies,... Read More
Fish do indeed perceive color. Every fly fisher knows that or ought to know that. Like humans, the retina of a fish have rods and cones. Cones are used in the day and rods at... Read More
For Hunting, fishing, hiking, boating or cycling in all kinds of weatherCommunication in the wilderness is a matter of survival, as well as convenience. Before even leaving home, communications must begin. In fact, our first... Read More
Experienced fishermen know all about the cutthroat trout. That is because it is a huge gaming fish and it is difficult to catch. Why, then do so many fisherman go cutthroat trout fishing? These fish... Read More
Now that we've covered what nymph fly fishing is all about, let's next take a look at what sort of fly fishing gear you're going to need to do it. While nymph fly fishing uses... Read More
Dry fly angling is at the top of any fly fisherman's list of fun fishing. The visual dry fly catch continues to excite many anglers as the best way to angle the fly. Many anglers... Read More
Have you ever thought why fishing timbers is so productive? Well, for one, most anglers don't want to fish them because they're afraid of losing a $5.00 lure. This makes it better for us that... Read More
In night fishing 95% of success is determined before your line is wet. It is recommended to start an evening feeding frenzy along the food chain with your big game fish as the final predator.Proper... Read More
Number One Benefit to Night FishingI think the best thing about night fishing is that the conditions are generally the same as day fishing, but the results are much better.If you find a good spot... Read More
What lures are 4-13" long, been used regularly on the West Coast and have caught some of the biggest bass ever? Yep, Swimbaits.Now a change is happening, these lunker catching baits are being used on... Read More
Make Small Fortune In Fishing Industry.......now there is a headline you don't see very often. In fact, I have never seen it.Unless you start out with a large fortune and slowly pitter it away while... Read More
We can learn alot from kids.Last Friday, which incidently was St. Jean Baptiste Day in Quebec, was also the day we decided to have Grandpa's Pond day in Shady Cove, Oregon.Everything went off just as... Read More
As Forrest Gump would say, you never know what you're going to get.Not too many things get me more excited than the prospect of hooking and landing big fish. The mere thought of setting the... Read More
Brown trout fishing can prove very challenging. This is due in part to the fact that brown trout are smart fish. They tend to feed at dusk or at night. They do put up a... Read More
With the excitement of my first trip to Alaska still fresh and percolating in my mind, I can hardly keep from telling fishing friends and aquaintances of my ensuing trip.As you would well expect, it... Read More
There is a craze going on that produces big bass, it's called flippin. Flippin puts the lure where the big bass are.....in cover! You will want a 7 1/2 to 8 foot rod with at... Read More
I have to admit this subject bores me to tears. Amazingly, the simple fact is that every time I interviewed a fisherman about night fishing tips he mentioned preparation at the top of the list.As... Read More
In the text below I shall try to give a short overview of some of the basics when breeding crayfish. Particular species may have other behaviours and demands. It should be said that my main... Read More
Fishing Fishing |