Keep LMB??? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

captnblood34 · 03-18-2013, 08:21 PM

I grew up in central Ill. Worked three jobs consistently through high school, rocked a '91 Buick WAGON and always had my rod rigged with a chartreuse spinner.....always. Stopped at any and every lake, pond, crick, rive, what have you that I came across. My buddies and I landed some pretty nice fish especially some Goliath Bass!!! I was raised that they were a sport fish, and treated them as such. I've never eaten it and never plan on it. I personally don't roll around with light tackle in my truck anymore, I'm too in love with the salt. I don't rock a wagon anymore either, for now

. Just curious I guess does anyone fish large mouth and foam at the mouth for it, or do you C&R.

Jay

dbarnett66 · 03-18-2013, 08:50 PM

Let me grab the popcorn and the lawn chair.

I don't normally target LMB, but I have taken some smaller models for consumption on occasion. I would say three or four fish, 3 pounds or less over the last five years. I normally thow them back as they are a bycatch of crappie and I rather eat the crappie.

With that being said some of the competitive guys will think less highly of you because they feel it impacts their "sport". If someone is buying a license and following the rules, I say they can keep what laws tell them to keep. I do like eating bass, but I prefer crappie. If I go home without crappie, I might just take one of the green ones home for the dinner plate.

Danodog

JeffB · 03-18-2013, 08:53 PM

I've been fishing for LMB, SMB, and Kentuckys for 25yrs and have never once kept a single one of any of the species and never will. C&R or donation to Bass Pro Shop only for me. Thats how I was taught by my dad fishing tournaments with him growing up. Catfish and slabs are another though!

TmBtc12 · 03-18-2013, 09:08 PM

I grew up fishing for LMB here in San Diego. I too have never kept or eaten one....always catch and release. I personally don't like to keep them, but I don't have an issue with somebody taking one home to put food on the table as long as they are folllowing the rules.

CorvinaLoca · 03-18-2013, 09:28 PM

I don't think lmb are endangered.

I grew up in midwest too n ate one as kid n not too fond of it. Love smb, walleye, perch so lots of other tastier choices. I'd even eat pike over lmb n deal w bones. I wouldn't fault ur choice as long as u eat what u take. Personally I'm not a big fan of cnr for fun (lots of gud reasons for release tho). Why purposefully stress out fish if not going to eat it. I know I'm in minority on that one.

Biggameaddict · 03-18-2013, 09:16 PM

Ive never kept one before, of you have your license and ofcourse its legal for you to keep any legal fish but i figure that all these bass guys love to fish em and they get all mad when people keep them so why bother let them be.

StinkyMatt · 03-18-2013, 09:29 PM

LMB release.....

Calicos on the other hand, BBQ time.

Couldn't help myself.

FlyFishinYakr · 03-18-2013, 11:27 PM

I've lived I the Santa Clarita valley for the most part of 35+ years. Spent most of that time fishing Castaic, Pyramid, Piru & Casitas in all those years I've never kept a fish except a striper or two but NO LMB.
FFY.

danjor · 03-19-2013, 05:55 AM

I have pulled in hundreds of LMB and out of all those I have only kept 3 legal ones that got injured during the fight. I love fishing for them with ultralight gear. And I have to admit they do taste good but would rather target sand bass or rock fish for eating.

kareem korn · 03-19-2013, 09:14 AM

They are good. I grew up on them.
Only one's I'll keep are the deep hooked one's.

Pocoloco · 03-19-2013, 09:29 AM

fish fry every superbowl. bluegill, crappie. bass, cats. Whatever we catch. YUM. Oh yeah don't forget the libations

Iceman · 03-19-2013, 09:48 AM

I grew up in Minnesota where fish are food, I kept LMB once in CA, tasted like algae, never again. I may keep some small mouth this weekend to try em

Jimmyz123 · 03-19-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnblood34

I grew up in central Ill. Worked three jobs consistently through high school, rocked a '91 Buick WAGON and always had my rod rigged with a chartreuse spinner.....always. Stopped at any and every lake, pond, crick, rive, what have you that I came across. My buddies and I landed some pretty nice fish especially some Goliath Bass!!! I was raised that they were a sport fish, and treated them as such. I've never eaten it and never plan on it. I personally don't roll around with light tackle in my truck anymore, I'm too in love with the salt. I don't rock a wagon anymore either, for now

. Just curious I guess does anyone fish large mouth and foam at the mouth for it, or do you C&R.

Jay

As a kid when we went fishing my dad always wanted something to take home for dinner. I never really felt that LMB were good to eat. As I grew up and evolved into a more sport type fisherman I learned what fish I like to keep and what I don't. I practice the art of CPR(Catch, Photo, Release) of most fish. Halibut, Yellowtail, Rockfish, Dorado, just to name a few are my keeper fish, but bass(Calico, Sand, Spotty) all go back.

One time I took my dad trout fishing and it was right at the beginning of the spawn of bass season. I hooked my dad up with a nice drop shot rig and told him to cast a certain direction and slowly reel back. We had already limited out on trout for each of us. He hooks a nice 2 pound LMB. I lip the fish, hold it up for him to look at and then released it. His comment to me was, next one I catch like that is going home with us. I explained to him that it was the spawning time of year and not a good idea to keep them. He was still grumpy about it, but we didn't catch anymore bass that day.

I know of ways to cook fish so almost any fish tastes great, but I just don't like killing bass if I don't have to.
I do like Salt and freshwater fishing, but Saltwater more because you don't have to pay to launch your kayak or boat, or pay a lake fee.

Whiting17 · 03-19-2013, 02:23 PM

I'll only eat then in the winter through the ice (Minnesota). Unless walleyes are around and biting(:

jdfish · 03-19-2013, 06:05 PM

C & R Waaayyyy too many other great fish for table fare.

tomahawk · 03-19-2013, 09:31 PM

Ate LMB several times as a kid. Never again. Huge fish snob now. No LMB, Calico, or Sand Bass. CPR only. I eat halibut, yellowtail, YFT, BFT, Albacore, and WSB. I keep the Dodo's because my wife likes it. I won't even eat that. I like mako and thresher but have never caught one.
I fish for fun. If I want fish to eat and the freezer is empty...Grocery store. Sure thing and cheaper.

03-18-2013, 08:21 PM	#1
captnblood34 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Otay Posts: 704	Keep LMB??? I grew up in central Ill. Worked three jobs consistently through high school, rocked a '91 Buick WAGON and always had my rod rigged with a chartreuse spinner.....always. Stopped at any and every lake, pond, crick, rive, what have you that I came across. My buddies and I landed some pretty nice fish especially some Goliath Bass!!! I was raised that they were a sport fish, and treated them as such. I've never eaten it and never plan on it. I personally don't roll around with light tackle in my truck anymore, I'm too in love with the salt. I don't rock a wagon anymore either, for now. Just curious I guess does anyone fish large mouth and foam at the mouth for it, or do you C&R. Jay

03-18-2013, 08:50 PM	#2
dbarnett66 Danodog Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lakeside, CA Posts: 155	Let me grab the popcorn and the lawn chair. I don't normally target LMB, but I have taken some smaller models for consumption on occasion. I would say three or four fish, 3 pounds or less over the last five years. I normally thow them back as they are a bycatch of crappie and I rather eat the crappie. With that being said some of the competitive guys will think less highly of you because they feel it impacts their "sport". If someone is buying a license and following the rules, I say they can keep what laws tell them to keep. I do like eating bass, but I prefer crappie. If I go home without crappie, I might just take one of the green ones home for the dinner plate. Danodog Last edited by dbarnett66; 03-18-2013 at 08:52 PM. Reason: spelling

03-18-2013, 08:53 PM	#3
JeffB Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: La Jolla Posts: 1,216	I've been fishing for LMB, SMB, and Kentuckys for 25yrs and have never once kept a single one of any of the species and never will. C&R or donation to Bass Pro Shop only for me. Thats how I was taught by my dad fishing tournaments with him growing up. Catfish and slabs are another though! __________________ If you're looking for me I'm

03-18-2013, 09:28 PM	#5
CorvinaLoca Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 129	Eat what u like I don't think lmb are endangered. I grew up in midwest too n ate one as kid n not too fond of it. Love smb, walleye, perch so lots of other tastier choices. I'd even eat pike over lmb n deal w bones. I wouldn't fault ur choice as long as u eat what u take. Personally I'm not a big fan of cnr for fun (lots of gud reasons for release tho). Why purposefully stress out fish if not going to eat it. I know I'm in minority on that one.

03-18-2013, 09:16 PM	#6
Biggameaddict The Kayak Peddler Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Hollywood Posts: 591	Ive never kept one before, of you have your license and ofcourse its legal for you to keep any legal fish but i figure that all these bass guys love to fish em and they get all mad when people keep them so why bother let them be. __________________ Keep your rod close, your gaff closer, and your paddle on a leash.

03-18-2013, 09:08 PM	#4
TmBtc12 Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San diego Posts: 50	I grew up fishing for LMB here in San Diego. I too have never kept or eaten one....always catch and release. I personally don't like to keep them, but I don't have an issue with somebody taking one home to put food on the table as long as they are folllowing the rules.

03-18-2013, 09:29 PM	#7
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	LMB release..... Calicos on the other hand, BBQ time. Couldn't help myself.

03-18-2013, 11:27 PM	#8
FlyFishinYakr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal...30 min from Bodega/Tomales Bay, 1hr from Clear Lake, 2+ hr to Berryessa & the Delta Posts: 729	I've lived I the Santa Clarita valley for the most part of 35+ years. Spent most of that time fishing Castaic, Pyramid, Piru & Casitas in all those years I've never kept a fish except a striper or two but NO LMB. FFY.

03-19-2013, 05:55 AM	#9
danjor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Riverside CA Posts: 673	I have pulled in hundreds of LMB and out of all those I have only kept 3 legal ones that got injured during the fight. I love fishing for them with ultralight gear. And I have to admit they do taste good but would rather target sand bass or rock fish for eating. Last edited by danjor; 03-19-2013 at 06:07 AM.

03-19-2013, 09:14 AM	#10
kareem korn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: C-bad Posts: 431	They are good. I grew up on them. Only one's I'll keep are the deep hooked one's.

03-19-2013, 09:29 AM	#11
Pocoloco Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: el cajon Posts: 239	fish fry every superbowl. bluegill, crappie. bass, cats. Whatever we catch. YUM. Oh yeah don't forget the libations

03-19-2013, 09:48 AM	#12
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	I grew up in Minnesota where fish are food, I kept LMB once in CA, tasted like algae, never again. I may keep some small mouth this weekend to try em __________________

03-19-2013, 02:23 PM	#14
Whiting17 Junior Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 28	I'll only eat then in the winter through the ice (Minnesota). Unless walleyes are around and biting(:

03-19-2013, 06:05 PM	#15
jdfish Junior Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 7	C & R Waaayyyy too many other great fish for table fare.

03-19-2013, 09:31 PM	#16
tomahawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 109	Ate LMB several times as a kid. Never again. Huge fish snob now. No LMB, Calico, or Sand Bass. CPR only. I eat halibut, yellowtail, YFT, BFT, Albacore, and WSB. I keep the Dodo's because my wife likes it. I won't even eat that. I like mako and thresher but have never caught one. I fish for fun. If I want fish to eat and the freezer is empty...Grocery store. Sure thing and cheaper.