Keep LMB???

[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

[dbarnett66]

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]

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]

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.

[Biggameaddict]

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.

[CorvinaLoca]

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.

[StinkyMatt]

LMB release.....


Calicos on the other hand, BBQ time.








Couldn't help myself.

[FlyFishinYakr]

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]

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]

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

[Pocoloco]

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

[Iceman]

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

[RedSledTeam]

I've always C&R'd LMB but last year when I fished Lake El Salto, "fish fingers" was on the lunch menu one day and we were each responsible for bringing in a LMB of 3-4 lbs pounds. That was rather difficult considering most of the catch was over 6 lbs!! So, when we returned to base, the fish was prepared by the gourmet chef, and at first I didn't want to eat it because of what it was, but when I did.....it was light, fluffy and golden crispy brown .....man it was grrreat! Must be from all the Tilapia that the LMB eats in Lake El Salto. That was the only time I had LMB. Not to brag, but here's a picture of the largest one of many LMB I caught over 6 lbs on a swim-bait.

[ful-rac]

Never tried eating Green bass but I have heard it's pretty good from a couple people who have eaten it. I don't doubt that it's good...but why would you want to eat one when there are so many better fish to eat around here...?

By the way nice bass ED!

BRAGGER!!!

[Jimmyz123]

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]

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

[jdfish]

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

[tomahawk]

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.