Catch and Release Yellowtail

[socal.beach.bum]

Gotta catch one first before I can make that decision 😒

[FullFlavorPike]

I would do it if I had more than I could use, and if it obviously wasn't a new PR. But first I need to get this stinky, stinky skunk stench off of me :/

[fishnfoool]

I never voluntarily release them because my friends, family and I eat them.

[jkim0130]

Yes, if I had enough in the freezer.

Thanks for the video. I was wondering how I would release a YT.

[kurt]

Absolutely. But if you release a tired one when a sealion is around, they won't last long.

[GregAndrew]

Caught and kept one on Saturday a few weeks ago. Caught and released 3 more on Sunday, and left them biting. The one I kept was #27, and the ones I released were around the same size. I don't keep any more than I am willing to professionally vacuum seal myself, or than I can fit in my freezer. In my experience, giving away fish to friends in general, you might as well throw away about 50%. I try to stick with the ones that can tell me what species they like to eat, and how they like to prepare it.

[Oolie]

Highly situational. I've released fish before, but most of the time there's someone out there who's hungry.


With proper care you can sit on a dead fish for 5 days before it is too late, though this is species and size dependent.


Good fighting technique, dispatch technique, and good care will help the fish last to it's maximum potential, and you can share it.


Then again I can't buy fish anywhere remotely close to the quality I can produce myself. That's probably the biggest motivator for keeping a fish.

[SoCalEDC]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Caught and kept one on Saturday a few weeks ago. Caught and released 3 more on Sunday, and left them biting. The one I kept was #27, and the ones I released were around the same size. I don't keep any more than I am willing to professionally vacuum seal myself, or than I can fit in my freezer. In my experience, giving away fish to friends in general, you might as well throw away about 50%. I try to stick with the ones that can tell me what species they like to eat, and how they like to prepare it.

This is good advise. I Haven't landed a YT from the yak so I cant say that I have had the chance to release one, but I would likely keep one or two (if smaller grade) and turn the others back to fight again. I know that I eat/use all of the fish I keep, even it means it might get a little frost bite if I have a large stock. I don't like to kill fish if im being honest, so when I do, I want that fish to be eaten and not just die in vain.

[chris138]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Caught and kept one on Saturday a few weeks ago. Caught and released 3 more on Sunday, and left them biting. The one I kept was #27, and the ones I released were around the same size. I don't keep any more than I am willing to professionally vacuum seal myself, or than I can fit in my freezer. In my experience, giving away fish to friends in general, you might as well throw away about 50%. I try to stick with the ones that can tell me what species they like to eat, and how they like to prepare it.

Hey Greg,

I know it's been in a thread before, but what vacuum sealer do you use?

[TJones]

Originally Posted by FullFlavorPike

I would do it if I had more than I could use, and if it obviously wasn't a new PR. But first I need to get this stinky, stinky skunk stench off of me :/

Guess its just one of those years? Good Luck.