Marco,
You're right, I don't think a tournament once a month on a different spot every month will have much effect on that spot even if you do take 100 bass off of it. However, I do think that it's sending the wrong message. We obviously have two very different goals for these tournaments. You want to promote the sport and introduce beginners to kayak fishing, while I want to provide tournaments for those who are already into the sport. Because my way would be for those who already know how to catch fish and are already familiar with kayak/float tube fishing, I'd like to make it catch and release. It is much easier for an experienced fishermen who takes his share of fish out of the water every year, to toss 3 of em back a month, than a beginner to toss back those same fish which might be his only three all summer. I realize this. So, basically, the environmental impact will probably be minimal, however, the point of the catch and release policy is to set an example and show that we are doing our part to conserve. Otherwise it's just an organized fish kill. I'd like to go out, catch some fish, and put em back in the end. No harm done. If it comes down to it, we may need to split up and hold separate tournaments. Yours for the beginners/people who don't want to go to the trouble of releasing, and mine for the rest. Another concern of mine is that a catch and kill tournament would put out a bad image. Like I said, it's an organized fish kill. No matter what impact it may or may not have on the environment, it's still an organized fish kill, and that doesn't look good. I hope it doesn't come off like Marco and I are fighting or yelling at eachother (notice, no capslocks, lol), because I really have no animosity toward him at all. Hopefully we can get it worked out. If it comes down to separate tournaments, that's the way it is. If you wanna release bass, fish mine, if you don't, fish Marco's.
-Brian