Several weeks ago I went out of town and on an open party trip and I don't want to name the boat or landing but it was south of L.A. We were catching a variety of fish and then got into some pretty WFO sand bass. Several of the anglers were throwing back the smaller sandies even though they were over the 12" size limit. The captain on this trip saw guys tossing them back and then lectured them saying "if you don't want a fish - it is going to go into someone else's bag." One of the guys quickly complied as it seemed he was overly pressured or maybe felt intimidated by the skipper. My feeling on the matter is that if you pay for a ticket and you catch a fish, then it is yours to do with as you please whether it be take it home or release it.

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? I think it is B.S. for a captain to denounce catch and release practices to enhance fish counts.

On the contrary, I have seen very good boats who when they get into hot calico bites, encourage people to release and especially encourage them to release calicos with eggs. I think this type of attitude is great and I applaud it.

I have noticed the same phenomenon. In years past it wasn't nearly as common for anyone to release ANYTHING caught while on a party boat. Nowadays I see it all of the time. As a matter of fact it was the rule of the day for a lot of us who went out on a second half day trip last friday. Once you get some fish for dinner I think it makes perfect sense to release the rest. I don't know the legality of a skipper telling a paying customer what he can do with a fish, but in my opinion it is up to the fisherman...We all pay for a license and a ticket on the boat and therefore have the same rights as the everyone else does as far as deciding what to do with a fish you caught. In my experience some skippers are paranoid that if the fish count isn't good everyday that the business will fail. I think on the contrary if they just counted fish, wether released or not we would all win. The fish could be recaught AND recounted another day. The sad part about rockfishing is once you get over a certain depth even released fish don't always survive.

That's rediculous. They can't tell you what to do - you are the customer - stand your ground. You could try mentioning to them that you will let them know what your final count was at the end so they can add it to their numbers - that has worked for me.

Also, it is illegal for one guy to catch more fish than his limit by having them count toward another person's limit. If there was an undercover warden on the boat the angler would get the ticket.

The angler and the Skipper... the penalties are more severe if you're the skipper of a boat caught doing anything illegal.

Just to clarify, It was not I who the captain directed this comment at - - and the person wanting to release his fish was a newbie and not caught his limit of 10 yet.

I released several of the smaller ones that were over 12", I just didn't give the skipper a chance to see it. If he would have directed that comment at me, he would have gotten an earful.

On the positive side, the crew were very attentive to the fact that every fish that went in the bag was 12" or larger and required measurements when the fish were questionable.

Unfortunately, the take what you can get now and inflate the fish count still exists on some boats.

I knew it wasn't you I was just using "you" as an example.

"The customer is always right". Period!

You (not you, hehe) are paying for the trip and can do whatever you want. If anyone gives you a hard time don't tip them or warn them that any grief they give you for CnR will come out of their tip. Then let them know that you will keep an accurate count and let them know what it was at the end of the trip.

What gets me is that they not only try and encourage people to keep all the fish but they actually try and encourage people to break the law and have the more successful fishermen fill the less successful fishermen's limits - that's just plain wrong.

Great advice, Pete. And I think that the name of the boat and landing should be made public, and reported to DFG.

Bob

I have fished a number of times over the last few years on a boat out of Channel Islands harbor. It was a private charter with a group that went once a month and all they wanted to fish was Calicos. We always did very well and the times I went everyone kept everything except me who threw some back on the sly. The captain (already a grumpy person in general) would give you a hard time if you released one. Slowly the opinons of the private group changed and they started wanting to release alot of fish. The captain fought them on it but they finally convinced him that they were paying for the trip and conservation would certainly help the future fishing. Last I heard they could do as they wanted with their fish. I think if more people stand up for what they feel is right, attitudes of those grumpy captains will eventually change.

BB

I agree...

Was that the boat? Even if not, that boat and its skipper Mr. Implom (sp?) gave my buddy and I this line, "don't throw them back, yer puttin' a knife in my heart everytime you do that!" Give me a break old fella...We told him we were helping preserve his fishery and that we were keeping a count of those released. I figure he saw 50 cents fillet charge going back in the water with each one. He was muttering, "who are those guys?!" I caught the JP calico (which they did tank for release) and I left them the whole thing after clearing my galley tab. Now he says, "you guys come back and release as many bass as you want any time!" Money talks, sad.

Great Story Fongster...The party boat experience is one that I seriously enjoy. Some of the skippers you come across are straight up irritating and short sighted, while others are incredibley good guides and teachers. One skipper I really liked, his name was Merit Mcray. He used to skipper the Seahawk LXV out of Santa Barbara. He always did his best to pit you on fish and kept a smile on his face. Some of the old school skippers you meet are just that, old school. I hope they can understand the reality of C&R fishing and realize it is a vital step in keeping the fun alive. I keep some fish to eat and feel that it is OK but the days of filling the freezer after every trip are over.

Merit was cool. Fished for albacore for the first time about 4 years ago on the Seahawk and he showed me the short pump. I've been hooked on fishing albacore ever since. I remember fishing on that boat one day off UCSB on a spot he said was his secret honey hole. We were pulling up big red snapper. He announced "if you don't get your lines up in 30 seconds, you'll be trolling." Sure enough, he bolts and we're skipping rockfish across the surface. There was a private boater coming to drop in on his spot and he didn't anyone getting the GPS numbers because it was his rock. Sorry to digress, just a fond memory.