What proof do you have that if you release a big crappie it will be caught again?

[TapOut64]

It seems that some members feel it's more honorable to release a large crappie (15" +) with the thought that it will be caught again. Who's to say it does not die from the stress of being caught at such an old age or dies of natural causes and sinks to the bottom of the lake a few months later? A friend told me he talked to a fisheries biologist and was told that you might as well keep such a large crappie and it will most likely die of natural causes before it's ever caught again. Anyone have proof (i.e. biologist report) to dispute this? I'm not saying one way is right and the other is wrong, bottom line is, if you catch it, it's yours to do whatever you want with. (We can exclude small private ponds from this discussion.)

[slickwater1]

this is an argument that has been discussed time and time again in seminars/ lectures that I have attended. I don't see the benefit of releasing such a big fish but that is just me. I think this depends alot on season, location, body of water ect.

[Locator79]

I have proof of how good they taste!

[papadave]

Once the water warms up the morality rate of any caught fish goes up. I'd think it was a more fruitful practice in cool weather.
Wouldn't the releasing a big row that would produce thousands of fry be more of a benefit than the expectation that it might be caught again?

[slickwater1]

true she could produce several more fry if released but part of our job as conservationist is to harvest game in order to play our role has a predator. I am a conservationist not a preservationist.

[jimfish]

Only reason i can see is that i am working on a limit of 16-17 in fish.

[papadave]

according to studies a 13" fish could produce 10x-20x the amount of fry as an 11" fish. That said, I'm neither a conservationist or a preservationist, I'm just a lazy so-and-so, I only keep fish that I can fillet, and then only if the freezer has room:D.

[wilbur]

I have proof of how good they taste!

You mean you had proof, The evidence is gone

[jiggshooter]

it just depends on what i feel like doing if im culling smaller fish he goes in the livewell

[olduckhunter]

true she could produce several more fry if released but part of our job as conservationist is to harvest game in order to play our role has a predator. I am a conservationist not a preservationist.

slick has a slick way with words.