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Posts: 138
Location: Utah | Maybe this question has been asked...not sure but if so apologize upfront.
Here's the scenario:
You boat a Musky size not a point...you do everything right get the fish to the boat quickly, remove hooks with fish in water, possibly a quick photo, now you go to release the fish but for some reason the fish after all your efforts expires.
Question: What would you do with the fish? |
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Posts: 462
Location: Madison Wi. Chain | Depends on the regulations etc. If it is legal to keep, I would and then consider trying to get a skin mount or donate to somebody learning how to do taxidermy. Never eaten musky, but if the mount was out, maybe try to bake it with some lemon and butter. Cut out jaws, clean them and you have yourself and nice converstation piece for your next dinner date. BG |
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Posts: 138
Location: Utah | Oops should have stated...here in Utah on 2-prime Tiger Musky waters the regs state all Tiger Muskies must be immediately released. |
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Posts: 406
Location: Stones throw away...finally!! | Turtle food then. Sucks, but rules are rules. I certainly wouldn't risk a ticket by taking it home. |
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Posts: 37
Location: Rhinelander, WI | If immediate release is mandatory, you're pretty much stuck letting the fish float. I was at a tournament in Wisconsin where a similar question came up (having a sub-legal size fish die) and a DNR warden was there to answer. His response was that because it didn't meet the minimum length limit, it couldn't be legally possessed. You could try calling or notifying the Utah DNR / Fish & Game to see if they were interested in taking the fish for any scientific study. |
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Posts: 427
Location: Roseau | Is this a real question?
I don't see what the choices are? |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | If the fish was legal to keep, I'd feel morally obligated to keep it, as in "you killed it, now you eat it". Musky is great eating, equal to pike, my personal favorite, in every way. That's an added bonus unless you are fishing some sewer where the fish glow in the dark, then I'd chuck it back and never think twice about it. Some regulations clearly state it is against the law to waste game fish, and throwing a good eating fish back into the lake to rot is clearly a waste in my book. If you can afford it, getting it mounted is a great idea too. It doesn't have to be a monster to be beautiful on the wall.
If it is not legal to keep you throw it back because that is the law. No other options. Nothing to think about. No what ifs. You throw it back, period. |
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Posts: 138
Location: Utah | Fisher - 7/30/2010 8:22 AM
Is this a real question? I don't see what the choices are?
Yep it's a real honest question by me.
I know what the law states but I also have my internal beliefs on this issue. I can't find it within myself to leave a Tiger Musky floating ...I may contact the DWR if this event happens...I won't even leave a fish on the ice that is to small to really keep but couldn't make it down the ice hole due to it's air bladder expanding...I was just curious what others would do WRT a Musky that expires...yea it's only a fish some may say...guess I have a titch more than it's just a fish attitude. Please don't say well don't fish for them...as that 'taint' going to happen.
I already contacted the Utah DWR on this several months ago...the individual was understanding of my position but also stated requirements (expected response)...guess if this were to happen now (fish expire) I'll accept the consequences of my actions...hopefully it won't happen. Again I'm just curious how others feel and if they have no problem within themselves leaving a Musky floating if the laws don't allow for possession. For me and don't ask me 'why' I just can't say oh well it's just a fish and leave it floating...just hope it doesn't happen but I'll appropriately deal with it if it does. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | A dead muskie released will not be wasted. It will feed turtles, birds, other fish, insects, raccoons, etc.
nobody wants to kill em but you have to accept that some will die no matter what and if you can't accept that you need to start fishing without hooks.
Sorry but that's how it is. You have to remember it would have died anyway. it's more wasteful to remove it's body from the enviornment. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | We all love the fish, but don't let your fish nobility get in the way of the law. I know some guys that swear they'll keep everything that dies because they just can't bear the thought of it "going to waste." I tell them to get over it. It's good to be a mindful steward, but don't get hung up on having to harvest it. There's many ways of being a good steward. If the fish died in fair chase and through no fault of your's via mishandling or treatment, and you return it to the environment to be "absorbed" by nature and recycled into the system, it's not going to waste. Now to go out and catch a game fish or non-invasive fish and just throw it on the bank, or cut it's gills and throw it back, that's not ethical and is waste. But catch, (accidental) die and release for the sake of the law and benefit of the ecosystem is entirely ethical.
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| This seems almost a no-brainer to me. First, do what the law says. If the fish is illegal to keep, let it go and let its body be absorbed back into the ecosystem. If keeping the fish is legal, by all means keep it and put it to some good use: eat it; let somebody else eat it; or mount it for show and study. So long as you are within the law, you don't have to apologize to anybody. |
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Posts: 1168
| k2muskie - 7/30/2010 10:47 AM
I know what the law states but I also have my internal beliefs on this issue.
You're kidding right? I know what a lot of laws state and have my internal beliefs on them but that doesn't mean I'm going to break those laws. Legally I have to pay taxes, don't like it, but I'll do it to avoid the consequence. |
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Posts: 541
| Well I guess a person could call the dnr tell them what happened and they give the say so to bring it home then you can otherwise the law is the law let it float and go back to the ecosystem like others stated here. I know how you feel driving away while it's floating there just does'nt feel right does it! |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | If you have to let it go,let it go even if its a floater,not worth getting a ticket over.some lakes in wis the size limit is only 34,so if a 35 dies on you it might be worth eating,I had a 31 once with all three hooks from a pace maker in it.one was in the mouth,the second went in the gill from the outside,and the last hook was in its belly,when I put the fish in the water after unhooking it the fish sank.a little while later in that area we saw a eagle trying to fly away with something,it dropped it twice before it gave up,it was probably that muskie. |
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Posts: 2089
| "From Nature she came, to Nature she shall return"-Me |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Steve Jonesi - 7/30/2010 12:02 PM
"From Nature she came, to Nature she shall return"-Me
Actually in this case "From a stocking truck she came...and next year, they'll bring more" 
For me, they get left. I do my best and move on w/ a clear conscience. My job is too important to me to risk (for those that don't know, I work for Utah DNR; a willful wildlife law violation can result in termination).
K2 - I know you do your best too. Don't get too ripped up by what happens on the water (especially other folks that don't care as much as you do), but don't deify these fish either. They are really really cool fish, but still just fish.
S. |
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What Would you Do???