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Posts: 8781
| How can anyone justify harvesting 6 trophy muskies? Legality aside, knowing the relative rarity of Muskies of that size, how can anyone say that its an acceptable practice? |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | So far, Addict, I see only one justification. Because he can. I see one real counterpoint. Well, OK, 'we' will get the law changed so he can't.
The side argument is over Shep telling the guy he thinks his practices are abusive to the fishery, the fellow's answer was that it's legal so he will do what he wishes.
Shep's answer was because of that attitude, which strikes Shep (and me, for that matter) as decidedly lacking in the concern for the fishery arena, Shep will choose not to fish a promotional event this fellow runs there.
It's legal, so why beat the guy up?
This isn't ABOUT the guy or beating him up, its ABOUT the over harvest and how to get that reduced through public discussion and perhaps a change in the law.
Did I miss anything relevant?
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Posts: 8781
| BENR: "I question using a message board to judge an individuals behavior and that is what this is all about..."
Overharvest is a detriment to Muskie fishing, and this is a musky fishing website. Where better to discuss it?
"Nobody is going to debate if one guy keeping 6 fish is going overboard...But debating his character..."
I don't see people debating his character. What'd being discussed are his actions as they relate to a resource that someone in his position would presumably want to preserve. He could be an axe murderer or dismember little doggies, neither of those have any bearing on muskie fishing.
As for the other 6 fish one guy stuff? If an angler harvests a trophy fish, presumably it is for the purpose of a trophy. One could reasonably expect that that angler won't harvest another, much less 6. But when one angler harvests 6 fish, I believe it is cause for concern.
Why?:
It's excessive, and its unnecessary. There's not a person alive whom I would blame for harvesting a single trophy fish. Two I would question. Three? SIX? Six is incredibly selfish, and it undermines the efforts of everyone with a vested interest in muskie conservation.
Edited by esoxaddict 5/25/2007 3:26 PM
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Ben, look at it this way.
If a person gets one DUI, I'm not going to judge them, everybody makes mistakes, I've got one, many people do.
If a person get 6 DUI, than that signals a problem, unusual behavior that has a better chance or hurting others, IMHO.
Now a guys kills one trophy, it's legal, it's his right, it's one fish he's very proud of, not a problem or unusual behavior, IMHO.
He kills 6 trophies, and now I can see him being a single, very harmfull threat to a resource for years to come.
The guy who has 6 DUI's and the guy who kills 6 muskies would probably not see my business, and have me concerned about thier behavior, and how it can affect ohters.
Maybe that doesn't make sense, but I think it puts into perspective why the concern is there.
JS |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Keeping fish is not exactly right, whether legal or not. If you cant get the big girl to go, then mount it instead of it being turtle food. Laws were not written so that some could get away with it or exploit it.
If you do not respect the musky resource, take up pike fishing. Plenty to go aroung in WI, anyways.
Keep the fish of a lifetime? if you want, do it. you are able if it is legal. Keep 6 of a lifetime? you are a greedy dog.
Nuff said. Shep is right in his feelings, in my opinion. |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | If Shep is a Muskie Elitist, would the guy that kept the six fish be a Muskie Nihilist? Or maybe a Muskie Anarchist?
Kevin
Just try it Hodag. I'm ready. |
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No getting 6 DUIS is not the same as killing 6 muskies.
But understanding why one person killing 6 muskies in one year is more offensive to some than on person killing one ever is kind of analagous.
Interesting comments, I don't know this fellow, he might be the kindest, most geniune person you'd ever meet.
Not knocking him as person, dad, citizen whatever.
I have a completely different set of beliefs and values when it comes to resources that we all share however.
I think that it's important to seperate the person from the actions in cases like this.
Hey Steve, you can call me John, I'm younger than you are!
JS
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Some think this post if getting out of hand. I believe it's doing some good with opinions from both sides. Even after reading all the posts I still can't see where anyone can take this guys side on keeping 6 large muskies.
That is just greed and a huge lack of respect for the fishory. Anyway you look at it.
Because a guy can catch these huge fish it make him a very good stick and he would be very respected if he chose to release most or all of them. I don't have a problem with a guy keeping his trophy fish, thats his rite and legal rite. Killing more for personal greed or to keep others from getting them is a Lake Raper.
It's a good thing Green Bay is huge. Just think if these fish were all taken out of your lake................Maybe some views would be changed then.
I run a 100% catch and release guide service. I can only think of one client that I lost because he wanted to hire me to get him a fish for the wall. In this day and age I believe the replicas are getting to the point where we can release our fish and get them mounted too. So why would anyone want to over harvest trophy fish?
Some say they would release all the fish they catch, even the monsters. Well, I can tell you that once you get your monster fish your thoughts will be questioned while you hold that fish. I had upper 40lb fish that gave me a reason to think it over, she was released and I was very proud to do it. Two days later I got a fish over 50lb's and released her also. I have talked the talk and walked the walk. It's hard to do for some. Impossible to do for others, even six times in one season.
I know a handfull of guys who kept muskies and most of them told me they second guessed their decision after they killed that fish. I have seen a few of the mounts and they are not anything I would recomend. If they get another fish and release it I bet they will see what a good repo looks like next to a skin mount. Repo's have come a long way and they are still getting better each year. Rick is my man and he is always working on molds, fins, eyes, and painting to get better.
I don't know if I am a Elitist or just an guide who cares about the resource and hopes everyone will have the chance to catch a trophy. The more trophys swimming around the better everyones chances to catch one.
Catch and release works for everyone, killing one works for only one............. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | John, be happy to.
This is a great discussion. Let's try really hard to discuss this within OutdoorsFIRST posting permissions.
Mike, I agree.
I get it. Some think no one should mention this on the web. SOme don't agree with the guy killing 6 trophy fish, but feel discussing it in public is a bad idea and is unfair, and some think he's in the center of the bullseye for doing something perfectly legal. Did I miss anything?
Imagine the uproar if this had been a well known Muskie Guide?
Does fact this guy is a Ranked Professional angler up the ante? He extracts part of his living from the sport. Does he have a responsibility that is both PUBLIC and higher than the average guy who might not know what the impact of his actions might be? And, this fishery could very well be in the first stages of serious trouble; and action to reduce over harvest has to happen, or we might just kiss 'er bye bye, does a sense of urgency perhaps justify actions that otherwise might be seen as excessive to some work under those circumstances? Bay of Green Bay ain't Lake St Clair. I wish it was....and VHS mortality may change that water too and very well could hit it HARD. Watch for the awareness over there that killing too many top tier predators may reduce the fishery to a 'no big fish in (blank)' area, and the charters over harvesting big fish will come under some serious pressure. |
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