I like to be out on the boat even if I am not catching....

Some of the biggest crappie I ever caught were on the days when the bite was slow

I am a C&R fisher, and I don't have to catch a ton of fish to jusitfy my fishing. I enjoy being out on the water even if I don't catch anything.

I agree with the last two posters. Part of the reason we like fishing is just the being outdoors. It is called 'fishing' not 'catching' after all.

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Some of that depends on the terrain and the amount of dirt they have to move. All ponds are not created equally.

It's also helpful if you have friends who do things you need done and do them at cost.

I go fishing a LOT and the only time I've kept a fish in the last 5 years was a tuna on my deep sea trip in Hawaii.

Fishing is the fun part. It's a pain in the butt to keep the fish and clean it and it's not THAT good.

I think Mahi was doing a lot of ocean fishing, perhaps requiring a boat. If you're running an ocean boat, a day of fishing isn't exactly cheap after you pay for your gas and make a long run to your fishing spot.

I agree with all the sentiments on what fishing is about, but if you're doing an expensive form of fishing and rarely catching fish, I can also understand the cost/benefit analysis.

Another reason I don't like to keep fish is that I like to preserve the fishery. Every fish that someone takes out is another fish that I (or someone else) can't catch.

I dunno about that...

This is some GOOD eating

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I understand and agree, though I think that ocean fish, specifically game fish (not fish that are fished commercially), are a little bit different than freshwater fish with regards to populations.

Well in Florida, salt water fishing gets pretty pricey. My son and I enjoy going deep sea fishing on the party boats now. Catch more too. I've gone out and spent $200 per day without sniffing a fish.

Good god, that looks awesome.

Sad but this is the best fishing day I probably ever had in my life when it comes to consistent size fish.... I have been chasing this kind of fishing ever since...

I can catch 6 inch fish all day... I guess I need to start just filleting them, they encourage us to take the smaller fish in the lake here to promote overall bigger fish in the future (crappies)

Crappie is some damn fine eating. :thumb:

Those are some big crappie. when they're spawning, it's like saltwater fishing. Lotsa bites.