Ever regretted tossing them back?

Long ago, I caught a bluegill in a pond a sibling owned in Jasper County illinois. The same county where the state record bluegill was caught. The bluegill I caught and released that day wasn't 3+ pounds; but it was quite possibly 2+. The biggest live bluegill I've ever seen. I fished that pond a few more times before the land was sold; but never caught it or any even close to its size again.

Lkewise long ago, I was fishing a small farm pond my parents owned. The pond had been stocked with some fish including a few crappie when built. I had sunk a few cedar trees in one area; but very little fishing or maintenance had been done. Cattle had free run of it, kept it muddy, and it kept getting shallower. One day, I decided to fish it near the cedar trees and caught four or five crappie all about the same size. I was so impressed with the size that I held them up and measured them against my arm before tossing them back in. Back at the house, I measured the points on my arm. They were 17 to 18 inches. I knew they were big; but had no appreciation for how big that was at the time. Pond winter killed that winter and several times since. Family still owns the pond; but haven't fished it for many years. Doubt if anything in it worth catching. Thought many times since how impressive a stringer of those crappie and that bluegill would have made if mounted...

Released a 10 pound largemouth caught in one of my ponds a few years ago without even taking a picture. Kind of regret that too; but my focus was in ensuring it would survive.

How about you?

I've released some really big fish over the years but there is only one I regret not keeping to this day. While fishing a small lake I saw a dark male crappie in spawning colors up shallow by a bush at the bank and pitched my jig out and caught it, but seen other movement. Looked down and there was this huge white crappie and she was looking right at me. I tried several lures to catch her but she wouldn't bite. Tried both sides of the bush but no luck. I left and let her rest while I fished another lake. Went back and this time I snuck up on her staying behind the bush so she couldn't see me and slowly fed my jig through the branches until it was inches from her nose and watched her suck it in. when I set the hook she ran straight for deeper water clearing the bush and after a couple minutes I had her. No scale or tape so measured her from tip of my finger past the elbow about half way up the bicep she reached, 18-19" fish and she was really fat. I had prayed earlier since I wanted this fish so bad and promised God that if I catch her I would release her so I kept my promise and let her go, without even a picture. This was in the spring in 1997 before cell phones and didn't own a camera. Guessed her weight at over 3# and might have been closer to 3.5#

Never ever regretted releasing a fish. As long as I got to see and hold the fish I’m happy.

The thing I regretted the most wasn't releasing the fish but not getting a photo before releasing her.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Just_Bass

Never ever regretted releasing a fish. As long as I got to see and hold the fish I’m happy.

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Yeah, I think I feel the same way.
Bob

I have never in my life of fishing ever regrated ever releasing a monster for them to go make more babies just like them!...110%

I caught a 6 pound LM bass years ago at a pond that ran between where my parents lived and where I lived. I took it from where I caught it, at their house, and released it behind my house. Keep in mind that I was walking from their house to mine. The fish was alive when I released it but YEARS later it dawned on me that I had probably kept it out of the water too long for it to survive. Looking back wish I would have mounted it or just released it back where I caught it. To this day, that is the biggest LM I have caught.

Kinda once or twice maybe ….. but mostly not ….
My avatar fish went back in the water ….
Did a replica….

Don't regret releasing it but regret I didn't have a camera for a picture, did have a scale though. 24lb 12oz striper in Lake Lanier on 6lb line with a plastic worm while bass fishing.

I release sacalait if they are under 9 1/2 inches when I decide I want to fry some fish. I have released big Large Mouth bass in a private pond to let them grow.

Bon Temps!!

When I was 10 years old my dad and his friend was cleaning some crappie they had caught earlier in the day. I had was fishing for bluegill with my Zebco 202 and some worms. I took some crappie guys, threaded it on my bluegill hook and cast it out near were the crappie carcass were being tossed in the water. I hooked into 18lb blue catfish and fought him for what seemed forever. Finally got him landed and for a 10 year old it seemed like I had caught moby dick. My dad looked at him and said he was to big to eat and tossed him back. My heart sank because I did not have a picture of my prized catch and I knew my friends would never believe me. That was in 1972 and that is still the largest fish I have ever caught.

Cool stories, I release almost all of my freshwater catch now after a quick cell phone selfie. it is a little hard on phones, but it is worth it to have the pictures. Attachment 499490

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Release everything I catch, no regrets.