Annoyance at recent magazine article!!!

I know I am by no means an expert but I was quite concerned at one article i read today by one of the Uk's bass 'experts' - I don't think it is right for me to name this person but if you contact me, i'm sure we can have a chat about it. . . . Perhaps others feel the same?

Anyway the article was in a very well known sea fishing magazine ..... I subscribe, I read, I digest, and I hope it makes me a better fisherman. . . .

Anyway the article was about 'Massive Bass....'

It was the little article at the bottom of the page which angered me ...... In brief the discussion was about how large Bass of 17+ lb are coming to the end of their lives and although they can still produce eggs their breeding life is coming to a close. . . . this next line is what really boiled my blood - 'So keeping them as a trophy fish is not such a problem.'


I am sorry, but correct me if I am wrong here, this is a leading UK Bass 'expert' writing in a hugely popular magazine, that it is ok to kill and keep Bass of this size ......

I think this is madness, a fish that size deserves to go back and fight another day ..... It has survived this long and, are 'we' as anglers really that shallow that we need to kill a fish to have it as a 'trophy'??!!!!! I would hope not! What is wrong with a few good pictures and setting it back to swim off ...?

If you are anything like me and I know a few others will agree, you get a good buzz watching the fish swim off than battering it in the head!

I just thought this was irresponsible to publish such a thing, fair enough there are decent people out there who use their own judgement about if a fish is healthy enough to be put back but there are some out there who do not know any better and to me this article does very little to educate the public....

With Bass stocks in certain areas being low, then I think we should be doing more to make the public aware of their preciousness and value to the angler, not to promote a trophy hunting mentality!

It made me angry and I just could not help but write about it....

I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions!

Steve N