Couldn't believe what I was hearing

[icefisker]

Have a minimum length and a special harvest tag if you want to keep one for mounting or eating, with the proceeds going specifically for musky stocking. Keeping a LEGAL fish is not a crime.

[tolle141]

Have a minimum length and a special harvest tag if you want to keep one for mounting or eating, with the proceeds going specifically for musky stocking. Keeping a LEGAL fish is not a crime.

I like this. Like Sturgeon.

While I believe that people have the right to keep legal fish, I think there's an issue that arises when people feel they are ENTITLED to keep whatever is within their rights. Fish are a natural resource like everything else, but there's a difference between taking what you need to enjoy a nice evening out and keeping everything that you can.

[WRD]

I too think this concept/idea is interesting. I have the feeling it would be difficult to enforce but I'd be curious to see how many tags would actually be purchased. One wonders if a musky harvester had to register their fish what kind of numbers would happen in a year? All I know is thanks to those who practice catch and release because I caught a 51" muskie last Friday and I'm sure it's because someone else let it go, just like I did.

[delcecchi]

I like this. Like Sturgeon.

While I believe that people have the right to keep legal fish, I think there's an issue that arises when people feel they are ENTITLED to keep whatever is within their rights. Fish are a natural resource like everything else, but there's a difference between taking what you need to enjoy a nice evening out and keeping everything that you can.

I release many of the fish I catch, although a miniscule nomber of them are muskies and none of those are legal.

But I don't understand the distinction you make about entitlement. Yes, I am entitled to keep any legal fish that I catch. It is my right by law. No one can interfere with my right to keep that fish.

However I can choose not to do so. That is a personal decision that does not affect my legal entitlement.

[SDS]

Lets just end this, dont be a dummy, release big fish.

[hunt fish repeat]

I'm not a musky fisherman and would release one if accidently caught but have an interesting thought on the subject: exclusively fishing musky is a relatively new sport (last 20 years or so) if it is a fish of ten thousand casts it stands to reason that few are being caught unintentionally therefore many more fish are being killed accidently through poor handling, poor cpr and by over fighting from true musky fisherman than the aveage Joe??

[Esox_Magnum]

The gear we use for muskies allows us a short fight over the avg joes gear, most cases under a minute fight on muskie gear rather than 5-10 -15 minutes on light tackle.... Most of us from hook up to in the net/ unhook/pic/ measure /release is around the 3 maybe 4 minute mark 5 tops....

Also mosst muskie guys are well equipt with proper nets, tools ect and the experience to get them in and out of the boat as quickly as possible....

[hunt fish repeat]

The gear we use for muskies allows us a short fight over the avg joes gear, most cases under a minute fight on muskie gear rather than 5-10 -15 minutes on light tackle.... Most of us from hook up to in the net/ unhook/pic/ measure /release is around the 3 maybe 4 minute mark 5 tops....

Also mosst muskie guys are well equipt with proper nets, tools ect and the experience to get them in and out of the boat as quickly as possible....

Even so, just looking back through this post it happens on ocasion but as a non musky fisherman I can say I have never killed one. My point is raising the legal lenght would surely help the population but outlawing the targeting of musky would help even more! Obviously I only bring this up to show there has to be a balance between the legal min. length being raised and allowing people to keep them if they desire.

[Esox_Magnum]

So if we outlaw targeting muskies, what happens to the guides, resorts, communities, tackle compaines and their empoyees when they no longer have a product to sell... Muskie fishing brings alot of money to the state of MN and the state spends alot to keep that money coming in... If it wasn't for Mn muskies I wouldn't spend several grand a year in the state.... I saw as many muskie boats as other fishermen on the water today and I'm in Iowa, guessing the MN waters had many more muskie hunters out as well....