Why do you take pics of fish to post on the internet?

[JimK]

I have posted a picture occasionally..probably less than 10 over the last 20 years.. and none in the last 2 or 3 , maybe more.  And to be honest most of the fish were not really bragable.. so it made me examine my motives.. especially since I am potentially doing more damage to a fish that is already stressed beyond belief from what I just put it through.. Generally  I found my motivation is self promotion, bragging.. attention seeking.  So I decided to stop with the pics..although if I catch a truly big fish there will be a picture.. but endless pics of small fish are pointless to me.

 

So why do you post pics of your fish?  Why do you choose to put additional stress on a resource we all value so greatly? If you are keeping the fish for the table it's a moot point.. otherwise

... fire away.. I've got thicker skin than a cow nose ray ..

[Mr. Bigdeal]

Fish I caught.....never do......don't catch any.

[SIC34]

My favorite are the tools that take 4 or 5 pictures of short fish that look exactly the same for one post.

 

It's so stupid.

[Stripernut1]

The pic of my 6 yr old Grandson with a 2.75 lb smallie I just posted this morning, is about my pride in him and a nice fish he caught all by himself... If you know how to handle a fish properly, fight it quickly, it has been my experience that you can safely take a quick pic and release a fish to fight another day... I do not take pics of every fish I catch (far from), but noteworthy (at least to me), I will if it can be done in a responsible way. As to posting, almost every pic has a different reason, some selfish, other times to show a technique works and often to save the douters from having to type that "without a pic..." But it always comes down to if you can do it in such a way they the fish will swim away to make more fish and I hope to put a bend in my rod when they are even bigger! 

[Long Wader]

I use barbless hooks and the appropriate tackle to minimize damage and stress and a hemostat and rubber net for the same reason.  I keep the fish in the net facing into the current until it revives and has good energy and quickly lift it for a glamor shot above the water and carefully release it.

 

The reason my buds and I take photos is to create a remembrance of our trips: you often forget without pictures, and I post them on this site to add credibility to new and existing fishing techniques and fishing resources folks ask about.

 

You can do this quickly with a minimum of stress to the fish if have one person prepare to take the photo while the other person revives the fish in a large enough net.  If you try to get the shot by yourself it takes longer and causes more stress IMO.  It also helps to do this when it is cold or cool to minimize the stress on oxygen sensitive species like freshwater trout.

 

If you plan to harvest a fish it does not make much difference how you handle it before you quickly bleed it and ice it.

Edited September 12, 2021 by Jay Blair

[JimK]

Stripernut1..I like your reasoning.. and I don't think freshwater fish, except maybe trout, are in danger of over fishing...but if you look through the pics in the NJ reports forum over the last few years... things seem a bit gratuitous..

Edited September 12, 2021 by JimK

[SurfCaster01289]

Just the same as the people reporting, sharing what lures they're catching on, sharing consistent striper fisheries, etc - these acts all add a ton of pressure to the fishery. 

[Stripernut1]

Quote

but if you look through the pics in the NJ reports forum over the last few years... things seem a bit gratuitous..

I can only speak about what I do and how I treat the fish I catch... In every group, you will have people that only care about themselves, Even when you make it a law against such abuse, those same lowlifes will abuse the resource regardless (photos of Tarpon out of the water are still posted ). I do my best to pass on how to be responsible with our resources, whether I am showing my grandson, guiding, doing a seminar, or here on this board...

[bugsbenny]

57 mins ago, SIC34 said:

My favorite are the tools that take 4 or 5 pictures of short fish that look exactly the same for one post.

 

It's so stupid.

I agree, and there are one or two here that do it over and over again,maybe they want to be some kind of fish hero, and what they catch them on ? taught my kids when they were 6, 7 years old, 30 yrs ago, to me that aint surf fishing, rather go to my lake in PA and catch bigger large mouths, me and thats just me, I post the pics in my mind

[Toad in Nj]

I'm more concerned with rude dick heads standing too close and having zero consideration than someone taking pictures of their fish.

 

People who quote posts that have 18 pics in them deserve a special place in hell.

 

And, were you never new? 

If someone is new to it all and is psyched for their 18" bass, good for them.

If they are doing it 5 years later, well...  

 

Too many other things more important to get annoyed with.

Now get the **** off my lawn. 

[gregwa]

ive never posted a pic of a fish big or small. ive never taken a picture of a fish.i have a pic of a 30 something my neighbor gave me when i took her husband fishing .to me all those beautiful fish live in my head and will die with me.it is nice to share but i dont

[Goldy]

Its all the instagram facebook heros out there. 
 

 I only take pics of snappers

[Mike]

Thank you for creating a thread specifically for virtue signalling. 

[JimK]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

Thank you for creating a thread specifically for virtue signalling. 

Any think else I can do for you?

[Toad in Nj]

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