Did It Go Back?
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Published on December 7, 2025
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Did It Go Back?
That cold, judgmental question....
Catch and release has been talked to death on social media and everywhere else. You may have seen the short clip on my socials of the bass I recently landed. Not a big fish, but in that video, I mentioned that the fish was destined for the table, and one comment in particular stood out. To the individual’s credit, he admitted the following morning that it was “beer talk,” and although his choice of words was a little cutting, his sentiment was clear: how could an angler who appears to respect his catch so deeply choose to keep it?
Freshwater roots
It’s a fair question. Anyone schooled in freshwater fishing, many sea anglers included, is taught from the start to respect their quarry. On coarse fishing waters, it’s illegal to remove most fish, so those coming from that world can be forgiven for instinctively wanting to return their sea fish too. I was one of them. My filleting skills are still pretty average for that very reason. I grew up hearing the mantra catch and release, catch and release, catch and release. I understand that perspective wholeheartedly. But let’s also be honest with ourselves and look over the other side of that prickly fence. We’re all familiar with the rising cost of living. Just the other evening, I watched an old show featuring one of my favourite comedians, and in the background a petrol station displayed diesel at 74p a litre. In the twenty years since that episode aired, fuel prices have practically doubled. Life has become more expensive, more demanding, and every one of us has to put food on the table. The catch and release philosophy is viewed as a wholesome and environmentally friendly form of angling by many fisherman, yet there are those outside of the angling bubble that view this as the torture of an animal for the sake of enjoyment, labelling it as cruel and sadistic. When you consider this, does fishing for the table actually make greater sense?
Individual choice
If someone chooses to eat only vegetables, I respect that fully. There are plenty of protein alternatives. But personally, I enjoy eating meat and fish, and wherever they come from, someone must end a life. Why shouldn’t that responsibility occasionally be mine? Morally, I believe it’s important for all of us to understand where our food truly comes from. There are probably children out there who think tuna simply materialises in a tin. I’d rather promote meaningful, humane dispatch of fresh fish and preparation that honours the catch. If we take a life, surely we should make it count? Moderation, however, is everything. I’m not suggesting that every fish that touches the beach should be kept. But I see nothing wrong with retaining some fish to feed ourselves and our families. Fresh fish is incredibly good for you and when you catch it yourself, you understand what fresh really means. The supermarket’s “fresh” label often disguises fish that look more worn-out than my socks after six hours in waders. When you take a fish from sea to table with your own hands, you respect its journey and learn what true quality is. It also adds greater meaning to that catch, in my opinion. This bucket of bream fed four of us during a few days away in the Channel Islands.
So, did it Go Back?
That's the Captor's Business
“Did it go back?”, that cold, blunt question, has become the read that rattles many sea anglers whenever they post a catch online. To me, it often reads as judgement rather than curiosity, and frankly, I’m tired of it. I respect differing views and welcome reasonable debate, but we must remember that we’re all playing the same game. There’s already enough division in the world; we don’t need to drag that into angling. We can hold different opinions and still treat each other with respect. In fact, as sea anglers, it’s essential. A time may come, perhaps sooner than we think, when those in power attempt to restrict or even ban what we do. If they find us divided, they’ll pull us apart with ease. We won’t always agree, but we should at least learn to honour each other’s choices, experiences, and reasons. Because if we can’t stand together when it matters, someone else will decide our future for us.
