When I freshwater fish, I'm usually strictly catch and release, because I hate cleaning fish, unless I catch a lot of nice sized ones. Otherwise it's back they go, even if I catch one or two good ones. But this invariably brings out the fish moochers. The people that ask, "Are you going to keep that?" And when I say, "I don't know." they reply with, "Can I have it?" Now, I feel that if people want to keep their fish, then they should catch their own fish. I never know exactly how to phrase my answers to these questions.

How about, "I would, but it's illegal for me to give it to you."?

You could say "if you catch your own it will taste better,"(while putting the fish in the water.)

I love your avatar, Sullie. That particular jig in black/silver is one of my most productive crappie jigs.

I always say " I dont want to kill it, sorry." I've been flipped SH*& over it before at places like blue creek, but so what.

I say 'NO' or 'piss off ' if Iam in a british mood.

I'm not advocating that you do give fish to moochers, but it is not illegal to do so. You as the person who caught the fish has to punch it and it counts against your daily limit. You also need to provide the Moocher with a signed written statement showing your name, address, license number, date, county, and area where the fish was taken.

Wader you beat me to it. It is legal to give your fish to someone. I only give to my friends if I have extra. Now someone walking up to me and asking. No way go buy a license and catch you own. I C&R most trout I catch in freshwater.

how about "if you run to the store and get me a six pack!

What prompted this post was my last trip to Five Mile on Friday. I had caught two very nice crappies (12" or more) right when I got there, and about an hour or two later two Russian guys showed up. Didn't say hello, didn't ask me how I was doing, nada. Until I started releasing some of the smaller crappies I was catching. I had seen them keeping a few six inchers, and when I started catching and releasing ones a bit larger, one of them asked me if he could have it, I said it wasn't big enough, and right before I released it, he said he'd pay me for it. I was downright disgusted. .

Usually anything in a lake I release so I would not give it to them. Hatchery trout were meant to be killed so I would probably give those if the people seemed nice.

Some people want everything even the bass

I gave away about 50 shad at Bonneville last year. We released a few,a Russian watched us do it.Then said, you keep? I said no,gave it to him.Didnt have to unhook another shad all day.They unhooked,em.all I did was catch them.Fair trade to me.

Other fish,just depends on my mood.

When I'm fishing with friends in my boat and we are C&Ring, I'll hand a fish moocher a brochure and tell them to book a trip amd I'll teach them how to catch there own fish !!