We enjoy fishing, whether you keep a legal fish or not is up to the individual. In the case you state above, I can only say this: You caught a bass,regardless how, it was a short, you hopefully released it, trying not to cause extra harm(stepping, kicking it back), it swims away, then floats, I would try to get it back to re-revive it. If I could not get it back, and its out of my reach, its over. This happens, and the next fish you catch is of legal size, then by posession, you can keep the second, as the first is gone out of your control, after you did a proper release. Do you honestly think because a bass dies your done for the day/night. It happens more often than people would like to admit, but releasing a fish that happens to die is totally different from catching a short and giving it away. It is at best a morale debate, I have seen people in the Rockaways, that catch fish for food, and I know people turn a blind eye to it. It is wrong, but these people eat bass to survive, cooking them in lots, sleeping in boxes. I think it is wrong, but **** if I will come between someones right to eat/survive when it is all they have, and believe me it goes on. These people hand line bass on discarded bait and hooks. It is a world of difference when a knowing angler on the beach carelessly keeps a short.
Mike Lang