Agree to disagree because 100% agreement is not possible. A good psychologist could not understand all the complex thoughts that drive each person. There is no effort to slant anyone's prejudice to the good or bad. Be aware there is some good & bad, so try to be well-informed with accurate information.
Positive:
1. Tournaments bring people together with common interests & political
needs that best succeed with large numbers.
2. See who is the best angler today.
3. Pride & prize winnings.
4. Improvie everyone's knowledge, skill to catch fish, even the loser.
Negative:
1. Conservation Versus Striper Tournaments.
2. There is some misinformation that suggests catch, keep & release
is possible for striper tournaments - not so for tournament worthy sized
fish. Ask any good fishery biologist.
3. Stripers are stocked, grown & harvested - not unlike potatoes
in a garden, plant grow & harvest. Too many fishermen in the garden
to harvest too early cause the fish to only reach minimum size & numbers.
No 20-pound fish are stocked except the ones you release.
4. Large prize winnings bring out the worst in people. Pride &
honor often get pushed aside to be more competitive.
Stripers are a "Put & Take" fish in most landlocked fresh water.
"Put" means they have to be stocked because of the lack of natural reproduction.
"Take" means they are there for you to keep within the regulations of the
state if you choose. The large black bass tournaments kill some percentage
of the fish weighed in. Their natural spawn may replace the numbers but
not the 3, 4, or 5-pound fish killed. Stripers brought to a tournament
weigh-in will kill 100%. Please have a conscience & try to understand
your impact on conservation when you harvest fish from your home lake,
or someone else's.