Yankee, I would have to agree with you. Would the DEC allow us to fish for bass if it was destroying the population? I would have to believe they had several marine biologists looking into this before they allowed us to target, catch and release bass. Also, I have a bass boat which I have been using to troll for salmon, steelies and browns and to show my kids (4 year old twins) how much fun fishing is, since they are in more shallow water up to now.