Dangers of plastic lures

[Sea Flat]

I fish soft plastics almost exclusively. I will start by saying that I am confused how a soft bait would find its way into the stomach of a striped bass. I have never reeled in a fish, or lost a fish that has taken the bait clear off the hook.

Blues are obviously a different story. If I get bit by a blue I reel in my soft bait cigar and try something else or move on.

I have never seen a soft plastic in the stomach of a bass or a blue.

[beamie]

EelSkimmer,

I suppose the day will come where this becomes the next angle of some envirogroup, along the lines of banning lead in ponds of less than a certain oz a few years back.

I have never seen rubber in the stomachs of fish though I don't open up most fish I filet.

Is this a concern, yes. Do they barf it out over time, maybe?

The tackle industry should come out with a biodegradable rubber that reacts with the acids in the fishes digestive system.

But where does this stop?

Is the paint that all lure making companies use non toxic?, cause there are plenty of yellow eyed devils that may have tooth desease now. etc etc etc......like the lead paint test when buying a new house.

just my thoughts......