Ahhhh, you see this thing all the time. There are a vast number of people out there Sea Fishing, and plenty of them are not targetting Bass, nor do they have much knowledge about them (i know practically nothing about Ray's, Carp, etc . . . as i dont target them). So, one day, they catch a bonus Bass . . happy days.
I started Bass fishing in the first place because i wanted to catch Bass for the table. Now i very very rarely take a fish for the table. Ultimately it's the angers choice. I dont think there's any need to pontificate too much on this one anglers decision. It's a horrible pic - but how many of us have one? I have a horrible kitchen picture from last year. 7lb 1oz Bass. In reality it was a nightmare, and probably a crucial stepping stone to being far more conservation minded now.
A big Bass is not an easy meal to prepare for your average person. You cant fit it in the oven, and if others have my filletting skills, then that's a daunting prospect too. When i do keep a fish for the table these days, it's a 3 - 5lb fish, that will be eaten 'that day'. But if i take more than about 4 fish this year, i'll be amazed. I dont take a priest or a bag with me these days, it's just not in my thought process.
I would be very happy to see Bass become a 'sport' fish. There's probably a good way to go yet, but maybe one day? But for now, we just need to set a good example, and take a sensible view on it. If that angler joined our forum tomorrow, we wouldnt want to look like a bunch of preachy jobsworths - but hopefully we could educate him to carry a camera & scales, and to understand that the fish was probably as old as him, and perhaps his next one might get a lucky break.