Keeping Non Tropical Salt Water/cold Water Fish?

[puffin3]

I used to be a commercial fisherman on the BC Canada coast. I've often wondered if it's possible to keep little wild salt water fish found in this part of the world. When they grew big I'd release them. Does anyone have any info about this idea or whether other people are doing this?
Thanks

 

[*Fishkies*]

I would not think it would be a good idea because then the fish would not be used to it's "real" habitat, nor would it have to worry about predators if you kept it in a tank. This would leave for a fish who is unprepared, and he would probably be worse off then just staying in the wild. Just my thought though, if you really think about it.

 

[puffin3]

Good point about the predators. However 'rock fish' in this part of the world survive by living in and around 'pinnacles' which are basically underwater mountains, some small, some large. When the tide is heading north they all hide on the south side and then visa versa. The 'babies' hide in tiny cracks. The only real predators rockfish have is seals and the odd killer whale. A two pound rockcod can be five years old. Sorry to say I used to catch two to three hundred a day.