I hear you, Wolf, and even agree with you. But the new regs won't allow retention and I am not going to stop fishing completely because of this. I enjoy being on the water and the process of tricking a fish and doing this with my friends or sons even if I don't get to take home our catch. I have no interest in getting briefly out, bonking the first keeper and go home again. None whatsoever. Trailering the boat to the marina, setting up all the gear, flying out to the fishing grounds - all to quit after 15 min when you get the first keeper to the boat? No thanks!
I realize there is a chance that they kill C&R fishing too at some point. But until then I will enjoy what I can, even without retention. And maybe by then, the sport fishery has shrunk to be so small that NGOs etc won't bother going after it anymore.
Do I like this all? Absolutely no. But I can't change it and it seems no one else can either. So, make the most of it. If you have a better plan, please, I am all ears but don't spoil me the last bit of fishing enjoyment we have left in the meantime.