Likes Likes:  0
Thanks Thanks:  0
HaHa HaHa:  0
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: Releasing Spawning Female Crappie

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    1,630
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Releasing Spawning Female Crappie


    Well, it's cold and windy today in Florida so I had some extra time to think about fishing instead of actually getting out on the water.
    The topic recently came up on whether one should feel obliged to release slab spawning crappie(especially females) or not. I wanted to survey the ideas from a larger population of crappie fishermen/women. It seems that we had a split decision on this subject matter with varying opinions. I was hoping to do this in the spirit of learning.
    So should I feel good about releasing a spawning female crappie with a belly or not? And, in general is it good practice to release the larger crappie?
    "If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    3,015
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    If I was eating fish I would keep anything over 12 inches. Research shows the best crappie spawners are from 8-10 inches. Many over your bigger fish will die anyway during the spawn, especially with the added stress of being caught. Remember crappie lay between 17,000 to 21,000 eggs at the time. Their largest predators are other crappie and bluegill. By the way the males protect the eggs so what about the times when you pull a limit of males off the bed? What happens to those eggs?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    179
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Well I eat them, and sometimes if I have my limit of crappie,,... in the freezer already, I don't take anymore and then I fo course,,... release ALL of them. I would not worry either way for now. I thought I once heard , or read that it takes two years for a Crappie to be ten inches. If that is right, and each and every female crappie has 20 thousand, or more eggs, to spawn out, then somebody better take some out in my own opinion! I have respect enough for the knowledgable people who are biologists, to say keep or not keep, and if they saw a need to NOT keep them, or TO keep them, then they would say so. I say do whatever you feel is right unless you know for sure that crappie, where you are fishing at,,.... are getting hard to come by, or the water/s have had a large kill recently. Don't hurt either way for "normal lakes and rivers". just my . I am NO,,... pro! Hope you have, many, many decisions to make though this season!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Ringgold,Ga
    Posts
    29
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    i find the crappie 14 inches and over have a grainy taste, i eat and stock the freezer with
    10 -13 in. crappie. Love to see the bigger ones swim ! Just my 2$ .

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville Fl.
    Posts
    1,635
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by crappielimits View Post
    If I was eating fish I would keep anything over 12 inches. Research shows the best crappie spawners are from 8-10 inches. Many over your bigger fish will die anyway during the spawn, especially with the added stress of being caught. Remember crappie lay between 17,000 to 21,000 eggs at the time. Their largest predators are other crappie and bluegill. By the way the males protect the eggs so what about the times when you pull a limit of males off the bed? What happens to those eggs?
    Very good point.


    THE BEST TIME TO FISH IS WHEN IT'S RAINING AND WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Nebraska
    Posts
    772
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Before the spawn, I take the males. During the spawn, I take the females. After the spawn, its open season on all of them, but i prefer to take the males over the females. Good thing they can't complain, I'd be facing charges of gender discrimination.

    Of course, if I am fishing with EB, any crappie over 10" stays in the boat.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Hernando, Ms
    Posts
    10,194
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Take what you need. Biologists I've talked to say if you want to practice catch and release, it's the males that should go back. The males make the beds, fertilize the eggs and then protect the beds. I personally don't fish shallow during spawning. I try to stay out deeper and catch the bigger females before and after they do their thing.
    Carl's Guide Service
    Sardis Lake
    Enid Lake
    Grenada Lake
    901-734-7536

  8. #8
    NIMROD's Avatar
    NIMROD is offline Crappie.com Legend - Kids Corner Moderator
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Plainview, / Russellville , Arkansas
    Posts
    16,739
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by feelay View Post
    Take what you need. Biologists I've talked to say if you want to practice catch and release, it's the males that should go back. The males make the beds, fertilize the eggs and then protect the beds. I personally don't fish shallow during spawning. I try to stay out deeper and catch the bigger females before and after they do their thing.
    X2 , here we have too many small crappie anyway .
    Moderator of Beginners n Mentoring forum
    Takeum Jigs


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Prairie Village, Kansas
    Posts
    3,043
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    X3
    “There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide.” Ayn Rand

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    1,630
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    This is very interesting and it seems to be a subjective thing. I thought maybe there was a couple universal rules about how to treat crappie, but that idea doesn't seem to hold up. I had been under the impression (from biologists) that I should release bigger crappie to help perpetuate the best genes, especially during the spawn.
    "If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

BACK TO TOP