Thread: Interesting

Danbo: That's some great information....but It does spell out the pro's and con's doesn't it! People ask me all the time about that when I'm guiding and my usual answer is ...I DON'T KNOW! Too many fish to bait ratio...= small fish...... My customers keep alot of crappie...I encourage them to throw back smaller fish...but it's their call...I don't want to hurt myself either!... I've caught my fair share of 2lb+ crappie at oconee, But I doubt I'll ever see a 3lber! We have some of the best crappie anywhere due to Oconee's structure and massive amount of shad....But is it enough shad to go with a 10" limit? Lord knows the stripers and Hybes are rough on em!... Then there's the enforcement issue...If the state can't man the waters enough...You'll have the violators out there with no worries! I don't even go to Sinclair to fish...lack of cover and bait there has made for smaller crappie on the average than Oconee. Ask this million dollar question to 100 fishermen or heck...even Biologists for that matter....you'll get more opinions than we can digest!

I know several people that would rather eat a six inch fish than a big one. People talk about catching a hundred and two hundred a day and keep twenty. I would hate to make a child turn back their first fish because the thing was not filletable . OR throw away a good eatin fish because it swallerrd a hook. I am for the meat. If I get 30 fish six inches long, I'm goin home to graze! Just like a deer, 150 lv deer is what it is. I want the meat and other people like the bone! Please leave me the 9.5 inch fish this year.

Originally Posted by swamper4

I know several people that would rather eat a six inch fish than a big one. People talk about catching a hundred and two hundred a day and keep twenty. I would hate to make a child turn back their first fish because the thing was not filletable . OR throw away a good eatin fish because it swallerrd a hook. I am for the meat. If I get 30 fish six inches long, I'm goin home to graze! Just like a deer, 150 lv deer is what it is. I want the meat and other people like the bone! Please leave me the 9.5 inch fish this year.

AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT...I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT ANDY 1 COVE SAID TO ME ONE DAY...LET'S KEEP THE LITTLE ONES...MOMMA LIKES THEM!

SOME FOLKS LIKE THE LITTLE WHOLE FRYERS AND SOME OF US LIKE THE 12"+ FOR THE FILET TABLE! ...I HATE SCALING FISH! WHAT A MESS!

AND FOR ANYONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW THIS...ICE EM DOWN FOR AWHILE AND WHEN YOU CLEAN EM....HARDLY ANY BLOODY MESS AT ALL!

I have kept smaller fish for older people I know. They want little fish to eat whole. They are from the old days and that is what they like. I respect their wishes because they are my elders and they deserve respect. They are so happy to get the fish I clean whole for them. They can't fish anymore or do much of anything else so anything I can do for them is a Blessing.

i also have a neighbor that is in a wheel chair . i keep some for her . she likes any size especially the small ones . if i have time and feel like it i will clean them and some times when i cook fish i will be sure to cook extra for her .

A 10" size limit on any lake I fish wouldnt be a problem to me. My wife likes fillets and anything under 10" is just too little to fillet. I usually keep six or eight 12" fish to fillet for the 2 of us. Now that said...I do like a mess on the bone from time to time so every blue moon or so I'll keep me 5 or 6 fish that are 9" or so long for that.

I prefer fish 10-12" for eating. Try to turn the big ones back, to make more fish for us.

My boat has had a 10 inch limit in it for the past 30 years. When I came from Florida I brought the limit with me. I think the state should adopt a 10 inch limit state wide and a 25 fish per boat limit