Thread: Let's get the debate started

Originally Posted by hthoang

Like I said, I didn't mean that in a mean way. I've seen it in just about every outdoor chase-from fishing to hunting, etc. Everybody starts off just wanting to catch or shoot, and then keeping everything they catch/shoot, and then thinking maybe we shouldn't be keeping or shooting everything. I actually agree with you about not keeping everything and letting them grow/multiply. My personal limit is enough to either eat without freezing or enough to give to a few close friends/family that might not fish. As to your specific question, unless you're managing your own private pond/lake, I don't think it makes a difference in quality of fish unless there's an across the board restriction-like a 12" size minimum on north MS lakes.

No problem man. And it took me YEARS before I caught my 1st 2 pounder. It was just a thought to consider.

Originally Posted by Skippa Chippa

My thoughts on this is I would like to see a minimum size limit established and reduce the limit. Personally I don't try to keep small fish, my self imposed minimum size limit is 10". As far as the #2 plus fish they have evaded me, what is the average length of a fish that weight? Then again after fishing 2 of the COE lakes in Miss. and having to put back 11 3/4" fish, that is tough. Keep the big one if you want or put it back and maby someone else will have a big fish story.

Chip, the ones we catch that are 2 or over tend to be 15 1/2" to 16". But I have seen them as small as 14 1/2", just depends on how much shad they are eating or how many eggs they are carrying, that's one of the reasons I brought the debate up in the 1st place. A 2 pound fish will produce a ton more eggs than say a 10" fish will.

I’ll add one more post... For the record, I’ve caught exactly ONE crappie that weighed over 2#. I weigh any crappie that I catch that’s 13” or bigger just for reference. I prefer cleaning 11-13” crappie. I also don’t keep legal “small” crappie. I’ve turned a bunch of 9- under 10” fish loose too even while fishing to keep fish to clean. Basically if I have to measure it, it’s going back.

My views aren't posted to try and convince anyone to do it the way I do.

What's a 13" one weigh? Curious. 13" is about the length on a healthy black crappie that starts to look pretty impressive. I've always guessed about 1.5 or so for blacks, little less on whites.

Originally Posted by Fish on Line

I am in the Boat with Vet --- Never caught a 2 Pounder --- Big Brother said you can NEVER trow back your first fish -- no matter how little it is

What are you up Larry? Sent you some a message I got a new phone and lost your phone number.

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Idk, if it's a big nice healthy fish I'll sometimes throw it back. I threw back a two pounder today, I kept some 2 pounders sunday so I just don't know. Crappie are pretty prolific.

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I keep enough for a fry, all others go back, If that means 3- 2# or 6-1# that is the ways it goes for me. 90% of my catch goes back in the water- most of the time. Some days, if it is very slow then I keep the catch, if any!

I will enjoy reading this thread.
I will say I’ve caught many 2 lb fish. More than I can count. I have also caught a few 3 lb fish. I’ve also...
Not important to me. Me or one of my boys has eaten every single one of them and I will continue to do so until the state of LA changes something. Fish are food at my house.... quit chasing trophies when I found my wife. can’t eat horns either.

But yeh, I agree for the fisherman and the wants of those fisherman for their children, conservation would be key.
A lot of peoples fishing situations are diff. though. I don’t believe fishing a “lake” or fishing a river system are the same. * 75% of the larger fish I’ve caught have been in some kind of land-locked water OR water that is landlocked for long periods of time bf being affected by rises in river level and or dams.
Or is it damns?

Either way, the right people have to give a damn?

I’ll abide by the rules set until my boys are grown and then back to the fun ?



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