Creel Limits - Yes this will tick some people off -

[Fessum]

I was very excited to catch 20 at Springville this past spring !... I think I'm gonna go outside now and just look at the boat.lol...too cold for me to fish..

[speck chaser]

i agree with what she is saying about catching two or three limits a day
and definatelly don't agree with any someone catching and throwing crappie in a ditch
what i ment when i said is i dont know too many who can get two or three limits a day is that an average fisherman such as I will not catch that many in a days time .they are plenty of fish in our lakes and I do believe the creel limits has improved the quality of fish and numbers but if i am lucky enough catch a limit of 10" or bigger crappie you can bet they will be released in lake crisco.

[Rat]

Here in west TN - limit is 30 per person per day. In east TN and some of middle, it's 15. Possession limit is 2 days limit per person. The possession limit is what I think throws a lot of people. Possession includes what's in your freezer, your fridge, etc. They have the right to check your freezer, fridge, etc., but I've only heard of it happening a very few times. BUT, think about it, there's quite a few folks that fish Reelfoot and KY lake that stay at the campgrounds for long periods of time and bring freezers with them - which they have right out in the open at their campsite. I would guess that if the authorities have been tipped off, or have any reason to suspect someone, they would certainly check.

Don't worry Fessum, I've only caught my limit one time, but boy, was it a BLAST!!

In Texas possession limit doesn't include what is stored at your 'permanent residence'. However, 'permanent residence' does NOT include your campming trailer when on a fishing trip. The defenition actually excludes everything but your permanenet home (or RV if that's your thing).

Game Wardens can check if they have probable cause or a search warrant. They fall under the same laws of illegal search and seizure as ANY law enforcement official. Having a big freezer at your campsite that you put a limilt of fish in everyday may be probable cause , but it's TN so I don't know.

[Fisherman_Wantabe]

Yea I think that guy and his wife are still cleaning those 63 fish :rolleyes:

[smoothlures]

I agree you shouldn't keep more than the limit. There's no reason to. I doubt you need something to eat that bad, and if you are you should be out working, not fishing.
The DNR sets a limit for a reason. That's what the body of water can support, and you as an outdoorsman are the ones who have to abide by the laws. They can't check everyone, but just because you don't get caught that doesn't make it alright.
Call your DNR and ask why the limits are what they are and they should be more than happy to explain it.

[trumpdriver]

Unfortunately it happens with all outdoors sports. Fishermen keeping over limits, deer hunters shooting more than the limit, dove hunters shooting more than the limit. etc. I don't know whether they just get wrapped up in the excitement of it all, greedy or just plain stupid. Back when our crappie limit was 50 per day I been fortunate enough to hit a hotpsot and catch 50. But after doing this several times them driver 120 miles home and have to clean them it got old. I usually keep fillet size fish only now unless I am planning a fry and they are not biting good then I will keep enough of the smaller fish to have enough to cook for everyone. I wish I knew the answer and the solution. We will never have enough DNR Officers to keep everyone in compliance.
NEXT! PLEASE

[badbrad]

I agree with everyone here, the limits are set for a reason. I'd say that the majority of fishermen adhere to them. I travel to Kentucky Lake every spring to fish but very rarely catch a limit. Usually after a day of fishing by the time I get off the lake and clean 25 to 30 fish (mine and my son's total) I'm worn out. I couldn't imagine he and I going, boating 60 fish cleaning them and then returning to catch 60 more in a day. Sounds more like work than fishing. I was fortuante enough to catch a limit on two occasions this past spring. I cleaned every one of them and then served them up at a a retirement reception for a friend of mine. Everyone loved them!

I do not advocate anyone catching more than their limit, but I know fella's here in my neck of the woods that are blowhards and are always trying to one up the other. We all know people like this. Best thing we can do is put a bug in the Warden's ear so maybe they can be caught and made an example of.

[Big Ed]

New issue of Crappie world. "ANGLER CATCHES 25 POUNDS OF CRAPPIE" this woman from Idaho says her and her husband and son caught 205 fish in "NO TIME AT ALL" in Oregon. HELLO!!!! they must have big limits in Oregon!!
Anyway I once heard a guide on Lake Wiess talking about this subject and I agreed with him, He was cussing local fisherman because he knew they were the ones abusing the system (majority of the time) he said out of state fisherman weren't the problem. I for one don't mess with the numbers here at home and wouldn't dare do it in another state!! a few fish ain't worth the trouble!!!

[shipahoy41]

They have no class and they are breaking the intent of the law.

[sac-a-lait]

I'm guilty of doing it years ago but once we limit out now, I'm ready to get to the house and have a cold beer or a hot choclate depending upon the time of year. I would NEVER take a PAYING client back for another limit. Once they get it they got it.