Is it illegal or is it not?

[CrappiePappy]

alabas, I always try to keep a good attitude. Thanks for acknowledging it. I tried not to get defensive, but can see where some people would have. People who know me respect me very much, so for those that dont, I just assume they are trying to help, but if they are judging what I do or my character in any way, I try my best not to let it get to me. Because my friends, my locals and my peeps know the kind of person i am and thats what matters. I just appreciate someone letting me know what I did was wrong, even though it was not intentional, we all gained from it and learned from it. I think this was a good post. It could have gone sour very easily, but I think we are all adults and good sports. So therefore I appreciate everyone who posted under this topic. alabas, I did not think you were too judgemental, best wishes and good fishing to you also. The reason I give some crappie away in the first place is because a dear friend of mine had a stroke and was bed ridden and could not get out and fish or do anything anymore. He loved crappie, so I took him a few when i had the chance. I dont think I have ever abused any kind of fishing and my friend passed away last year. I really miss him and so therefore I dont give away alot of fish, but if i feel someone is not as blessed health wise as me and cant get around and catch a few fish to eat, then I will help them. Good fishing to you all.

If you are catching your limit, taking them home and giving them to those that cannot obtain them, themselves ... you're not doing anything wrong. I think most on here were thinking you were catching fish, giving them away to other people currently still fishing ... thereby keeping your numbers under your limit, and you kept on catching fish and not counting the given away fish against your creel limit --- which would be a limit violation, if your daily tally (of kept & given away fish) exceeded the creel limit of that lake.

We all understand your big hearted nature, and admire you for it. Many of us do/would do the same. SO ... if you still want to give your fish away to anglers that are still fishing, and may not be as productive, you still can .... just as long as you don't give away or keep over the limit. Once you've caught your limit, you don't have to stop fishing ... you just have to stop keeping, or giving them away, and just release them immediately after landing them. You would, of course, have to keep a running tally of kept/given away fish ... and cease keeping/giving away, once that limit was reached.

.... cp

[gabowman]

good point Rowdy never looked at it like that.but it would be the same thing.
we all are probably guilty of that at some time.if their is 2 in the boat we just
count fish till we get to 60 if their is a 30 fish limit dont keep up with who got how many.but you are right.don't have this problem to much.

You guys brought up some good points I hadnt thought about. It's probably safe to say ALOT of "us" are probably guilty of the possesion limits too, so be careful how you treat a fella Crappie.commer. Good thing freezers arent checked!:D

[NIMROD]

There is an area I fish on the Tennessee river that has become the site of debate between many fisherman and fisherwomen. This is a very popular fishing area at a certain time of the year. It receives about as much traffic in and out as a major highway. The game and fish division flood alot of fields for several months prior to duck season. When duck season is over, they open the culverts up and let the backwater spill into the Tennessee River. This creates a fishermans paradise. I had heard either last year or the year before that they had outlawed snagging in the Tennessee River, and even saw it in a rule book somewhere. I have also heard there are 2 different books of rules. One stating snagging to be unlawful and the other one not mentioning it. One guy told me the book he has does not list it as a violation and that the game warden told him that he did not see it listed in the book either and would not ticket anyone for it. However there are several problems that arise from this. Keeping gamefish that are snagged by the process of snagging I am sure is illegal regardless if snagging itself is or is not. So now people have outsmarted even getting caught with a snaghook on their lines. The crappie are so thick in the area at times, that people tie on rattletraps and snag crappie by the 5 gallon buckets full. Us real fisherman do very good at times, but sometimes the fish can be pesky and not co-operate. We love the thrill of catching them the right way. It disgusts us to see so many of our fish being taken in a way we feel is not right. This has become so popular, that real fisherman can hardly fish the area at times for the people snagging. What irks me is that the game wardens are in the area alot ut never check licenses or anything very often. There were a few guys camping last week that fished 5 nights and caught 605 keepers. I fished Thursday night and gave away 47 keepers. I would just like to see the game and fish division do more. I know they cant stay there all the time but they could do more to stop the people from catching all those fish the wrong way. What are yalls thoughts on this?

WHAT'S THE LEGAL LIMIT ?

[crappieseeker]

30 fish per person per day

[fugeman]

I surely don't have to worry about it. If I can catch 10 a day I'm doing good in my book. One thing though.........if I ever do catch my limit and I have a partner that hasn't caught his yet and the fish are biting.............I aint stopping. Gotta help a bud out anyway you can.:D:D


Thems my pet fish anyway. I just brought them out here for exercise officer. After I turn them loose I'll give a lil bit then blow my whistle and they will come back. Now watch............ 10 minutes later. Officer "well you gonna blow your whistle and bring the fish back. Fisherman "What fish?":D:D

[crappieseeker]

fugeman, right place and right time, you will get that limit. Keep plugging, it will come around.

[JUNGLEJIMJIGS]

Here in missouri snagging gamefish is illegal and fish must be released unharmed immediately.Daily limit for crappie here is 15 and if you caught 15 and then gave them away you can't legally catch another,it's considered part of your bag limit.