Over Harvesting of Tournament Fish...

[arkiebassnut]

I guess I am going to get on my soap box for a minute....
What is with the bass clubs that keep all the fish they catch in a tournament? I recently saw a post where a city wanted to band all tournaments on there lake... This is the same part of the state were I saw a club keep all the fish weighed in during the tournament, several of which were over the 5lb range.(THINK ABOUT IT) This not only a problem in the southern part of the state it I have seen it all sorts of places in the state. We as tournament angles are suppost to be the pillars of fisherman and the people our youth look up to.. Harvesting is ok but in moderation but let the brute stock have a chance to pass the genes on to others. Don't get me wrong I EAT FISH ALSO. But mostly smaller fish from lakes where the selective harvesting does more good than harm. I know I am going to get alsorts of bashing for this but it has to be said... Please lets protect our sport and only harvest when you think it is needed to help protect your resources..

[wildkat7]

If somebody chooses to keep fish and they are not over their limit, they are not in the wrong.

:


Modified by wildkat7 at 4:25 PM 6/14/2011

[mikejones_518]

I agree man, catch and release ensures the future of our sport.

[Dando]

Keep em if ya want, Release em if ya want.
"six of one......."

Although, I still don't get the "replica" deal.
If ya catch a trophy, put it on the wall, because a replica is a replica....no matter how good the craftsmanship.

[arkiebassnut]

Yah but don't set up a cooler at the end of the weigh in table and take everyones (meaning 100 plus fish) and this happens alot.

[Dando]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by arkiebassnut &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Yah but don't set up a cooler at the end of the weigh in table and take everyones (meaning 100 plus fish) and this happens alot. </td></tr></table>

I've actually never heard of that in a bass tournament. (crappie and catfish derby's yes).

[wildkat7]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by SkeeterDD22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

I've actually never heard of that in a bass tournament. (crappie and catfish derby's yes).</td></tr></table>

Seen local club tourneys take some fish home....but nothing over their limits. Nothing wrong with taking fish to eat as long as its within the legal limits. Limits are in place for a reason....if everybody practiced catch/release we'd have tougher fishing than we do now.....

[kevinj.]

Both clubs I fish with state in the rules that all fish weighed must be released as soon as they are weighed

If I am going to keep a few bass (which happened last in 2007) I will do it at one of the small private ponds I "fun" fish at

[Real Deal Tungsten]

Fish HAVE to be harvested at some point or another in order to keep the fisheries healthy. I'm not agreeing with keeping every fish that's caught, but as Sam said within the law is quite alright.

Take Millwood for instance. Has had a 3 fish 16 inch min. on it for 15 years or so. It's in serious trouble right now. For 15 years you have forced the gene pool to slower growing fish due to the fact you have selectively harvested certain size fish. The fish the grow faster are harvested and the others left. Same with slot limit lakes. Ever wonder why after several years the "over" fish are hard to come by? A biologist once told me that the ONLY way a slot will ever work is taking fish home. That means fish under the slot as well. Look at Ouachita. Slot removed, 13 inch lenght imposed, which most fish have no problem getting to, and it has skyrocketed since doing so.

You have to keep some. Just stay within the law and I have no problems with it. I keep my share when I please, but anything over 1 1/2 or so goes back to the lake.

[Dando]

I could be a biologist and know all about these things and such

[kevinj.]

But being a biologist would take time away from your post-whoring ???

[stretch]

I've only seen this happen a couple of times,,,,,for the year end banquet,was reasoning they said,,,,I surely would not agree with it if it happened all the time.But I've also seen floating dying fish around the ramp after weighin's that I wish someone would've taken home also.........more times than not, it happens

[BigTone,Ar.]

I think what the man is trying to say is that at a tournamnet people are not select harvesting; they are keeping the five biggest fish that they caught that day!! I have to agree with the guy, there is no reason to kill a three pound plus fish. But, I do know that the reason our fishing is not like other states is that many people in arkansas have a redneck way of looking at things, and that will never change

[wildkat7]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BigTone,Ar. &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I think what the man is trying to say is that at a tournamnet people are not select harvesting; they are keeping the five biggest fish that they caught that day!! I have to agree with the guy, there is no reason to kill a three pound plus fish. But, I do know that the reason our fishing is not like other states is that many people in arkansas have a redneck way of looking at things, and that will never change </td></tr></table>

Why not....because that's your opinion. and you're entitled to it....are deer seasons limited to harvesting only fawns and yearlings, no...same for any other species that are controlled. You think our fisheries are tough now....have everybody start throwing back every single fish they catch. Shad will be gone, food sources will deminish, and fish populations will disappear. Personally, I never keep fish. Hate cleaning them is the main reason. If somebody catches a 5lber and wants to eat it, mount it, etc, so be it....it has and always will be this way whereever you go....and not just "in our redneck community"...

[Dando]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BigTone,Ar. &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I think what the man is trying to say is that at a tournamnet people are not select harvesting; they are keeping the five biggest fish that they caught that day!! </td></tr></table>

You telling me that other tounament anglers are catching more than five fish???!!
Nonsense!

[kevinj.]

tx anglers catch them over 3lb ?????

[Real Deal Tungsten]

Danny you missed your calling.

1. The AGFC Commission never listens to the biologists...

2. EVERYONE has learned to NOT listen to you.

you'd be a shoe in......

[wildkat7]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by SkeeterDD22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

You telling me that other tounament anglers are catching more than five fish???!!
Nonsense!
</td></tr></table>

I thought once you caught 5 you had to stop....regardless if they were keepers or not....

[Zarkie]

am i the only one who thinks bass over 2 lbs taste like shit? i just dont see it. Throw the big girls back . its stupid not to do so. Darwin said it best.

[wildkat7]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Zarkie &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">am i the only one who thinks bass over 2 lbs taste like shit? i just dont see it. Throw the big girls back . its stupid not to do so. Darwin said it best. </td></tr></table>

No...I agree. Anything bigger than 2.5lbs taste like crap....but some don't see it like that.