Thread: Crappie rule changes??

FWC does what they can on enforcement but as we know the Wildlife Officer force is spread pretty thin across the state. We can all help and should when obvious serious violations are noticed. I keep the enforcement hot line number in my cell phone but have never used it.

So far as crappie goes on size and numbers I have come almost full circle on the subject. Slab published an article here on the forum by Bernard Williams that got my attention. See http://www.crappie.com/crappie/conte...comments_start

Maybe it's time for more crappie anglers to slow down catching long enough to think about the future of the fishery. Just my 2 cents worth!

Are there really that many people that actually catch a limit, let alone keep that limit these days? I could respect the tournament idea of only having the tournament limit on board and those must be released alive after weigh in. Also how many do you have in your freezer? I have five Crappie and one Bass. Without enforcement laws mean nothing.

I agree to the T exactly every comment you just stated Yelim. A limit does not come easily day in and day out. Some days are simple and can do nothing to keep em off yer hook or jumping in the boat, other days I start looking for dynamite just to wake em up. Without some means of self regulating all the laws mean nothing. If it was easy to enforce all laws, there would be zero crime in the world, well parts of the world anyway.

Originally Posted by Yelim

Are there really that many people that actually catch a limit, let alone keep that limit these days? I could respect the tournament idea of only having the tournament limit on board and those must be released alive after weigh in. Also how many do you have in your freezer? I have five Crappie and one Bass. Without enforcement laws mean nothing.

In the past 3 years I have caught a limit of keepers only one time. That's a pile of fish A dozen is also a pile of fish for me to clean, etc. On enforcement as a general rule I agree without enforcement laws don't mean much of anything to the poaches and outlaws. But I believe the vast majority are law abiding and will follow the rules whatever they area. Also, self regulating does work as we have seen in the bass fishery with catch and release. It's to the point now there has been so much releasing Florida is about to change the rules as Alabama has already done that encourages keeping small fish.