This has always been a tough subject for myself................my selfish side says (based on a TV program I watched in the past concerning another states regulations) is a daily 10 fish limit / min 12 inches. Anywhere in the state.

My reasonable side says in today's world and economy I cant fault and even understand why a fisherman would want to keep fish for personal consumption. Some return for the time, money, and effort spent in the pursuit, plus the love of eating fresh fish itself. Not a thing in the world wrong with that.

However I am also a believer in human nature, and that being in most cases we do more harm than good to the environment around us. That would include the folks that simply take the resource for granted and make their own rules.

Im not sure how much the FWC can combat human nature. After all fishermen must outnumber them by the thousands. With that being my belief I still feel there is more that can be done.

The first thing I would start with is trying to set an example. Continue preaching the benefits of catch, record, release. I want to see more visual indicators around lakes, ramps, and associated business locations (bait shops / larger sports stores) stating the benefits of keeping only what you can use, and releasing the rest for future stock, as well as the repercussions if you don't follow the rules laid in place and the resulting loss or suspension of your license / fishing privileges at least. If they sell fishing licenses, require a poster board, large and in clear sight.

Crappie tournaments need to set an example by requiring live catches, weighed, and to be released back into the home waters from which they came. This would require alot more efforts on behalf of their organizers I'm sure (holding tanks of some type, man hours and effort for the goal of healthy releases.) Especially those tournaments with fields of 30,40,60-80 boats, with well knowing anglers fishing. How can a field of that size not cause a hurting on a population?

Maybe its time for the state to adopt a limit on poles / lines used during fishing as another way to curb the catch rate. (As much as I wouldn't like it myself maybe it would be best for the long term of the sport)

We all love the pursuit, we all want the slabs, and I'm sure we all want it to continue forever long as we may live or have the energy / health to continue to do so.

I do realize there are alot more factors involved than a simple fisherman myself can begin to understand............so I do my best to concentrate on what I feel I am responsible to act / do. At least I can control that aspect of it if nothing else.