Has the thought occured to you?

[B8fish]

This past Saturday Dad and I took the boat to the Kissimmee Chain. We chose to stay of the bedding fish and tried to catch those that had not moved up yet. As we went around the lake people every where was setting in the bushes looking for slabs. I know this is a great time of year for people who love to jig those slabs of the bedding areas. But what are we doing to the future of the crappie? I recently read an article in IN-Fisherman about the " Arch of Slabs" in Mississippi, where since the late 90's people from all over the country have been fishing these lakes and catching large fish in the 3lb+ range. It said that it took almost 7 years for a crappie to reach that size and 4+ years to reach 2lbs. The question was ask if it was necessary to take home 8 or 9 3lb fish.
In our area Crescent Lake really got hot this year. In our club tournament, it took over 14lbs to win. Since December I have read post after post where anglers are bragging about the number of large fish the have taken off of Crescent. Maybe I am wrong. But does anyone need to take a hundred or more fish off of one particular lake. I know the laws allow it. And I have been guilty of the same thing. I just wonder if we are not killing that goose that laid the golden egg.
The bass fisherman got the picture in the 80's. Is slot limits the answer. I know that won't set well with most of us. Is number limits the answer? Or is it just the responsibility of all of us to realize the importance of the spawn and not destroy the hatch so we can brag about the catch?
Dad and I did not see exactly eye to eye on this subject. But we do agree that something should change to preserve the future of the fish that we so enjoy catching.

Tight lines and keep your bait wet!

[duckkiller]

Did the article mention that in Ms that the big 4 lakes have a 12" rule and that you can only keep 20/day? I agree with you by only taking what you need, but I am a life long resident of Ms who is stuck down here in fl for school. I can tell you that even though we get allot of people fishing in the big 4 those lakes can handle it and the MDWFP as well as the COE do a great job of managing the habitat/fishery. Now if we didnt have the length rule and a lower bag limit in these lakes we would deff. be hurting but since all the new regulations the last several yrs it seems to be producing allot better fish.

[HillBilly5]

I recall a study was done on Mississippi lakes (I think?) that showed underharvesting resulted in overpopulation and undersized fish due to Crappie being prolific breeders. I have no idea what the answer is but would suspect local conditions should be the determining factor. But then, what do I know. I'm dumb enough to try to figure out when the fish will bite.

[sorrydog]

Good point. I know there was a rumor flying around Talquin last year that they were looking at stopping the fishing during the spawn. I never could pin-point the rumor but did get a chance to talk to one of the guys on the lake that rides-around taking fish surveys. He told me the catches were down during the season (last year). I never limited out last year but caught good numbers and sizes throughout the year. In fact, I caught some males up to the end of May last year still in 2-3 feet of water---go figure?????

I would be for a limit during the bedding season. Say maybe cut the number in half from March-April. I would hate to see it get to that point but if that's what it takes--so be it! "OR" even increase the size limit. The 10 inch limit in Talquin really help the catch. I wish they would do the same here in Georgia.

What really gets me is when I see people setting on the dock with loads of fish in their 5 gallon buckets, most of the time the fish are below the inch limit. The game warden checks me over and over again on the lake, at the dock and this goes on all during the weekend. But the guy on the dock, takes his fish, dumps them in the back of the cooler in his truck and goes back for more! And in some cases, don't have a licenses and is fishing with the equipment he stoled out of someones truck/boat at the ramp!

[sorrydog]

Another thing from last season: My partner and I have been fishing together for years. We both agree that last year we caught the biggest males (constantly) in the shallows that we have ever caught during our lifetime of fishing crappie. So, if and I can catch 15-20 big fish in a morning of fishing, I'm happy. I'll take quality over quantity anyday!

[shuorc]

As a kid in Minnesota(1950s) i wondered why the spawning areas were closed to fishing and a person was limited to the number of poles, on arriving in Florida fish all the poles you want and put that hook in the spawning area made me think the fish could never handle the pressure. Forty years of crappie fishing here in Florida and i realize the Lord takes care of the fish with cold fronts and 'where are the fish?' in spite of the pressure and new technologies and more people fishing it's still better fishing here than it was 'back home'. Yes, keep some to eat and maybe a few to share but don't overregulate the fishery.

[BenFL01]

The current limits are pretty good. Perhaps a 20 fish of 10" or greater would be better, but maybe not. 25 fish per fisherman is pretty simple and easy to enforce. I think if that rule is obeyed you would be hard pressed to completely deplete any body of water.

The biggest danger to specs IS NOT overfishing, it is damage or destruction of their environment AND/OR invasive species. Eagle Lake used to be a great spec lake, but the mismanagement of that lakes environment has made it less so. Much of the lakes edges have been build on now. Most people are clearing all the weeds from their lakefront. There is hardly any pads or grass for the fish to lay out in. Also I believe they have really cut down on gators in that lake. This has led to a big increase in the number and size of gar fish. Gars compete for minnows and eat Juvenille specs. Add to this that the lake used to be overfished with people taking 100s of specs every night out of the lake and it will take years for it to recover.

Kissimee chain is so good just because it has so much great cover for the fish. There are probably specs burried in parts of that lake that will never have a minnow with a hook tossed in front of them. They just keep putting out high quality children.

[duckkiller]

forgot to mention, on our big 4 lakes, you are only allowed 4 poles per person and no more than 2 hook per pole.

[centerdriver]

If a vote for min of 10" were to come up, I would vote for it. I see people taking and keeping 8" fish. When I ask them why, they say, "Mind your own business". Wish I could say, "Mind your own, I have your boat reg number and calling the warden right now, thank you cell phone". Sorry, it just pis&##^%*$($($ me off.

[rocket rich]

I for One am in full agreement with length and quanity limits. Lets all be our own conservation agent and not keep all those fish that don't measure at least 10 inches better yet 12 inches and 10 fish limit......