Quote Originally Posted by BigKyd View Post
I've been fishing Sardis and Butla 4 years now and never been checked, seen em at the ramp a few times but they never gave me a second look. Had a few on the last trip that were just a shade over 11 when I put them in the cooler, I did a count when I thought I was getting close to my 15 and noticed a couple of them had started to curl up a little from being on ice, thats the only time I've ever even worried about getting checked. I took one of em back out and layed it on my board and tried to flatten him back out but he was so slick with slime I couldnt really tell if he was still over 11 or not. I think from now on Im throwing anything back that aint over 11 and a half since I dont use a livewell and put my fish directly on ice.
I don't put any on ice that are less than 1/2" over the MLL. Had em shrink up 3/8" before when left on ice for awhile. Talked to a warden on Sardis two weeks go and was told short fish fine is $175 each.