Thread: Bluegill Conservation

I certainly find merit in the studies you have referenced.

What I don't like is that it went from a discussion about a condition that could affect the quality of a body of water and what can be done about it and gets spun into a moral argument about social obligations.

No doubt, allowing significant numbers to survive to maturity will increase the average size. However, unless you have a way to determine genetics along the way, the gene pool will not be improved. If you want to keep a stock of fish and allow them all to grow to complete maturity and then discard the smallest and breed the biggest then you will improve the genetics with respect to size. However, in a stratified population, the genes are there in the one year old just as they are in the four year old. Harvesting only young fish will not improve genetics.

If you can point out a way for me to identify the fully mature runts for removal I'll be glad to do my part and remove as many of those as possible. Calling the counter arguments of others laughable and suggesting that some form of communist approach to fisheries management is the answer makes it sound like you just favor forcing your ideas upon others.