Thread: Bluegill Conservation

Maybe there is a difference, but I don't view one person taking home a large quantity once or twice a year any differently than I do one that keeps 5 a week throughout the year.

When I was young, the thought was to throw back the slower growing gamefish and to keep the more prolific panfish since they were viewed as more quick to recover. I still think that applies today as I don't believe there is currently a large market for catch and release panfishing. I think if the laws were changed to greatly restrict the panfish harvest, most that fish for them would just stop. There would be more to go around for those anglers that persist, but there would be a lot less anglers. Fishing then starts to become a sport of privilege where the only people that can enjoy it are those that can afford to spend the time and money doing it purely for the sporting benefit.