Friendly discussion about Bream Limits

My favorite is a keystone minnow and I do use jigs that I have tied with buck tail or fish hair and yeah I will use red worms or waxies. I will use aberdeen with split shot when I fish with porcupine quills (great bite detector) to control the weight. I mainly use ball head jigs that i have poured and painted (when I drop shot) and yeah I believe the right colored head will make a BIG difference on the bite. The rods I fish with are 4.5 cherry wood from Berkley fast action rods so bite detection is not the problem.

To answer the question about keeping 50 fish: your right to deplete a resource ends where another angler's right to enjoy that same resource begins.

We are not in the midst of an economic depression. My grandfather grew up in the Great Depression and told me stories about it. I would wager a good amount of money that you have a job, and make enough money to support your family if you were never allowed to fish again. I would also wager that you probably don't make your own hooks, and there's a reasonable chance you don't raise your own bait; there's a very high probability that you don't make the fuel you have to put in your outboard and your truck to get to the fish. You probably don't make your own fishing line.

I'll go out on a limb and venture that the minimum you typically spend on a trip to get your 50 bluegill is $15. For that same amount of money you could get more food at a grocery store if you shopped as a person on the brink of starvation should rightly shop. But you probably spend more than $15 - you probably buy yourself a snack and a drink, maybe a sausage biscuit for breakfast. Because it's not really about providing for your family - if it were you would take that money you spend to Costco and get the most sustenance for your pennies.

You could fish for bass with live bait and keep your daily Alabama limit of ten and have more food for your family than you would with fifty bluegill.

As to what I do when I gut-hook a bluegill, it doesn't happen often because even when I use live bait it's on a jighead, for the same reason other posters have already noted, i.e. it greatly lessens the incidence of gut-hooking. When a gut-hook happens, I cut the line. Studies have been done by fisheries biologists that found this results in drastically-higher survival rates than trying to fish out the hook with forceps/disgorger/etc. The Florida Wildlife Commission even recommends this approach on their website. When I used to try to fish out a deeply-lodged hook it was a regular thing for the bluegill to float up on its side within minutes of being released; it has happened once, ever, that I cut the line and the fish surfaced shortly after, and that fish had been yanked via a client's heavy braided line out of a tree it was snagged in.

Hey you forgot the electric knife that I paid $100 to clean all those fish. Something tells me you are fishing (sorry for the pun) for a irritated response from me. You aint gonna get one. I am not your enemy.

Tight Lines

I agree we are not in a recession or depression, but I would venture to guess that there are more NON-WORKING people now, than ever before! Some of these people fish EVERY day and limit or max out every time that they can. As long as it is "Legal" there is NOTHING that can be done to change their mind...they have the "Get Mine" mentality and think they are OWED...they continue to take and take....is the NEW SOCIETY that has been created!

IMHO, Bass are just NASTY to eat...not gonna happen...I prefer Walleye, Crappie, Yellow Perch, and cold water White Bass!
I also fill 2 coolers in Spring with cold water fish....sometimes I have left overs from Winter and don't have to fill the Freezers all the way back up, but that's rare!
A good vacuum sealer and freezing process will keep fish up to 5 years (I have never had anything older than that)!

But because I eat fish 3 days a week, I also give back to the fishery...
After my freezers are full in Spring, I C&R the rest of the year, unless I want a fresh meal in the cold water Fall.
I led and participated in cover drops for over 10 years to build the fishery to what it is today!
Most of my catches for the freezer are Walleye, which are stocked as fingerlings yearly, since our lake is an OHIO BROOD LAKE!
And Crappie, which are smaller and more abundant than in the South.

As a fisherman, I believe you have to understand and know the balance of what you take and keep....but most just don't care, and that's where problems can happen...especially when you have a whole bunch of like minded people who are "Getting Theirs"!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tnpondmanager

When a gut-hook happens, I cut the line. Studies have been done by fisheries biologists that found this results in drastically-higher survival rates than trying to fish out the hook with forceps/disgorger/etc.

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Personally I don't like this method because of the possibility of another wildlife species eating that fish and having a hook (with possibly lead) in it's system. A Blue Heron, or an Osprey, or even a Gator. And also the fact that it's essentially littering. I'd rather just try to get it out, and if the fish does not make it, I love seeing that Osprey hit the water in front of me to grab it. Circle of life.

True that Slab!!!

And if I could afford a $300.00 fishing Bluegill trip I would just give the cash to the church!!.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slab

Personally I don't like this method because of the possibility of another wildlife species eating that fish and having a hook (with possibly lead) in it's system. A Blue Heron, or an Osprey, or even a Gator. And also the fact that it's essentially littering. I'd rather just try to get it out, and if the fish does not make it, I love seeing that Osprey hit the water in front of me to grab it. Circle of life.

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Agree....overheard a TWRA Officer once tell a young man when he asked could he keep a bass that was fouled hooked and bleeding as it was going to die....officers reply "Birds and turtles got to eat too....toss it back".

Regards

What we don't enjoy is having a bad visit to this site!!! Most of us enjoy and learn a new way of enjoying gods creation here!! Please find a site for Certified Biologist and write to it to your hearts content. Thanks to the folks that post pics!!!! Us Ol guys really enjoy everyone especially chose with the youth!!!!!

Ok, no matter what species of fish, there is people that feel it should only be managed for trophy fish period. Whether it is snook, redfish, speckled trout, bass, walleye, crappie, bluegills, flounder, sailfish etc. It just ain't gonna happen. If I catch a snook in season and in slot and I have the snook stamp, its dead. Catch a redfish in slot and in season, its dead. Catch a speckled trout in season and in slot, its dead. I highly doubt many on here with boats, trucks and probably more tackle than Walmart store are keeping fish to survive. Rather they/I enjoy catching and eating fresh fish or freshly frozen fish that are well taken care of. I understand anyones passion for a fish, but calling out a successful person showing a great day of fun on the water a "meathog" is what brings on arguements. I have no doubt that pondmanager has extreme knowledge of Bluegills and respect his passion, but due respect is in order for those that are not trophy hunters, fishing public waters should not be bashed. Instead lobby your Game Commission with your studies and get laws passed. Just like the hunting sites are dying off because someone with private land and managing trophy animals calling out someone hunting a WMA for killing a 120" buck a meathog. Kinda raises your gander and puts you on the offensive. I love this site but hate threads like this, and they are becoming more and more frequent.
And I agree with others, remove the guthooked fish and let nature take its course.