Nice fish. Too much fun!!!!

Not trying to start anything, but, I think there are alot of variables of when any certain fishery can be hurt by keeping fish. For example, a 4 acre pond can definitely be hurt by keeping fish, but my home lake (Clarks Hill, Ga. 70,000 acres) gets hammered every spring, guys literally catch hundreds of shellcrakers (me included)during the spawn, and the fishery is still awesome.
Also, shellcrackers are very much different than bass, bluegill, etc. Most people only catch them during the spring, then they get difficult to catch in big numbers the rest of the year. I know this is controversial, but, imho shellcrackers only spawn once a year (in mass), unlike bluegill which spawn many times thru the summer months. As for me, I do keep some and eat them, I even keep and eat bass every once in awhile, but not often.
This wasn't directed at any one poster, just food for thought.

Jr. B