Thread: Shellcracker Last Friday

Nice feesches!!! We also try to release the biggum's this time of year as they are getting ready to spawn. Our fishery here in So Cal has been impacted with these fish as many were taken during the spawn, and now most of the fish are half pounders. Just my two cents, but I'D RATHER CATCH EM IN THE FUTURE. MIKEY

a few now and then dont hurt long as it isnt all the time and in huge amounts...

Originally Posted by mrdux

Nice fish.

Not to be critical of anyone but I have always released any shellcrackers that I could definitely identify as a female. We started catching them regularly here on KY and Barkley about 15 years ago and thought it would help the fishery to release all spawn females. It must have worked since lots of my buddies do the same and the fishery has grown greatly.

Each to their own I guess.

So which one is definately a female? These fish are a good month and a half from their spawn. What if we had caught them last fall? Keep them then? They still wouldn't be around to spawn this spring. So we can keep them after they spawn? Then they won't be here to spawn next spring. Fish of this size have already had a good 4-5 years of spawning under their belts.
I get a little tired of the holier than thou comments on keeping fish.
Each to their own.

ok cool.. you all have made your coments just rememeber lets keep it freindly now

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

Touchy!!

I said I wasn't being critical of anyone. I don't care if you eat every fish you catch. I was just stating that I TRY to release the females. I would say that the fish on the right in the photo is female. Most of our females here have a slightly different shape and coloration than the males. I have made the mistake of cleaning females several times and haven't hurt the population.They tasted just as good as the males. Same goes for bluegills. Most of the largest crackers we see locally or folks bring in for me to mount are males.

Hope you continue to enjoy the crackers and the time on the water. Beats the crap out of work.

that one fish be mounting material down in the new orleans area

they do look good