Caught these this afternoon in 4 fow.
Attachment 41691
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Caught these this afternoon in 4 fow.
Attachment 41691
Nice crackers ! What bait/s did you use?
That's a real nice bunch on redear, congrats!!
Nice looking, healthy and plump. Whata meal. Way to Go!
Good looking catch!!!
Nice catch. We try to throw the females back when we can, even with the bluegill. I'm not complaining, just wondering if you guys think it matters.
I personally release all the females that I can identify as such but it is a personal preference for me, each to his own and keeping a few females probably won't hurt the fishery.Quote:
Originally Posted by mepperson
Felt kida bad after I got home with those big females. Even my folks that I gave them to said that I should have released them. I usually catch and release all the redear I catch but Grandpa wanted some for supper.He says they taste better than bluegill. They are a great fish to catch and I try to help protect that if I can. Maybe we should lower the limit to 5 fish or not keep any females.I have been watching some of the guides come in with 3 or 4 people in a boat and guess how many they keep !!
Tenvol ; I used a brim bug I make and the color was Junebug head with glitter purple legs and a black with green glitter body tipped with a red worm or Gulp Alive(white maggot)
Great catch, some very nice fish.
If the fishery couldn't sustain it then the people with all the letters past their names (biologists) would lower the limits.
Never feel bad about taking home fish well within the legal limits. If others don't want to do so, or if choose not to do so that is your perogative. But you do not, and should never have to, explain yourself to others as long as you abide by the law.
I wouldn't worry to much about taking home big, pregnant redear....although I to feel guilty when I clean them and see the eggs spilling out. I don't worry because MOST fisherman aren't skilled in redear fishing and the pressure on them isn't like pressure put on crappie.
Most people, even long time panfisherman don't have a real good sense about catching redear IMO. There's a real knack to it and I'm in the early learning stages myself, but boy it's fun.
... with ALL of you :eek:
Self imposed limits are fine, since they make all parties happy.
Keeping a limit of mixed sexes is also fine, since they do "have" a statewide limit.
When KDFWR put the Redear on a "Sport Fish" status, a few years ago, they also defined a daily creel limit of 20/person/day. This, in itself, controls the mortality rate (from harvest) ... and add in the self imposed controls, and the specific methods needed to catch these fish on a regular basis .... and the Redear should be about as protected as any other game fish we pursue.
And now that the Redear ARE a Sport Fish .... the KDFWR are charged with monitoring them. Should they see a decline starting, they could easily impose a size limit (which they don't have now), or lower the creel.
... cp :cool:
What's the two big girls weigh? I would LOVE to catch two pigs like that! Good lookin mess.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifish
I totally agree!!!!!!! I have seen photos of fisherman on this site that have kept female crappie!! And we can all catch more bluegill, shellcracker, ect...Quote:
Originally Posted by smashdn
It's the crappie counts that everybody is complaining about, but yet you keep the egg laying females.
Don't preach out of both sides of your mouths!:mad: