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I have fished for crappie only about 3 years. Most of my crappie trips have been on the Choctawhachee River and over at Lake Talquin near Quincy, FL.
Several months ago someone started a discussion in the Florida thread on raising the size limit on Talquin from 10 to 12 inches. After a good number of postings the discussion deteriorated to the point the discussion was shut down. I think if more folks in that discussion had the insight you have expressed in this article the discussion may have taken a different tone.
I think your insight will get a lot of folks thinking and they will appreciate your thoughts. It may take a lot of education and persuading for crappie anglers to buy in to catch and release across the board, but I think maybe raising the size limit would be a good start to consider. I know Talquin has a 10 inch minimum size but I don't know of any other lakes or rivers in the Florida Panhandle than does. It will be a tug-of-war with all the various interest involved, but change is not always easy to make it happen. Let the debate begin!
Good article, thanks for sharing.
RELEASE THE FEMALES UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO MOUNT THEM - Why mount anything when you can get an exact measurement, several pictures and have plastic/fiberglass replicas made that will outlast all of us!!!
To all my Crappie.com Brothers & Sisters, Please, Please, Please, Share this article, Tweet it, email it. We all need to get other fishermen thinking.
Nice read thanks
Very good article. Thanks for your insight into our sport and the courage to share your thoughts. There have been several discussions in the Louisiana Forum about size limits and creel limits. The discussions usually end up in arguments between the two factions. I, personally, like your ideas. I have never caught a limit of crappie (50) in most lakes. Doubt that I ever will. But I do listen and I hear others, not very many, but a few, brag about the 48qt coolers they fill each year. Maybe everyone that visits this sight will read your article. I hope so. And I hope it will change their minds about the way they treat a resource that God has blessed us with and left us in charge of overseeing.
i have been practicing catch and release for years..in all of my crappie videos i have made, my slogan is see the roe let it go..i keep enough to eat, but the rest is let go. it is a good idea in those lakes and waterways where there is lots of fishing pressure...
Not all waters need length limits or released fish to spawn. My home lake usually has too many Crappie which slows growth .
Great Article Bernard Williams. Well Said !! Report the poachers guys. Your kids and grandkids need you too !!
Great article. Dnr has been struggling with this problem for some while. They only have so much power on some lakes. Best thing to do is do what is right for the lake involved.
I think Size limits set for a lake's individual needs is a good thing. But I also think most states are way too liberal with the limit. My home lake in Conway AR ust to have a limit of 20 but they raised it to now 30...for what I don't know? It is hard enuff to catch 20 fish over 10 inches. I think most state officials find it way too easy to set an overall limit on lakes... instead of looking at each individual lake and placing a limit based on what said lake is producing. Size limits and creel limits should be continuously looked at by fish biologists to get the Maximum production for the lake in question. This will help with production 10 fold down the line.
I would encourage anyone interested in helping in the conservation of crappie fishing specifically, or all fishing in general, to contact their state agencies in charge of fishing regs. These people employ scientists such as biologists and fishery managers to do the research on area lakes and then to make reccommendations as to "best use" regulations that takes into account: harvest, sustainability, growth rates, available cover, etc. Share your concerns with them and see what plans are in place. See why they feel the size limits and creel limits are there. Will they reconsider? Or do the current regulations make more sense, now that you have a better understanding? Don't forget, you are fighting people with lots of money (tourism lobbyists) who are trying to bring tourism dollars to your state. They push for higher creel limits and lower size regs so they can advertise how easy it is to catch fish in your state. For every conservationist fisherman, there is a corresponding person trying to get regs eased. Don't be afraid to write letters and make phone calls, but make sure you understand how/why your state agency does things beforehand. Don't forget to ask about creating new cover in your lake.....ask if you can help and ask if they have a program to improve habitat. That is one of the biggest aids in helping fish survive.
Well written article. I practice catch and release most of the time, just keep a few to eat at times.
I hardly keep fish, partly cause most my family members don't eat fish. But when I do, I never keep any more than one frozen package in the freezer. In the past, I've gone on charter boats for salmon on Lake Michigan, and came home with a limits of fish. And a year later I'm caught throwing away freezer burnt fish. I promised my self that would never happen again.
Some good thoughts about crappie. One thing to understand is that crappie are and have been caught for years to eat. Many still use crappie to help feed their family so their feelings on this subject may be strong. I for one release a lot of fish but do keep some fish for eating to.
My personal size limit is 10'' but we do have a state wide 8" - 20 fish limit. This has been in effect for only two years and it is having a good effect on numbers.
With this said, tournament fisherman are the worst about keeping a bragging limit (big fish). The change will have to start in the minds of those fisherman.