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Just wondering about this. Now Im not talking about a 2.5 lb Crappie full of eggs in the heat of the spawn, but like what is coming upon us, giant pre-spawn fish that are hammering bait fish and fattening up for the next two+ months. Lets say just under 2lbs and over, Do you let them go?
Nope , not when boats all around me keeping them . Most have livescope and putting the hurt on them . I just keep a limit and release the rest. We will see a day when regulations change when pressure gets too great .
I do at times throw them back. Other times they take a trip home to the skillet. 14" fish here are TARP ( Tennessee Angler Recognition Program) Fish. I throw those back.
I throw all back unless I have company that want to eat fish, or mom wants some. I've learned long ago not to keep more than one or two packages in the freezer. I've seen too much get freezer burned and wasted over the years. But that's just me. Keep all you're gonna eat is what I say, as long as you're following rules no-one should complain.
Vacumn seal a few but most of mine go to friends and neighbors that love them . I have buddies I have taken fishing that have grumbled cause I told them it was a catch and release only day . They had plenty in freezer and I knew it .:biggrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Slab
Interesting, I just read an “ask the biologist” thread on the Missouri section of the forum that suggests you might as well keep the large fish as they are at a point of declining, at least as far as Missouri waters go. Interesting read.
Some places a 15'' fish is really old . Places like Mississippi big 4 lakes it may not be . Either way it is a personal choice . My home lake has a slower growth rate from what biologists say so does it help to release the really old fish ? If fishing pressure continues to grow maybe a lower limit or slots may help some lakes . Some flood control lakes get overpopulated with yearly floods .Quote:
Originally Posted by Lockjaw
Same hereQuote:
Originally Posted by Slab
I haven’t kept a crappie since about 2016. The neighbors wanted a fish fry and asked if I would supply the fish. I did and told them to enjoy as that would be the last I would bring home. Being strictly an UL angler using 2# test line…and sometimes 1.5# test line….crappie give me all the fun I want. Caught about 2 thousand crappie a year before my recent move to Arkansas. Still getting house setup so fishing will have to wait a while. I’ve had days where all fish were 12-14 inches…get into the black nose and get them in the 14-15 inch range…they all go back. I realize I’m not the norm when it comes to crappie fisherman….very few go after crappie and catch and release. Up until about 2015 I would have plenty of crappie filets in the freezer but just got to where I didn’t want to clean fish anymore.
Regards
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I keep what my family eats. Throw the rest back. Don't worry about what your neighbors does you can never change their mind or control what he does. Only thing you can control is you. And if you think your being a good steward to the great outdoors......you probably are! We deer hunt alot. Got neighbors that gun any deer that walks up. We used to shoot 3 year old bucks ,because if we didnt the neighbors would. Result=no one ever killed anything but. We started waiting to shoot only what we wanted to mount, we started killing bigger deer even though the neighbors still were popping every horned deer that walked by. Fast forward about 5 years, neighbors started seeing our success and ended up changing their behavior, which was an unexpected blessing. Now I would say we have things where they need to be and an insane improvement from where it started off. So do what you think is best for the environment and leave the neighbors opinions out of it.
I always try to keep a couple of bags in the freezer & throw everything else back after snapping a few pics. May not go back in the same exact location though.
I was wondering if someone was gonna bring up "the life span bio studies". My wife dont like fish so I never keep anyQuote:
Originally Posted by Lockjaw
I am a never keep one guy. A big fish if I ever catch one, will be photoed, weighed and length recorded, and put back. Everyone has their own needs and wants so I am sure there are enough being taken home for the table. :fish
Most of the time I release the bigs ones. I would rather eat a 10 to 12 inch crappie.
It’s here now , some lakes going to 15 limit and 10 “ minimum for 2023 .Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
I wouldn’t be surprised to see all the “good “ lakes where the bigger crappie are now go to this in the next couple of years.
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Been 10" minimum and 15 limit in Tennessee for years
I expect changes some good and some not so good . But then fishing pressure is greater than ever . Just a few years ago most lakes were deserted except for a few Duck Hunters in the winter. Times have changed with all the people chasing Crappie all year long with high tech electronics . Limits will change just hope we never see seasons like some states .Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLine
I talked to some biologists a few years back . Asked why not put a 12'' min length on a certain lake . They said it was because Black Crappie grow slower . Can't fishermen tell the difference ? Bass guys see regulation differences on Bass species ? I know some lakes have limits for each Bass species and why not Crappie if that is the case ?Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLine
I'm in this camp as well but also like them all about the same size for eatin. I released my personal best crappie back in October and my personal best large mouth just this past weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by dko
Just a personal preference for me. I don't care what others do as long as they following the rules.