Has the thought occured to you?

This past Saturday Dad and I took the boat to the Kissimmee Chain. We chose to stay of the bedding fish and tried to catch those that had not moved up yet. As we went around the lake people every where was setting in the bushes looking for slabs. I know this is a great time of year for people who love to jig those slabs of the bedding areas. But what are we doing to the future of the crappie? I recently read an article in IN-Fisherman about the " Arch of Slabs" in Mississippi, where since the late 90's people from all over the country have been fishing these lakes and catching large fish in the 3lb+ range. It said that it took almost 7 years for a crappie to reach that size and 4+ years to reach 2lbs. The question was ask if it was necessary to take home 8 or 9 3lb fish.
In our area Crescent Lake really got hot this year. In our club tournament, it took over 14lbs to win. Since December I have read post after post where anglers are bragging about the number of large fish the have taken off of Crescent. Maybe I am wrong. But does anyone need to take a hundred or more fish off of one particular lake. I know the laws allow it. And I have been guilty of the same thing. I just wonder if we are not killing that goose that laid the golden egg.
The bass fisherman got the picture in the 80's. Is slot limits the answer. I know that won't set well with most of us. Is number limits the answer? Or is it just the responsibility of all of us to realize the importance of the spawn and not destroy the hatch so we can brag about the catch?
Dad and I did not see exactly eye to eye on this subject. But we do agree that something should change to preserve the future of the fish that we so enjoy catching.

Tight lines and keep your bait wet!

Did the article mention that in Ms that the big 4 lakes have a 12" rule and that you can only keep 20/day? I agree with you by only taking what you need, but I am a life long resident of Ms who is stuck down here in fl for school. I can tell you that even though we get allot of people fishing in the big 4 those lakes can handle it and the MDWFP as well as the COE do a great job of managing the habitat/fishery. Now if we didnt have the length rule and a lower bag limit in these lakes we would deff. be hurting but since all the new regulations the last several yrs it seems to be producing allot better fish.

I recall a study was done on Mississippi lakes (I think?) that showed underharvesting resulted in overpopulation and undersized fish due to Crappie being prolific breeders. I have no idea what the answer is but would suspect local conditions should be the determining factor. But then, what do I know. I'm dumb enough to try to figure out when the fish will bite.

Good point. I know there was a rumor flying around Talquin last year that they were looking at stopping the fishing during the spawn. I never could pin-point the rumor but did get a chance to talk to one of the guys on the lake that rides-around taking fish surveys. He told me the catches were down during the season (last year). I never limited out last year but caught good numbers and sizes throughout the year. In fact, I caught some males up to the end of May last year still in 2-3 feet of water---go figure?????

I would be for a limit during the bedding season. Say maybe cut the number in half from March-April. I would hate to see it get to that point but if that's what it takes--so be it! "OR" even increase the size limit. The 10 inch limit in Talquin really help the catch. I wish they would do the same here in Georgia.

What really gets me is when I see people setting on the dock with loads of fish in their 5 gallon buckets, most of the time the fish are below the inch limit. The game warden checks me over and over again on the lake, at the dock and this goes on all during the weekend. But the guy on the dock, takes his fish, dumps them in the back of the cooler in his truck and goes back for more! And in some cases, don't have a licenses and is fishing with the equipment he stoled out of someones truck/boat at the ramp!:confused:

Another thing from last season: My partner and I have been fishing together for years. We both agree that last year we caught the biggest males (constantly) in the shallows that we have ever caught during our lifetime of fishing crappie. So, if and I can catch 15-20 big fish in a morning of fishing, I'm happy. I'll take quality over quantity anyday!

As a kid in Minnesota(1950s) i wondered why the spawning areas were closed to fishing and a person was limited to the number of poles, on arriving in Florida fish all the poles you want and put that hook in the spawning area made me think the fish could never handle the pressure. Forty years of crappie fishing here in Florida and i realize the Lord takes care of the fish with cold fronts and 'where are the fish?' in spite of the pressure and new technologies and more people fishing it's still better fishing here than it was 'back home'. Yes, keep some to eat and maybe a few to share but don't overregulate the fishery.

The current limits are pretty good. Perhaps a 20 fish of 10" or greater would be better, but maybe not. 25 fish per fisherman is pretty simple and easy to enforce. I think if that rule is obeyed you would be hard pressed to completely deplete any body of water.

The biggest danger to specs IS NOT overfishing, it is damage or destruction of their environment AND/OR invasive species. Eagle Lake used to be a great spec lake, but the mismanagement of that lakes environment has made it less so. Much of the lakes edges have been build on now. Most people are clearing all the weeds from their lakefront. There is hardly any pads or grass for the fish to lay out in. Also I believe they have really cut down on gators in that lake. This has led to a big increase in the number and size of gar fish. Gars compete for minnows and eat Juvenille specs. Add to this that the lake used to be overfished with people taking 100s of specs every night out of the lake and it will take years for it to recover.

Kissimee chain is so good just because it has so much great cover for the fish. There are probably specs burried in parts of that lake that will never have a minnow with a hook tossed in front of them. They just keep putting out high quality children.

forgot to mention, on our big 4 lakes, you are only allowed 4 poles per person and no more than 2 hook per pole.

If a vote for min of 10" were to come up, I would vote for it. I see people taking and keeping 8" fish. When I ask them why, they say, "Mind your own business". Wish I could say, "Mind your own, I have your boat reg number and calling the warden right now, thank you cell phone". Sorry, it just pis&##^%*$($($ me off.

I for One am in full agreement with length and quanity limits. Lets all be our own conservation agent and not keep all those fish that don't measure at least 10 inches better yet 12 inches and 10 fish limit......

Fished Kissimmee in January and caught a lot of fish and several big crappie, 11inches or bigger. Never claened overe 20 any day, had 3 fish fries while we were there, brought some back to Indiana and released the rest.

I feel common sense should kick in and not to have I caught a limit mentally. The fish will take care of the rest.:)

Pepper

I try to catch as many as I can. Then when it is time to go back to the ramp I will keep 6 of the biggest ones to take home. The wife just loves them and we will eat them that day. Then when it comes the next weekend I tell her I am going fishing for her favorite meal. None in the freezer and no flack from the wife.
:p

purdy good plan

I had sent a message on this I dont know if it will go thru or not but my concern is people who go out in the morning and get their limit ,come in clean them and put them in the freezer.That afternoon they do this all over again.
I blame the game commission for not doing their jobs by hanging around an outboard repair shop instead of being out on the lake and learning who's boat is who's.I implies it was mainly northern people who stay all winter long in the fish camps with their r.v's
there are some of the florida boys too, who do it too.One day I was talking to a man who told me when he gets his freezers full he goes home for christmas unloades and comes back again
This year there vare two freezers sitting out there ,not just one

Catching specs only over 12 inches...wouldnt you be pulling in the breeding stock ?
They put a slot on bass on kissimmee 15 years ago,if it was so good for the bass how come this is the only lake with it around here.
They do an awful lot of spraying and they spray also in the winter when the bass and specks go on the bed,and besides how many minnows do you see anymore.
So lets start with the game comission doing there jobs that they get paid to do and get some authority away from Swiftmud and the A.C.E. who do whatever they please to our lakes.

I vote for a limit similar to the Saltwater Speck ratio-ie. 20 fish per person 10" - <14" and two of the fish can be 14" or over. That way an angler can get his braggin'/mountin' slab!

There will always be that 1 idiot that does not care.That is when it is our job,there are only a few FWC out there,compared to the hundreds of concerned and responsible fishermen out there.I have my local FWC officers phone number on me when I'm out fishing.
If I see someone out there destroying my children's future fisheries I pick up the phone.
If you saw a person getting ready to commit a terrorist act you would do something, right.
If these lake terrorist are committing theses acts.Please call,find your local FWC officer,they will come,but they do need our help.

I think these are some points well taken here concernng enforcement. Get your dinner. Invite your friends. Eat well and drop a dime on the boys with two freezers.

I emailed the game commision and they never answered me,I called Lakeland office 4 times and someone was suppose to get back with me.......guess what,never heard from them.
Talked to one a few months back and he told me there isnt anything he can do, as far as possession goes, at these people's house.I told him the only to stop it than, was to get out on the lake itself and check people in the morning on their way in and again in the afternoon and tally it up.He told me that would take a lot of paper work.Sometimes they act as if they dont care or its too much work.

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Originally Posted by Hotpepper

Fished Kissimmee in January and caught a lot of fish and several big crappie, 11inches or bigger. Never claened overe 20 any day, had 3 fish fries while we were there, brought some back to Indiana and released the rest.

I feel common sense should kick in and not to have I caught a limit mentally. The fish will take care of the rest.:)

Pepper

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Rules should definitely not replace common sense. Also many people enjoy eating whole fish, which would make a mess of 8" specs ideal table fair. Those sizes also tend to be taken easier from the shoreline. Lets be sure not to impose what we feel is reasonable on the non-boaters who are catching fish to take home as a meal replacement in these tough times.

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Originally Posted by Florida

I emailed the game commision and they never answered me,I called Lakeland office 4 times and someone was suppose to get back with me.......guess what,never heard from them.
Talked to one a few months back and he told me there isnt anything he can do, as far as possession goes, at these people's house.I told him the only to stop it than, was to get out on the lake itself and check people in the morning on their way in and again in the afternoon and tally it up.He told me that would take a lot of paper work.Sometimes they act as if they dont care or its too much work.

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Yeah that sounds like he doesn't want to do his job. The few times we have been checked on Kissimmee the FWC officer was checking safety, fishing license, and boat registration. He asked how many fish we had, but never asked to look at the fish or if we had been out on the lake earlier in the day. Not sure how you are going to check how many fish I have if you don't count the fish.

I believe the law reads 25 fish per day per fisherman. Typically a boat can keep 50. That being said, in the past, I would have sworn to you that I only had about 35 fish in the live well, then count out in the high 40s when we start cleaning. I can easily see someone accidentally having slightly more than 50 fish in their live well.

Currently we are only keeping larger fish, and typically no more than a dozen.

If we had a big fish fry planned, we would likely keep some fish to cook whole and more of the medium fish.

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Originally Posted by up2specks

I vote for a limit similar to the Saltwater Speck ratio-ie. 20 fish per person 10" - <14" and two of the fish can be 14" or over. That way an angler can get his braggin'/mountin' slab!

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I think that's a good and fair limit set.
I'm amazed that there isn't a small limit at least.

if your worried about numbers throw back any females, dinks, slabs, or hawgs. and to yall blaming the fwc, i have an idea if you know law breakers report them period. specks like the earth will take care of themselves. be responsible for yourself and stop looking for someone else to take care of the problems.

if he can ask for fishing liscense,boat registration, check the boat for safety equipment than he sure has the time to open mine or your cooler or whatever and take a peek at our fish instead of just asking how many you caught without even checking.
The someone I look to, to take care of the problem, is the guy with the badge,who took the job and gets paid to do it, but ....some of them dont.

In over 20 years on Toho,Hatch and Kissimmee I have been stopped many times and never had them take the energy and look at my fish to see if I was telling them the truth or not.
Its time some of them start doing their job right, especially if they expect the public to co-operate and turn "poachers" in.
In my boat I have a counter (thumb clicker type) that I keep track of the fish on,along with one of those "golden" rulers

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Originally Posted by Hotpepper

Fished Kissimmee in January and caught a lot of fish and several big crappie, 11inches or bigger.

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Not picking on you Pepper, but this just shows you what some folks consider big, others do not. Don and I are lucky and get to fish almost every week. But we cull at 12 inches. An 11 inch fish is a throw-back. And we never keep a 50 fish limit (between the two of us) anyway because we would have crappie fillets up to our ears after a while.

An yes, we measure EVERY ONE that is even close. Last week we tossed a couple of 11 7/8" fish, a bunch of 11 inchers, and scores of smaller ones. We caught 82 fish that day. Did not keep a single one.

We are not fisheries experts. I imagine some university studies have been done on sustainable crappie populations in Florida, but I have never seen anything published. It would be interesting to talk to an expert on this subject. All us ignorant fishermen can do is "speculate" (pun intended :) ).

Tom

11-14 inches is my personal slot...got a darn freezer full of them jokers too... although the big 14 inch females produce alot of minners in the spring they are 4 year old fish and usually kick the bucket shortly after.. i sure aint gonna let a beauty like that go back to die a few months later... just my opinion of course :)

News Flash. I have been stopped on Lake Eustus at least once a year (think my Alabama numbers have something to do with it??) These badges (male and female) will take your fish out of your live well, one at a time, measure them and put them in their well till all have been noted. They even checked the date on my fire extingusher. I have never had this happen in other states. Hats off to these people for doing their jobs. And, while they are checking you/your stuff out, they will tell you where the fish have been biteing as well.