Breaking The Law

[bclift65706]

still got some but we eat alot when go go gigging we almost always go with 3 boats 10 to 12 people some gig some just go to hang out and have a fish fry every time we go it just seems to go good with the fish and taters.two nights a week thursday and saturday nights. I need to kill 20 this year saw a heard at each end of the field this morning on my saturday morning roadtrip

[Whack'emGood]

I think the same way about hunters. BUT then I remember the deer eating all my plants, the squirrels chewing up lawn furniture, the coons and possums digging in my trash, the otters ripping the foam out from under my dock and the rabbits digging in my garden.

Cant say as I had any problems with turkey, pheasant, or quail, but they sure do taste good! Although them Fox are too pretty to shoot and give my dog one heck of a run, she isnt smart/fast enough to get one anyway so no harm.

I feel that all fish should be allowed when harvesting. I do believe that slot limits should be set. Maybe one big one per day over a certain limit, maybe a tag system so that only so many a year get taken,(might be a bummer for those tourney guys) and 4 under another limit per day. Keeps the brood stock populations healthy. Of course each species will have a different slot margin. I also feel there should be a season for keeping fish. To protect Spawns and migrations. And population checks should be made to determine if any body of water needs to have its harvest season shut down for a few years to allow the populations reestablish. This all should apply to every species.

But even if they did inact all that, It wouldnt effect me any for I dont harvest. Well, I take that back. I DO LOVE THOSE FARM FRESH FISH TANK TROUT! MMMMMMMM

Now thats a good, sensible post Trav. Maybe the MDC should sit down and talk to you for awhile... They might learn something.

[Fly_Guy]

About the apparent hybrid bass...largemouths and smallmouths do not hybridize in the wild, although hybrids have been produced in captive, laboratory situations. Smallmouths DO hybridize extensively in some waters with spotted bass. Any hybrid you see in the wild will be smallmouthXspotted bass. Since spotted bass are common in the lower reaches of the James, it's probable that it was a smallmouthXspotted hybrid.

Hey Al

I think the only known naturally occuring population of largemouthXsmallmouth hybrids are found in Heaven River, Heaven. I've heard you have to know the landowners son to fish it though

[bclift65706]

the olny ? I have is are the considederd black bass or are they considerd a problem.

[Trav]

Well whackem,

I appreciate your vote of confidence. Its just too bad the government dont listen to the likes of me.

BUT, if they did we would all drink the special koolaid on monday and there would be no need for laws and regs.

He He

[CBNMO]

I think you did the right thing by telling him the regulations then reporting him when he still kept the fish. I understand a game cop doesn't want to drive across the county to try and catch someone that will probably be gone by the time they get there, but you never know when there might be one close that will respond right away. I tip my hat to you for the way you handled it.

Maybe I read more into it than what you said or meant? No offence taken or meant to you. I just read and hear folks voicing their opinions about what other people should or shouldn't do, above and beyond what the law allows. Perhaps we're more free with our opinions here, or maybe with the internet we just have a bigger audience nowadays. As stated above, there is folks saying that he shouldn't keep that black, smallmouth, crappie, striper, spoonbill, catfish, musky or what ever species. Others say he shouldn't be fishing over the beds while they are spawning. Others say he shouldn't be fishing at night, or he shouldn't . . . It's not just fishing, it's the same for hunting too. The list goes on.

Most of us don't keep every legal fish we catch, if we did then there would already be stricter regulations in place. I don't fish Table Rock for black bass but I catch them. I ate a 4 or 5 pound one that I caught on my crappie rig. I didn't measure or weigh it, but it tasted fine to me just the same, no guilt while cleaning or eating it. I'd just as soon throw them up on the rocks to die, but that wouldn't be legal or very nice to the fish. Is cleaning a fish while it's still alive ok, or should he kill it first? How should he kill it without someone saying, he shouldn't do that.

I admire folks that have grown in their sport to the point that they place a higher set of ethics on themselves, than what the law permits. I think it shows maturity and experience. I don't mind someone telling me what they would do with my fish, But, it ruffles my feathers when someone tells me what they think I should do with my fish, if it's legal.

If I let my dog chase the fox, it may not be a big deal because he won't ever catch it, but, it may be against the law to allow it? A bass fisherman might not care about the fox, and the fox hunter might not care about the bass? (sorry TRAV, I couldn't resist, this is meant in a humorous way, hope you take it that way) Good fishin to all, good night.

[Trav]

No offense taken CB.

Your right, when is doing the right thing, too much of a good thing?

As far as my dog chasing fox......I dont tell her to do it. She is just doing her job by keeping critters away from my property. And she does it very well. I just wish the skunk were as fast and smart as the fox!

[Whack'emGood]

Good post CB... all good points. I just wish I could catch more fish!!! .... maybe I just need to get better. That might help!!

[Trav]

Heres a quote for ya Whackem

"Even the best of fisherman have thier bad days."- Bill Dance

[Whack'emGood]

Thats true Trav... Thanks for the vote of confidence.... I wonder how long it has been since Bill Dance has had a bad day though??? Fishing those private waters he fishes on t.v. and catching 5 pounder after 5 pounder...

I'll bet he has forgotten the last bad day he had years ago. Don't you wish you could get paid for making those shows and catchin em like he does!!!?????? Now that's the life!!