Species Differentiation

[Walcrabass]

To all Readers,

As all of you know I have always been in favor of putting the Kentucky Bass in their own category as far as our fish and game laws are concerned here in Missouri. After reading the post concerning the differentiation on Channel cats and Blue Cats it brings this to the front of my mind once again. It only takes a simple picture, explaination, or set of guide lines to be able to easily distinguish the two catfish. My point is that the same thing can be done with the Kentucky Bass. I would truly appreciate Adam Boman who is obviously knowledgable enough to reply with a simple set of photos, descriptions, or whatever else is necessary to make THIS species differentiation clear to all anglers as well. States around us have already put the Kentuckies in their own category and I think it would hugely improve Bass fishing here in Missouri to do the same.If possible I would also like for Adam to present us with the thoughts from the MDC as to why we have not followed this same pattern as other states. I am truly not trying to cause any trouble I am just concerned for our future Bass fishing. The increased incidence of catching the Largemouth/Kentucky crossbreeds and the Smalmouth/Kentucky crossbreeds seems to be on the rise according to other fishermen and personal experiences of my own.

Once again,

Walcrabass

[navery]

Isn't a Kentucky bass the same as a spotted bass?

[MOPanfisher]

Just out of curiosity if they had different regs where on the regulations would a hybrid,kentucky/LM or Kentucky/SM fall. I like to keep the regulations simple as possible in general.

[Lvn2Fish]

They do have there own regulations. For example you can keep a 15" large mouth at lake of the ozarks. And you can keep a 12" spotted bass (Kentucky). I would say the number of spotted bass in Stockton is not great enough to need a special regulation.

I personally have seen a handful of meanmouths on table rock.

The easiest, and most reliable way to distinguish a spotted bass from a large mouth is by looking at the jaw bone. If the jaw bone doesn't extend past the eye it's a spot , if it does extend past it's a large mouth. Less reliable ways include a rough patch on the spotted bass' tongue.or a broken stripe

Down the side of a spot .'

[redtickstreed]

Kentucky or Spotted bass should be more protected I am getting fewer and fewer on the line.

[Dutch]

Walcrabass I agree that there should be a different length limit on them as in some lakes like Table Rock they are very common. I rarely catch one on Stockton or Pomme de Terre. Going on with your idea I'd like to see different regs on stripers, hybrids, and white bass.

When I have asked questions of agents in the field about those issues I have always gotten the same answer, "The MDC doesn't think that average MO fisherman can tell the difference in the species". My opinion on that issue is a ticket will send the unlearned fisherman to some information where he/she can learn to tell the difference and avoid a second ticket.

[Nwtf gobbler]

If MDC doesn't think the average fisherman can tell the difference, then maybe they need to put a little more time and money into identification.

And along the same lines, it is also our job to be able to identify the species that we catch or shoot(hunting). I don't know the difference in all the types of waterfowl, therefor I don't hunt them. Same logic should be used while fishing.

[MOPanfisher]

Since I like to ask questions, what would the benefit be to having different regs.

[Dutch]

For me the different regs would be on Table Rock. The current ones permit only 4 of the (white, striper, hybrid species) over 19" in a limit). In good years you can catch a bunch of big whites and only be able to keep 4.

[powerdive]

Since I like to ask questions, what would the benefit be to having different regs.

I was kinda wondering the same thing. How exactly would "putting Kentuckies in their own category...hugely improve Bass fishing here in Missouri?"