Poaching Season

[Smalliebigs]

sure

So, I'm trying to keep score at home here.

Just so I'm clear, is the smallmouth bass fishing in decline from giggers, bait fisherman, spotted bass, gravel mining, tournaments, lax creel regulations, fishing pressure from canoe outfitters, or stream erosion/pressure from jet boaters?

I thought I had it all figured out, but I've got to admit, I'm getting a little confused.

Do you want me to go harass the spotted bass and gravel miners while you chase the giggers?

[Smalliebigs]

dung lets just start mining for gravel everywhere we can and gig anything that swims......I'll start on the North Fork of the White and start nailing all the Browns I can.

I guess I need to start keeping every legal fish I can get my hands on as well......better get my knife sharpened up for some fillets because it's gonna be quite a few.

[MOsmallies]

I understand that most of these replies are meant to be funny, but to the die-hard smallmouth fisherman here, this REALLY REALLY is a huge issue!!!!!

Bird Watcher, Feathers and Fins, and fishinwrench - I know you're probably just making jokes, but everything you mentioned really are issues that affect smallmouth bass populations. However, with that being said, illegal gigging (and illegal underwater spearing) are probably by far the biggest issues out there affecting trophy smallmouth in Missouri. I know you guys are die-hard line-side fisherman, so imagine if White Bass and Hybrid populations were being GREATLY affected in a negative way by illegal practices. I may not agree with people legally harvesting smallmouth, but they have the right to do so and I won't berate them for it (may try to educate them, but won't berate). But when someone is ILLEGALLY destroying a resource that I'm passionate about it makes my blood boil.

Thanks for posting this Scott, as I didn't even realize gigging season had already started. It's imperative that anyone and everyone who witnesses illegal gigging contact their local agent as quickly as possible and with as much information and evidence as they can gather. The recent Huzzah spearing incidents are a perfect examples... With the efforts of several people here on OAF and the one guy's buddy who actually witnessed the 2nd incident, two of these @$$hole poachers have been prosecuted. We DO have the ability to make a difference and if anything ram it down the MDC's throat over and over again that illegal gigging is more prevalent than they may have ever thought.

[fishinwrench]

Oh make no mistake, I am in your corner. If they'd grant some of us some immunity I'd be glad to spend some cold dark nights on the river. I know exactly where to bust some of them too, but it's on private property so I'll need immunity from trespass and temporary authority to hold them at bay until a badge shows up. Not sure how I'd call a badge though because cell service in that holler is non-existent.

The reality is that it'll never happen. The owner of the place is reasonably connected and in effect he pretty much owns the river.

Truth be known... My interest is slowly fading away from issues on bigger rivers that the law only patrols when it benefits them exclusively.

My concern has shifted more towards aquiring legal access to many of the smaller rivers and streams.

Because I honestly don't give 1/2 a $#!t about Smallmouth that live in places where I have to risk getting hassled or arrested for fishing them.

More and more anglers are fishing....and more and more water is being placed Off Limits. To me THAT has become the greater fight to win. Easier too, since nobody has to loose sleep or miss their favorite TV show. The stroke of a pen can fix it.

[MOsmallies]

I figured you were on the same side fishinwrench. And you're right that this really is a tough, up hill battle that we are trying to fight. Unfortunately there are a lot of remote, private stretches that really can't be policed like you mentioned... At the same time this is taking place on popular, easily accessible stretches of the Meramec and Gasconade. I've seen way to many pictures from Mitch and Scott of 17"+ smallmouth with gaping gig scars in their backs from these popular stretches. We need to do whatever we can to draw the MDC's attention to these accesses at night during gigging season.

And I also agree with you about accesses becoming more and more scarce. Finding those little off the beaten path gems is harder than ever. Good luck in finding a few and protect them once you do.

[fishinwrench]

And I also agree with you about accesses becoming more and more scarce. Finding those little off the beaten path gems is harder than ever. Good luck in finding a few and protect them once you do.

You can't protect them if you can't admit to ever BEING THERE. LOL

[Bird Watcher]

I did just mean it as a joke. I don't really have a stance on gigging since I've never personally done it. I know quite a few that do. I guess as a big fan of freedom, I respect everyone's right to do what they want within the limit of the law. Most of the ones that I know that do, seem to be law abiding and always emphasize the social aspect. I know of one 3rd hand story about a guy that supposedly gigged everything 'back in the day', but he's retired from it and sold his boat.

It just seems to me like if all this pressure on the smallmouth were as bad as everyone claims, the darn things would be extinct. I think this stuff gets sensationalized, and I'll stand by for the personal antecdotes from all the people on the Meramac and Current rivers telling me I'm wrong.

As to the illegal pressure on morones, those get overharvested just as much as anything else, sometimes more I think. If they are small, everyone thinks they are a white bass and eats them. If they are average, everyone thinks they are a trophy and kills them. Either way, they don't make it back into the water very often. Does that bother me? Meh, I try to politely mention the regulations to people that I see breaking the law, but at the end of the day I can only control my own actions.

The bottom line is, the world population is increasing. There are more and more people out there living. with more and more people there is going to be more and more pressure on everything in this world. Recreational use of Missouri streams and the fish that live within are one tiny little miniscule piece of that global problem, but I understand that it's huge to those that care deeply about those streams.

So, by all means, if you can help aid law enforcement by catching people in the act of committing illegal acts, please do. It's great that you care enough to spend your time doing so.

Me? I think the changes are inevitable. We all have limited time on this Earth. If I have a free night to hit the water, I'm going fishing. I'll be looking for my next honey hole instead of hiding out in the bushes trying to catch the ding dongs that ruined my old one but to each their own and I hope you achieve the results you are seeking.

[oneshot]

Ok just checking but is Limit of Smallmouth 6, 12 inches long?

oneshot

[bfishn]

Nothing wrong with dedication to a good cause, but if you leave the impression of a hate-filled, foaming-at-the-mouth, pit bull, you're probably not doing the cause a whole lot of good. Stick to provable facts Resist temptation to stretch the truth (like calling a legal gigging season 'poaching season'). You lose credibility and potential interest. Realize that your poachers are just as likely to be driving a new Denalli as a tagless minivan.

[Flysmallie]

That depends on where you are Oneshot.

On the lower James between Galena and Hootentown they have to be 15", and then only 1 can be a smallmouth.