Culling

[Phil Lilley]

Culling game fish is illegal unless you're fishing in a sanctioned bass tournament.

Anglers here on Taney have been ticketed for culling, even in tournaments (because there's no such thing as a "sanctioned" trout tournament).

I will double check with our agent in regards to crappie, whites and other fish besides bass but I know with bass and trout it is illegal to cull.  Once you've put in the livewell, it counts towards your limit.  You can release that fish after it's in the livewell but you can't replace it.

[fishinwrench]

Well "sanctioned" means to authorize or allow.   Me and my 4 buddy's are allowed to say "he who catches the most/biggest fish gets to drink beer for free all night".  Nothing illegal about that, it is authorized and allowed.  

So how, exactly, do you have a "non-sanctioned" day of fishing ?  Cuz I want one of those, it sounds sinister and right up my alley. 

Who's up for some Non-Sanctioned Fishing ?!!!!

[Chief Grey Bear]

Gott'em by the balls again. 

[Jerry Rapp]

I guess you could ban all livewells. More storage for whopper poopers, $15 cranks, zed rigs, more room for additional colors of plastics and types.  If you want to keep a limit of any fish, they must be placed in a cooler with ice immediately after being caught by legal means.  That will keep them fresh until cleaned.  Tournaments could still be held, either via weigh them, record them and immediately release them or weigh in iced down fish.  It amazes me that common sense is melting away year after year. 

[BilletHead]

   A friend of mine has fished Canada (Ontario) last two years. If you keep a fish it must be killed immediately. There could be your answer but I want the option of turning loose at the end of my fishing trip if I don't have enough to clean ( happens to me all the time ).

   BilletHead

[MOPanfisher]

That is pretty much what I do in warm weather, a cooler with ice.  Otherwise I don't have a live well, I have a death well.  I don't do tournaments so if I start keeping them generally it isn't gonna end well for the fish.  I have no problem going fishing for crappie, white bass or what ever with no intent of keeping rhem, happily catching and returning.  Yes it is illegal to cull, certain times and types get abused more, crappie and white bass to be specific.

[J.M.]

    Why should the tournament boys get to cull and the everyday Joe not? I don't thank anyone should be allowed to cull but it should be the same for everyone. It is insane to thank you can take a bass off the nest haul it around all day take to the weigh in and thank you havn't done damage to the fish population. 

[Walcrabass]

J.M.,

  Thank you for those remarks. Good thinking on your part. But here again we are dealing with MONEY in Bass Tournaments !!!! When the tournament boys speak, unfortunately they are listened to................. like not lowering the length limit on the Kentuckies................. they are severely against it................. after all they might catch some to finish out their "culled limit" and win some Money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walcrabass

Sad isn't it........................

[luckycraft]

I wish I had that problem....

[bassnut]

Here is about the clearest explanation about culling I could find. This was written by a Missouri fishery biologist. Keep in mind the following: the no culling rule is in effect only during July and august, and the state wide daily limit is 6 bass but most bass tournaments that weigh fish have a 5 or less bass limit. 

Google.    WWW mobass.com/no cull rule        to read this article