12INCH LIMIT ON SPOTTED BASS

[Johnsfolly]

Looking at that photo the mouth is too small for the size of the fish and the jaw line does not appear to extend beyond the eye. Though it does not have the spotting common to spotted bass it looks more like a spot than a largemouth.

[dan hufferd]

Stockton Lake’s 12-inch spotted bass minimum length limit is not included in the 2019 Wildlife Code of Missouri or in MDC’s “2019 Missouri Fishing Regulations” summary booklet because the regulation had not been approved by deadline for these publications. It was approved at the February Conservation Commission meeting. The multi-step process through which a proposal becomes a regulation is explained on MDC’s public website at:

Whatever this means ?

[Dutch]

So are you guys going to keep KYs now?  I haven't eaten one in at least 20 years.  I don't remember what they taste like.  At least they don't smell like bull frogs as do the green fish.

[moguy1973]

4 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

Looking at that photo the mouth is too small for the size of the fish and the jaw line does not appear to extend beyond the eye. Though it does not have the spotting common to spotted bass it looks more like a spot than a largemouth.

I agree.  Look at the dorsal fins.  Spotted bass have connected dorsal fins as this one in the picture does.  Largemouth typically have  separated dorsal fins

[Lvn2Fish]

I’m still sticking with largemouth , just the fact of how slender it is . Plus it doesn’t have a single marking to indicate spot to me 

[Lvn2Fish]

3 minutes ago, Lvn2Fish said:

I’m still sticking with largemouth , just the fact of how slender it is . Plus it doesn’t have a single marking to indicate spot to me 

Compared to MDC 

[Dutch]

So if that is the best they can do for a pic it is no wonder that their reasoning for keeping it 15" for so long was that they did not think that the general public would know the difference in a spot and a lmb.  Same reasoning for the white, hybrid, and striper 20" deal.

[Lvn2Fish]

32 minutes ago, Dutch said:

So if that is the best they can do for a pic it is no wonder that their reasoning for keeping it 15" for so long was that they did not think that the general public would know the difference in a spot and a lmb.  Same reasoning for the white, hybrid, and striper 20" deal.

Exactly 

[straw hat]

This is straight from the official Missouri State Regulations maintained by the Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City.

3 CSR 10-6.505 Black Bass

Section (4)(2)(b)(1)

1. All black bass less than fifteen inches

(15") in total length must be returned to the

water unharmed immediately after being

caught from Blue Springs Lake, Long Branch

Lake, Longview Lake, Mark Twain Lake,

Smithville Lake, Stockton Lake, Table Rock

Lake, or Thomas Hill Lake.

 

During my call to the office they said they were not aware of any changes to the regulation nor are there any plans to change it.

Don't you love how our government works?

[Mhyde]

that has been my issue with this ever since they starting surveying anglers at the boat ramps. I don't think the general public can tell the differences. may be a record year for tickets handed out at the ramps when folks have 5 LM in the live well at the end of he day and they get checked.