denjac Posted June 28, 2007 Posted June 28, 2007 Bass anglers reminded of culling rule From July 1 through Aug. 31, no angler in Missouri may release bass after putting them in a live well. JEFFERSON CITY-If you think summer is uncomfortable for you, put yourself in a fish's place. Your home heats up, oxygen gets scarce, and there is no air (or water) conditioning or fans to turn on. That is why Missouri fishing regulations prohibit anglers from "culling" during July and August. Culling is the practice of releasing one fish that was caught previously so you can keep a larger one. When anglers put the last fish of their daily limit in a live well, they no longer can keep any fish of that species that day. However, under certain conditions, anglers fishing in tournaments can continue to fish if they stop one fish short of a limit and release a living fish from their live well before replacing it with a fish they just caught. This allows them to "trade up," replacing one fish with a larger one. Tournament bass anglers may cull live bass from September through June. July and August are the months the no culling rule applies. The rule is meant to reduce the number of tournament-caught bass that are subject to higher mortality during the hot summer months. The rule also heightens tournament anglers' awareness of the factors that influence fish mortality. Missouri's limit on black bass is six per day. This includes any bass that are not released immediately, whether they are in live wells for one minute or for eight hours. Once you placed a sixth bass in your live well you may not replace any of the bass with another. However, if you are fishing in a tournament in which the limit is five bass, and you have five bass in the live well, you can replace one fish, one time. If a bass dies in your live well it cannot be replaced with a live one, any time. If you have caught your sixth legal bass and have placed all six fish in your live well for any length of time, you can continue fishing but you must release any bass caught immediately, regardless of size. Fisheries Field Operations Supervisor Kevin Richards said some anglers - and even some tournament officials - are not as familiar with the culling rule as they should be. They can find detailed information about culling and catch-and-release fishing techniques at www.mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2006/05/40.htm. "Let's think about why Missouri has a no-culling rule in the summer and see if there are ways we can use new tournament formats to increase survival of bass during the hot water months," said Richards. -Jim Low- Dennis Boothe Joplin Mo. For a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." ~ Winston Churchill ~
gonefishin Posted June 28, 2007 Posted June 28, 2007 I thought culling was illegal year round? I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
vonreed Posted June 28, 2007 Posted June 28, 2007 I bet all these tournament fishers kill more fish by culling and releasing their catch after the weigh in than the average people keep to eat in a year. Yet they are the ones preaching at the "meat hogs" to not keep a one.
skeeter Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 I bet all these tournament fishers kill more fish by culling and releasing their catch after the weigh in than the average people keep to eat in a year. Yet they are the ones preaching at the "meat hogs" to not keep a one. The "meat hogs" referred to in other posts are those that illegally keep short fish and those that keep more than the limit, either in the livewell, on a stringer, in a fish basket or, to stock up their freezer. I'm sure everyone is aware of not just the daily limits but the limits MDC puts on numbers of fish in your possession ? Personally I still say carefully release the bass and eat the panfish, they taste better for sure and catching big'uns can be a challenge. Thanks for posting the reminder about culling denjac, probably ought to extend that time period down here in the Southern part of the State until the end of September. Getting real tired of seeing dead bass after tournaments. You can't carry enough ice in a boat to keep livewell fish cool in the Summer, day or night.
Steve Smith Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 Amen Skeeter ___________________________ AKA Flysmith - Cassville MO
Pour Dennis Posted June 30, 2007 Posted June 30, 2007 Vonreed, I would suggest you check with the tournament orgs before you start pointing the finger at tournament anglers. I have fished tournaments for several years and have only had two maybe three fish die in my livewell due to the fish swallowing the hook.
gonefishin Posted June 30, 2007 Posted June 30, 2007 Vonreed is right on the money IMO. Fish cant be stressed like that and not have a high mortality rate. Just because they swim away doesn't mean they don't die a little later. I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
J.E. Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 I bet all these tournament fishers kill more fish by culling and releasing their catch after the weigh in than the average people keep to eat in a year. Yet they are the ones preaching at the "meat hogs" to not keep a one. Vonreed, Your post sounds a little angry? I will agree that some people who fish tournaments simply are stupid about how to take care of fish in their livewells. I for one have oxygenators in my livewells in addition to catch and release chemicals and place ice in the wells through out the day when fishing hot summers however....... The people who catch fish and release or eat them withoug knowing how to care for the fish kill many, many more that real tournament anglers or associations. Do you know how to relieve a bass's stress due to temperature and depth changes? Do you know what the min/max oxygen levels are for a bass's survivability? Do you know how to fizz a fish? Do you know the prime ph level for a bass's comfort and survivability? Do you know how to remove a deep hook with minimum injury to a bass? Most real tournament anglers do and work hard to care for the fish we all love. I have found many a floater around ramps from weekend fishermen deep hooking or deciding not to clean their catch after a long day. I've watched many a trout float up due to deep hooks released by "meat fishermen" who thought they were to small to put in their livewell We may be tournament fishermen but most of all we are people who make the maximum effort to conserve this resource. Thanks for the opportunity. Vonreed is right on the money IMO. Fish cant be stressed like that and not have a high mortality rate. Just because they swim away doesn't mean they don't die a little later. Gonefishin, All I can say to you is go work a release boat, learn what is done, the money spent, the focus and efforts of the people (and I have done so) who work to sustain this resource. Then we'll see if your opinion is the same. Thanks again.
gonefishin Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 Gonefishin, All I can say to you is go work a release boat, learn what is done, the money spent, the focus and efforts of the people (and I have done so) who work to sustain this resource. Then we'll see if your opinion is the same. Thanks again. Wouldn't bother me to work a release boat but, I don't have to. I can go out on any lake a day or two after a tournament, boat around for a while, and see the floaters. I am not kicking tournament fishermen. I just don't care for the attitude some have. They close their eyes to the fact that they kill some fish but then complain because someone keeps a fish now and then to eat. Seems kind of sanctimonious to me. I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
vonreed Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 I'm not going to get myself drawn into an argument like soo many on here like to do. I'm not on here to do that. I'm on here to get along with everyone and also report and look at reports. I'm not angry or bitter towards someone who keeps "some" fish to eat or some who want to make a competition out of fishing. I wouldn't mind doing it myself if I was talented enough to compete like some of you. I was just stating my opinion that someone from Kansas or wherever probably kills no more fish on their vacation than someone who is out there everyday fishing. If they were short fish that's one thing, but if they're keeping a couple or their limit to enjoy then I don't see the problem. Other than that it bugs the tournament fishermen or someone who makes a living off of fishing. Once again if they had short fish or had twice their limit I say sink their boat and make em swim. It aggravates me as well to see people break regulations. Oh and J.E. I'm not angry, lol.
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