Conservation Officials Decide Against Catfish Regulation Changes

[Phil Lilley]

Anglers spoke decisively, and the Conservation Department listened.

JEFFERSON CITY-Responding to an overwhelming majority of anglers’ preference, the Missouri Department of Conservation has decided not to test special restrictions on catfishing in central Missouri. The agency held four public meetings in July and August to gauge anglers’ attitudes toward a possible trial of more restrictive flathead and blue catfish regulations.

“We often find that public opinion is very closely divided on questions like this,” said Conservation Department Assistant Director Dave Erickson. “That was not the case this time. Eight out of 10 anglers who commented on the proposed regulations said they did not want the change.”

Erickson said the response was in contrast to the results of a catfish angler survey the Conservation Department conducted in 2002. In that statewide survey, 55 percent of Missouri River catfish anglers who responded expressed support for some form of harvest restrictions on flathead and blue catfish if it increased their chances of catching a trophy-sized catfish.

The agency was considering restrictions on an 82-mile reach of the Missouri River from Glasgow to Jefferson City and part of the Lamine and lower Blackwater rivers. The changes were designed to increase the number of large flathead and blue catfish.

A mail-in survey form was included in brochures handed out to people who attended meetings in Boonville, Columbia, Glasgow and Marshall. The brochures explained several regulations options that were being considered. The options would have restricted harvest with reduced daily limits, minimum length limits or slot length limits.

“Many anglers have told us in past surveys that they would like to have a greater chance of catching big catfish,” said Erickson. “The strategies we presented were aimed at meeting that demand. However, the majority of anglers in the area where we wanted to test those strategies didn’t like the idea.”

Erickson said the Conservation Department will continue studying catfish and the availability of Big River forage in the next couple years, and may come back to anglers with other approaches to catfish management in the future.

The Conservation Department is seeking anglers and business people to join a catfish-management stakeholder group. The group will meet to discuss catfish management with Conservation Department biologists. For more information about this advisory group or to ask questions or submit comments about catfish management, contact Resource Scientist Kevin Sullivan, P.O. Box 368, Clinton, MO 64735, phone (660) 885-6981, e-mail Kevin.Sullivan@mdc.mo.gov.

-Jim Low-

http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/news/news_search...198259547,71941,

[Seth]

I was hoping that it would pass. There are so many big catfish that are caught and kept each year it hurts. Why somebody doesn't just keep a bunch of cats under 10lbs instead of the hogs is beyond me. The smaller ones taste better to me anyhow.

All well, I guess you have to give the people what they want.

[gonefishin]

I am glad it didn't pass. To many of these types of things have passed that were not really well thought out. I don't have a problem with managing some areas for bigger fish but it should be a well thought out plan rather than just a thrown together plan. For example the trout plan....charge, charge, charge more bucks to fish then then add insult to injury by lowering the limits because there isn't enough hatchery time to support the fishing pressure but there is enough hatchery time to sell trout. Seems to me that to many times the 'plans' have nothing to do with conservation and everything to do with grabbing more tax money.

JMHO

[Trav]

I hear ya

I just want channel cats in Lower Taney. Probably wont happen though because of the precious Trout money.

[Seth]

The area that they wanted to try this out is loaded to the brim with eating size catfish under 10 pounds. It takes a long time to grow a big 50 pound plus catfish and I hate seeing them taken from the waters when you could easily catch small ones for the fryer. The truman tailrace is the same way, there are way too many big catfish pulled out of there and before long everybody will be crying that they can only catch dinks.

[Tightline]

I'm with you Seth,keep the little ones and throw back those big ones,especially the sows.

GF its good to see you on here,its been awhile hasn't it.

[gonefishin]

I agree Seth. I wouldn't mind seeing some regs put in place that would allow cats to grow larger. I have little interest in regs designed for nothing more than to increase the size of the general fund.

[Trav]

Regulations mean nothing if not enforced.

[Seth]

I'm with you Seth,keep the little ones and throw back those big ones,especially the sows.

GF its good to see you on here,its been awhile hasn't it.

I agree with you also. There's not much anymore that doesn't involve money into the mix.

[gonefishin]

It has been a while. I been hiding out. heh heh Actually the wife surprised me by decided she wanted to split so I have been busy with everything but fishing and chatting on here.