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Post by rcbbracing on Dec 2, 2011 21:29:25 GMT -5
I for one am a firm believer in CPR as I'm sure most of you are...I can't believe how many people are dumbfounded by the release of larger fish...they just don't understand that trophy fish arent an expendable resource...if ya try to discuss the passing on of genes from larger fish to their fry people think you are crazy...anybody ever made an progress on explaining the importance of CPR to people outside the diehard catfishing world? How?
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chuckd67
Member
Trophy Catfish Sportsman
Posts: 266
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Post by chuckd67 on Dec 2, 2011 21:50:30 GMT -5
I caught a 55lb flathead on 20 lb test with Ugly Stick Catfish and ABU5600. Thats a Trophy for that lb test. I proudly released her. It takes special people to do the right thing. The Spoon Bills were very abundant in the Tennessee when I was a kid. They would run together at times like dolphins. I don't even know if they are even in there anymore. I would hate to just step back and watch catfish become the same way. We had a bacterial infection kill thousands of Blues on the Tennessee because of the hot water. Here is the paper article from the page. www.al.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/bacteria-blamed-for-alabama-catfish-deaths/1db1f12e0fac43f7b64396ce2861dbeer We don't need to abuse to privalege we enjoy and alot of people are not educated on the effects of over fishing. Mother nature can help out at anytime. |
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Post by rcbbracing on Dec 2, 2011 22:33:28 GMT -5
Forget the fact it was on 20lb line no matter how amazing... a 55lb flat is a trophy in anyone's book even on 100lb line...anyone have any ideas on how we can get the word out? Or is it a lost cause because 98% of people just don't care about catfish? We had a park ranger at salt fork tell us one time not to get too upset about illegal limblines because "they are just catfish" unfortunately I think this is the mindset of Most people...
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Post by bobbybobber on Dec 2, 2011 22:34:58 GMT -5
I for one am a firm believer in CPR as I'm sure most of you are...I can't believe how many people are dumbfounded by the release of larger fish...they just don't understand that trophy fish arent an expendable resource...if ya try to discuss the passing on of genes from larger fish to their fry people think you are crazy...anybody ever made an progress on explaining the importance of CPR to people outside the diehard catfishing world? How? i get asked what i do with all the fish i catch,i tell them i turn them by,they say why,i reply with would you eat something thats been swim in a sewer for 20 year,works pretty good so far |
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Post by Smoothkip on Dec 2, 2011 22:51:49 GMT -5
I've explained my reasoning numerous times to people. Some will never get it but believe me, take a few moments to tell them the negative impacts just so the know. Actually a lot of the people I do explain it to get it after I explain. The number one thing I try to do is state facts and don't get angry. People are honestly catching on I think. There is numerous fisheries thriving now due to CPR
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chuckd67
Member
Trophy Catfish Sportsman
Posts: 266
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Post by chuckd67 on Dec 2, 2011 23:02:12 GMT -5
Each state needs step up and declare them game fish. Set better limits and earn that fishing licence money I give them every year
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Post by rcbbracing on Dec 2, 2011 23:25:30 GMT -5
I wasn't aware they weren't already game fish in every state...unless they are invasive species there anyway...I know they are considered game fish in Ohio...I totally agree with you on better limits...I mean seriously Ohio's limit is one 36" fish a night if I'm not mistaken...if everyone is taking just one 36" flathead a week it'd hurt the population let alone per night...
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Post by Smoothkip on Dec 2, 2011 23:31:18 GMT -5
Instead of one flathead over 35'' I'd like to see a slot limit. Like only one between 25 to 30 in. Anything over is released and also a creel limit of only a few fish per person. I think that even though I don't keep any that would be a lot better.
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Post by rcbbracing on Dec 2, 2011 23:39:02 GMT -5
Completely agree with ya Kip! If every fish over 30" was released we could theoretically someday be back to the days when the Mississippi held some real monsters! Ever see those pictures of flatheads netted on the Mississippi back in the 1800's ? They appear to be a good 300+lbs...fish like that just don't exist anymore...maybe thanks to the over netting back in the day...maybe fishing pressure isn't hurting as much as we assume? Maybe the population just hasn't bounced back from the damage inflicted years ago?
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Post by Smoothkip on Dec 2, 2011 23:50:48 GMT -5
The commercial fishing, limbliners, juggers, and the paylake owners is leading to the low numbers. I truly believe that!
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Post by rcbbracing on Dec 2, 2011 23:58:42 GMT -5
Shame there isn't an effective way to limbline or jug other species...if you had the bass guys backing it I guarentee limbing and jugging wouldn't be around much longer...
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catace
Member
Everyone Lives and Everyone Dies But Not Everyone Has Lived
Posts: 157
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Post by catace on Dec 3, 2011 13:21:30 GMT -5
I wasn't aware they weren't already game fish in every state...unless they are invasive species there anyway...I know they are considered game fish in Ohio...I totally agree with you on better limits...I mean seriously Ohio's limit is one 36" fish a night if I'm not mistaken...if everyone is taking just one 36" flathead a week it'd hurt the population let alone per night...  Your neighboring state over here in Pa they are considered pan fish. If anyone wanted to they could keep 50 Flats/Channels/ Pan fish combined with a no maximum or minimum size per day.On that note Moraine State Park is ranked in the top 20 in the country for the best chance of catching a 20lb+ channel. Even with this great channel cat lake everyone fishes for Large mouth Bass which is the best lake in Pa for 5lb+ fish and at night its all about the Stripes. I fish this lake all year if I see 1-2 other people just fishing for cats in a night that's allot. They just don't get the recognition they deserve over here. |
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Post by Smoothkip on Dec 4, 2011 0:58:18 GMT -5
That's a shame Steve! Sounds like you got a great fishery over there! How far are you from the Ohio border?
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chuckd67
Member
Trophy Catfish Sportsman
Posts: 266
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Post by chuckd67 on Dec 4, 2011 10:08:05 GMT -5
Catfish…………… It is illegal to possess more than one (1) catfish over 34 inches in total length taken from Alabama public waters. This size limit shall not apply for harvest of blue catfish and flathead catfish from river basins where blue catfish and flathead catfish are not native. These river basins include the Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee rivers. No blue catfish or flathead catfish over 34 inches in total length may be transported live beyond the boundaries of this state unless permitted in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. (There is no limit on smaller catfish taken by legal methods.)
Alot of Pros don't like the 34" rules for tournaments but the pay lake guys was wiping us out and our lakes took a toll. I wish their was a creel limit on smaller ones. Alabama DCNR says small one are plentiful. I just wish they would put a stop to the alternative methods and make them game fish,
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Post by Smoothkip on Dec 4, 2011 16:43:10 GMT -5
In a perfect world it would be nice to allow touneys to keep 5 fish whatever size as long as they were released. Everyone likes seeing huge limits. But I guess you can't have everything. A lot of the tourneys do a great job handling the fish and releasing them. I believe the big tourneys help the sport by promoting the big fish and catch and release.
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Your neighboring state over here in Pa they are considered pan fish. If anyone wanted to they could keep 50 Flats/Channels/ Pan fish combined with a no maximum or minimum size per day.On that note Moraine State Park is ranked in the top 20 in the country for the best chance of catching a 20lb+ channel. Even with this great channel cat lake everyone fishes for Large mouth Bass which is the best lake in Pa for 5lb+ fish and at night its all about the Stripes. I fish this lake all year if I see 1-2 other people just fishing for cats in a night that's allot. They just don't get the recognition they deserve over here.