Ya' know, I'm sure we had this exact same kind of thread a while back, and what's funny, if I remember correctly, it had the same kind of tone in the OP, and then had the same kinds of initial responses.... at which point, I said the same things I stand behind now....
First off, I think their might be more bucket fishermen and, more of them that actually catch fish, in the Southern US. I spent 3 years in Louisiana, and compared to Nor Cal, this is just what I saw, first hand.
That said, on the fairly rare occasion I see a "bucket fisherman" up here in Nor Cal, they have almost never caught squat, to begin with ! They'd have to fish for a 10 years, to fill that 5 gal bucket LOL
Oh sure, their will be exceptions.
Heck, I used to be a bucket fishermen > which is to say, I carried all my tackle, bait, etc, in a 5 gal bucket, while I walked "miles" of shoreline. Use to whack em' too. Released all of them.
However, you just will not catch any number of fish, in the lakes up here in Nor Cal, sitting on the shore, in any one spot.
Bottom line > Most of these so-called bucket fishermen have pretty much zero effect, on anything I am fishing for.
Peace,
Fish
PS, Reading back over the responses, Marty your right that "small ponds" could be effected.... but the question would be, how small ? I mean, obviously if you can cast all the way across it.... or your cane pole reaches to the center LOL
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Edit: Around these parts, the people you have most to blame for hurting fish populations is not bucket fishermen.... It's the straight up, professional poachers ! These guys are high tech ! They don't sit in one spot, on the shore, like a goof ball.... they get out on boat, and use every technique, legal or otherwise, to catch as many fish > over the limit, as is humanly possible, and keep every last one of them !
I'm SURE these idiots hurt my fishing