People Keeping Every Fish They Catch

[cpm032987]

I have only been bass fishing for a little under a year.  I have noticed a lot of times when I fish, people catching any size fish and throwing them into a bucket and continuing to fish.  I have literally seen guys walking from a pond with a few fish in their hands and going to their cars.  I get upset seeing people do this and keeping fish that are not the appropriate size.  I, myself don't eat fish and my girlfriend is a vegetarian, so we only catch and release.  I know that some people will eat anything they catch, is it wrong for me to say something  to these people who are keeping fish they shouldn't?  Or is it best to not confront others while fishing?

[F14A-B]

I do not believe it is wise to approach some one on fish that may or may not be legal... Let the professional agency's do that. Now that being said.... There is nothing wrong with fisherman keeping their legal catch for a fishfry... It's still a safer food than most grocery stores carry.

[WRB]

If the anglers you observe are fishing illegally report them, do not confront them.

Catch and release can impact small fisheries by over populating the ecosystem, fish are prolific breeder and removing smaller fish can help the overall fishery.

Tom

[dam0007]

I have a local lake that used to have tons of bass crappie and Sunnys. Over the years I've seen people literally fill a bucket with fish and after they die dump em back in. I totally feel where your coming from. I've given em my 2 cents.

*edit, in CT there's less than 5 wardens that cover the entire state, and unless there's a immediate threat to the environment they don't come out.

[Darren.]

Agree that you should inform the authorities if what they're doing is illegal. Never know what kind of person/people you're dealing with. There are crazies out there!

[papajoe222]

Got a cell phone with a camera?  Take pics of them, undersize fish, and license plate of their car and send to your state or county DNR office.

 

Our state has a limit of 25 panfish per angler per day. On the big lakes, that kind of harvesting isn't anywhere near as devistating to the overall fish population as it is to smaller lakes or ponds.  It's kind of like bed fishing for bass.  It's legal, but I'd never catch and keep a bass off a bed. 

 

A short story that this relates to:  The first time I went fishing with a neighbor and his father the first fish I caught was a 12in bass. After unhooking it, I gently released it to the outcries of his father. Injecting color into his comment, he informed me that any fish caught was to be kept.  I promptly bent down the barbs on my hooks and didn't boat another fish that day. A month later his family was on the same lake I was fishing and I witnessed him keeping undersized fish.  At the dock, I informed our local game warden and upon his return to the dock he was found with four undersize bass in his lunch bag.  He knew the warden was at the lake that day! They confiscated his gear and his boat and he was fined and lost his fishing priveleges for the year.  He got his boat and gear back and was arrested by the county cops three weeks later on the same lake for violation of that suspension.  He no longer has a boat and refuses to go fishing with his sons.  He blames the state for unfair regulations.

[jbsoonerfan]

I can't tell by your first post if any law is being broke. Are the fish under the length limit? Are they keeping too many? If no laws are being broken, then you should mind your own business. Believe it or not, some people do enjoy fishing and eating what they catch. Not everyone only fishes for sport.

[Bluebasser86]

If they're keeping fish that are too small or over their limit, report them. If not there's nothing you can do about it. Don't confront them yourself if they are breaking the law though, that ends badly for you 100% of the time. 

[Missourifishin]

I have only been bass fishing for a little under a year.  I have noticed a lot of times when I fish, people catching any size fish and throwing them into a bucket and continuing to fish.  I have literally seen guys walking from a pond with a few fish in their hands and going to their cars.  I get upset seeing people do this and keeping fish that are not the appropriate size.  I, myself don't eat fish and my girlfriend is a vegetarian, so we only catch and release.  I know that some people will eat anything they catch, is it wrong for me to say something  to these people who are keeping fish they shouldn't?  Or is it best to not confront others while fishing?

Are you sure they're breaking the law? People where I fish load up their buckets with small bluegill and crappie all the time, but it's perfectly legal here as long as they don't go over their limit, which I know is 30 when it comes to crappie.

[Lund Explorer]

I wish I had a dollar for every person who has had their life ruined by a bucket fisherman.

[SirSnookalot]

It annoys a bit when I see people keeping a lot of fish, I supposed everyone has a different requirement on what their need is.  Bucket fisherman don't bother me, except being in my way sometimes, they don't fish for the kind of fish I do.  When the fishing is slow for me I may try and catch a few for them.

Confrontations don't pay

[Grant Schuen]

i would definitely say something, maybe just mention that its not legal and it is hurting the fishing. i don't really keep game fish, i maybe keep one every once in a while for a dinner. i always throw the fish of perfect spawning size back and keep the big ones. this excludes panfish because of their larger populations, and walleye because the 15 in-18 in fish taste so good! (I also only keep keeper sized fish of course.)

[Bankbeater]

Around here, If the body of water is managed by the state there is usually a sign around the parking lot, or boat ramp, that says what size fish you can take, and your daily limit. 

[geo g]

Except for a small segment of the fishing community, I don't see alot of people keeping fish these days in South Florida.  The mercury levels of bass down here are so high that the word has finally gotten out to the masses, and people are now catch and release for the most part.  Here in South Florida if you want to catch good food, you always have salt or brackish water to catch some tasty treats from the ocean or bay.  Something that tastes alot better then a bass.

[Catch and Grease]

When I fish with my grandfather ( he is in his 80's) he likes to keep every bass he catchs as long as they are in legal limits, he was just raised that way because back in the day there was no catch and release lol when I fish with him we just keep the bass because it makes him happy but when I'm alone I practice catch and release with the occasional bass kept for dinner.

Edit: haha this looks kinda silly considering my username is catch and grease

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I wish I had a dollar for every person who has had their life ruined by a bucket fisherman.

 

If that were your only source of income, you'd probably have to fish for dinner.

[Violinguy]

i would definitely say something, maybe just mention that its not legal and it is hurting the fishing. i don't really keep game fish, i maybe keep one every once in a while for a dinner. i always throw the fish of perfect spawning size back and keep the big ones. this excludes panfish because of their larger populations, and walleye because the 15 in-18 in fish taste so good! (I also only keep keeper sized fish of course.)

 

As much as you might want to, this is bound to lead to a confrontation that you don't want to be a part of.  Sooner or later, you will run into a total nutjob and could get hurt or worse.  Here in the south, more people carry guns than not.  In GA, where I have lived for 2 years, I have seen many people just walking around wally world or Academy sports packing.  Nothing wrong with it, especially since it is within the law, but when you add a firearm into a situation where you are confronting a fisherman who is fishing illegally (allegedly), bad things will happen.

 

People fishing outside the regulations/laws need to be reported for sure.  Confronting them, no matter how much of a badazz you think you might be is never a good idea.

 

Obviously, no offense intended.  Safety is always the #1 concern with me.  Just like when I'm driving.  I don't worry about me. I worry about the other guy.

[David D.]

My favorite local pond has a lot of people who fish it without a license and then keep every single fish that they catch.... It frustrates the heck out of me. Usually they are only catching small panfish, but occasionally catfish are caught and whenever a bass angler catches a fish the poachers will harass him (or her) trying to get the fish. The other day I was out there and caught a bass that weighed about 3 lbs off of her bed. For our small pond, that is a really good fish. The whole time that I was bringing the fish in and removing the hook I had 5 people yelling/begging/harassing me to give up the fish. I completely ignored them while I released the fish thinking it woul make them stop.... Nope.

I continued to get an earful when I got back to my spot about how I waste a fish and how I was a stupid and selfish person. I told them why you are supposed to release bedding fish and that it was spawning season to try to educate them a little but I'm pretty sure it all went in one ear and out the other. They continued their rant and I finally snapped and told them that I would be reporting each of them to the TPWD office which is a 10 minute drive from the pond.

Some people just have no respect and won't learn... Thankfully there are also some really good people out at that pond to keep me sane... For the most part

[cpm032987]

I understand that a lot of people I see fishing actually fish to put food on the table. But when people take fish that aren't legal and show no respect for the area they fish it makes me even more mad. I took my girlfriend out fishing we me at a local pond that gets fished by a lot of people. The first thing she says to me is "this place is gross" . People leaving food wrappers, beer bottles, and shot gun shells all around definitely doesn't make her want to fish any more. Then on top of litter all over, watching people take fish they shouldn't is just infuriating. Maybe I should just not worry about it and go about my business but when I'm out trying to enjoy myself and have to step over Budweiser cans to throw out my line, it just doesn't settle well.

[Hyrule Bass]

my question here has to do with the location youre fishing. you said pond in the OP. is it a private pond? if so then i doubt its regulated by any size or length limits.

[F14A-B]

What I don't get? ..... How do you surmise,...to know, that these Alleged people have no license?

Also.... That the catch is illegal ?

The illegal ( alleged) catch.. Maybe easier to validate... But the no (alleged) license part... I really don't understand.

[Catch and Grease]

What's the point in freshwater fishing license anyways... its just a way for them to make a little extra money in my opinion. they get 5 dollars for you buying it and If they catch you without it they can give you a juicy fine. If anyone disagrees please tell me why i'd like to hear others opinions.

[Violinguy]

What's the point in freshwater fishing license anyways... its just a way for them to make a little extra money in my opinion. they get 5 dollars for you buying it and If they catch you without it they can give you a juicy fine. If anyone disagrees please tell me why i'd like to hear others opinions.

 

OK, I'll bite.  License fees are used for many things like maintaining public fishing areas, state and county parks/boat ramps, enforcement personnel, and overall improvement of the state's fishery.  IMHO, if you want to take advantage of public fishing areas, park ponds, and other non-private fishing spots, you should suck it up and spend $16 (Georgia) every 2 years.  If you are only fishing in your back yard, then do whatever you like.

[Catch and Grease]

Yeah IMO the only reason for them is to have money to fund certain things, not saying I disagree with them or anything...

[Lund Explorer]

If that were your only source of income, you'd probably have to fish for dinner.

 

Couldn't make a living from it, but could easily afford a quality six pack of adult beverages on a fairly regular basis.

 

The people who could make a living from their special talents are all those who know everyone else is catching and keeping over limits of under sized fish all the while not having a fishing license.  If I remember correctly, several have even made the point that these dreadful violators are also in this country illegally.  These folks really need to get a job with their state's conservation office (or perhaps the US Border Patrol) so that they alone can save the resource from something never seen before in history, like before catch and release!  How in the world our fisheries even had anything left swimming in them before they came along to advocate throwing every fish back is beyond me. 

 

Perhaps these stewards of the environment can list all of the fresh water fish that have become extinct due to over fishing by sport anglers.