Bass As Live Bait Illegal Or Not?

[flyfisher]

As long as you use hook and line to catch them, obey size and possession limits (if any), it is legal to use game fish as bait in VA.

That is kind of what I thought but i know they were busting people who were using smallies for bait for big flatheads on the James.  The thing with using a gamefish with a creel limit for bait is how can you determine how many were used and if the person was over their creel limit for the day.  

[Bluebasser86]

 Bluegill and other sunfish can be used as bait in Kansas, regardless of the method of capture. 

 

http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Definitions/Bait-fish

 

Bass and Crappie can be used only if legally taken by hook and line and must be of legal size (15" for LMB in most waters). Why anyone would use a 15" bass for bait is beyond me.

 

Tom

Some of the local lakes have slot limits where bass under 12" can be kept, and therefore, used as bait. These lakes are usually over populated with bass so I have no problem using the small ones for bait. I've used them for flatheads before and they make decent bait but I still prefer sunfish, bullheads, drum, or small carp for bait.

 

I know guys who will use them on 15" lakes also, a 10lb flathead has no problems eating a 15" bass. 

[SirSnookalot]

Obeying the regulations of your state should be the paramount concern.  My own take is only to use artificial lures when I'm sport fishing for freshwater and inshore species.  I see others using bait for peacocks, snook and host of other fish, I just don't care to do that.  When it comes to bass I don't have a problem with other people using a small one for bait, relaxing the regulations wouldn't bother me.  Many of these smaller bass are probably going to be eaten by another predator anyway.

[Hyrule Bass]

these kind of threads usually kill me though. theres always a group of people who think removing one bass from a body of water is going to destroy the fishery

[F14A-B]

I simply believe there is nothing wrong with using live/ cut bait... For fishing.... Following all state and or Federal laws .. Also insuring one is also following all laws that pertain to the exact body of water you are on.... Also there are boundary laws.. Ohio river.... Kentucky and Indiana share boundary s in the river... Better understand them too... Otherwise there will be conflict. Won't matter if you're throwing artificial or bait...

[hawgenvy]

Why fish with bass? They are abundant and may be a great bait fish. Okay, it sounds funny, like roasting your poodle or something. But if you are going to use live fish, you dont want something endangered. You want something common and abundant. Like little bass. To catch tarpon. For huge bass. Big snakehead. Snook. Big catfish. Otters (just kidding). Who knows? I'd like to try some day.

[F14A-B]

Behold, to you're state laws!

[everythingthatswims]

That's an interesting question, and I guess I never considered it.

I understand that this was a hypothetical question, but..... If, in theory, you didn't have laws governing how many bass you could possess at a time, and there were no minimum size requirement (both of which instantly rule them out as bait) just what on earth would one be hoping to catch by rigging up and tossing out a largemouth?

Muskie? Pike? Flatheads? I could see them all gobbling up one or two small ones, but hardly would consider bass a primary source of forage for any of the above. Just pitching out another hypothetical since you got me thinking.

Great discussion

The fish in my avatar refused a 5" bluegill but woofed down an 8" largemouth...I have stopped using live bait for largemouth now though.

[gulfcaptain]

Big bass eat little bass. I've seen a 7+lb fish try and eat a 12" bass off a hook.  Seen a 3lb bass eat 1lb trout (think all bass in S. Cal realized trout are great food).  But go on your states fish and game website and read the rules.  Any fish listed as a gamefish in CA are illegal to fish with including all panfish so bluegill would be covered and have quite the fine to go with it although I have seen many people fish with them.  CAL-TIP does wonders when you call and turn them in, as most that do this don't have a license nor follow any laws that our sport has to cover our sport.  Think the only live baits allowed fish wise are shad caught in a dip net from the waters you're fishing only except where stated in the rules.  Do yourself a favor and read you state fish and game laws as "I didn't know" rarely will get you out of a ticket.

[Hattrick7]

Say no to live bait. It's too easy.

[hawgenvy]

Bluegill are illegal for live bait in Florida. As are LMB, of course. We can use Mayan cichlid, though. People apparently use them for tarpon.