To kill or not to kill—bowfin

[WDE]

I posted this catch FB, and have been encouraged to kill any further bowfin I catch. This was caught in a shallow pond—max depth 5 feet, maybe an acre or 2. No pressure, healthy bass population. Having no previous knowledge of bowfin, I let it go. 

 

What do do you guys say? Should I have killed it, or was letting it go the right choice?

 

 

[CroakHunter]

No need to kill it. They fight hard and are fun to catch. They live forever out of water Too. Maybe people thought it was a snakehead which I think are an invasive species. I don't believe bowfin are invasive but could be wrong. The only fish we kill and don't eat are Asian carp

[Tracker22]

I’ve caught them on occasion in my favorite small lake. They don’t seem to over populate and they don’t affect the quality of fish in the lake because there’s plenty of biggens.

[Angry John]

They are natural in north america and should be left as they were found.  Snake heads are invasive and in some states are required by law to be killed.

[flyfisher]

No state has a law to kill a snakehead.  What the laws around here at least state is that if you have any snakehead in your possession then they have to be dead, not that you have to kill any you catch.

That aside, bowfin are an incredible fish and there is no need to kill them.  They have been around for a long long time and i have yet to see any studies or anecdotal evidence on my part that indicates a healthy bowfin population impacts bass population.  

 

Don't kill them, that is just ignorance from others speaking.

[Angry John]

http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/SNAKEHEADS.pdf

Indiana requires you kill them. Boom facts...

http://www.eregulations.com/indiana/fishing/fishing-regulations/

Species Illegal to Possess

The following fish and mussels are illegal to possess: Asiatic clam, bighead carp, black carp, silver carp, quagga mussel, round goby, rudd, ruffe, snakehead (of the family Channidae), stone moroko, tubenose goby, walking catfish (of the family Clariidae), Wels catfish, white perch (not freshwater drum), zander, and zebra mussel.

If any of these species are taken into possession, they must be killed immediately by either removing their head, removing gills from at least one side of the fish, or gutted. Your cooperation is essential.

 

Do i want to argue possession, nope But i dont want to be standing there with one in my hand thats not dead.

[flyfisher]

Boom learn how to read AND comprehend.

those rules are exactly what i said they are, they do not require you to kill any snakehead that is caught.  they require you to kill any snakehead that is in your possession.  Landing a fish is not possession any more than catching a fish that is out of season is possession.  

[Angry John]

43 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Boom learn how to read AND comprehend.

those rules are exactly what i said they are, they do not require you to kill any snakehead that is caught.  they require you to kill any snakehead that is in your possession.  Landing a fish is not possession any more than catching a fish that is out of season is possession.  

Did you read both???

 

Preventing the introduction of snakeheads into Indiana is the main management objective. There are a few things that you can do to help prevent introducing snakeheads and other invasive fish species. 9Learn how to correctly identify snakeheads and other invasive species. 9Do not release aquarium fish into the wild. 9If you have a snakehead in an aquarium, it must be euthanized. IT IS THE LAW! 9Kill all snakeheads caught, do not release them alive. 9Immediately report the sighting of snakeheads to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife and freeze fish for identity verification. (317) 232-4080 dkeller@dnr.IN.gov 402 W. Washington St., Rm W273 Indianapolis, IN 46204

[Gundog]

 I'd kill one if I caught it. Those fish, in numbers, can do lots of damage to a fishery. And the fact that they are predators means they don't have many ways of naturally limiting their numbers.

[Bluebasser86]

Bowfin and bass coexist in lots of bodies of water without issues. Killing one without the intent to eat it could be considered wanton waste.

[riverbasser]

We call em mudfish or black fish and I only kill them by accident trying to get my lures back, those things are prestoric. Crazy fighters too, only fish I've ever caught do the death roll like a gator.

 

I've fished with several guys in tourneys that break their jaw before releasing(basically killing them) for what they believe is an act of conservation. I just wish they tasted good.

[TnRiver46]

A bowfin is not a snakehead. Only kill it if you're gonna eat it 

[Ratherbfishing]

I've no research to back this up but I don't think bowfin pose any significant threat to other fish populations.  They have been around "forever" and I've never heard of a lake being overrun by them.  One lake I fish has a few bowfin and if any lake could be overrun by a species, this particular lake could.  But it isn't.  They hit hard, fight harder, and since I personally seldom keep bass to eat, an "inedible" bowfin holds (almost) as much esteem for me as does a bass.

[Team9nine]

17 hours ago, WDE said:

 

What do do you guys say? Should I have killed it, or was letting it go the right choice?

 

 

You did the right thing 

[flyfisher]

19 hours ago, Angry John said:

Did you read both???

 

Preventing the introduction of snakeheads into Indiana is the main management objective. There are a few things that you can do to help prevent introducing snakeheads and other invasive fish species. 9Learn how to correctly identify snakeheads and other invasive species. 9Do not release aquarium fish into the wild. 9If you have a snakehead in an aquarium, it must be euthanized. IT IS THE LAW! 9Kill all snakeheads caught, do not release them alive. 9Immediately report the sighting of snakeheads to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife and freeze fish for identity verification. (317) 232-4080 dkeller@dnr.IN.gov 402 W. Washington St., Rm W273 Indianapolis, IN 46204

I did read both and they are contradictory information.  I saw multiple things that said in possession then this one blurb saying to kill them.  That does not make it law.  it is also a semi-moot point as no snakehead have been found in indiana.  

I also find it hard to believe that you are required to kill any species that is caught. 

 

[IndianaFinesse]

Legal or illegal to release, those darn fish can be awful slippery.  Just sayin.  

 

BTW, they have never been proven to damage bass populations and are very powerful fighters.  More than qualifies them for being a "good" gamefish in my book.

[Angry John]

The idea of using fishermen in the fight against invasive species is a huge part of the plan.  People who go fishing a lot make contact with the water way more than any state could afford to keep employees out there.  We are the eyes and ears of the DNR and provide a huge sample rate on health of fisheries.  Some of us do damage but more clean and protect the environment we choose to spend our leisure time in.  I have no problem killing an invasive species, and i release everything i catch due to respect for my creators creatures.  I do my best to be a steward of the lakes and streams i fish and the environment as a hole.  Im not nuts and i dont bang on doors and protest but i do try and do my part for conservation.  Some states like Florida have huge problems with invasives and i would kill them in a heart beat to protect the natives...

[Ben Miller]

Laughing at all these reply's!!!!  They eat the same food as BASS!!!!!  Kill em!!!  They compete with Bass!  The more Bowfin's the smaller the bass!!!

[flyfisher]

19 minutes ago, Ben Miller said:

Laughing at all these reply's!!!!  They eat the same food as BASS!!!!!  Kill em!!!  They compete with Bass!  The more Bowfin's the smaller the bass!!!

I am laughing at this ignorant response myself.  

So you are a proponent of killing anything that eats the same food as bass?  And if so at what age bass because they eat different things during different stages of their life.  
 

[Scott F]

20 minutes ago, Ben Miller said:

Laughing at all these reply's!!!!  They eat the same food as BASS!!!!!  Kill em!!!  They compete with Bass!  The more Bowfin's the smaller the bass!!!

Bluegills eat bass eggs. Kill em!!! Birds eat the same food as bass!! Kill em!!! Bucket fishermen eat bass!!! Kill em!!!!!!!

[Ben Miller]

2 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Bluegills eat bass eggs. Kill em!!! Birds eat the same food as bass!! Kill em!!! Bucket fishermen eat bass!!! Kill em!!!!!!!

Lol!!!!  Fair fair, good point!

[UPSmallie]

Last I checked, bowfin help mange rough-fish populations and are beneficial to maintaining balance.  I'd recommend just throwing them back unless you're planning on eating them.

[Catt]

OK! Bowfin: Common names include mudfish, mud pike, dogfish, griddle, grinnel, cypress trout and choupique 

 

 

In colder water they are not a threat but in the warm waters down south they will completely take over a body of water.

 

It is not uncommon to catch Choupique down here weighing 10-15 lbs.

 

Would I suggest killing em?

 

Nope but I aint going outta my way to save one!

[Rick Howard]

Up here lots of folks call them Ling.  They hit hard and fight like a bear.  Kinda neat looking fish too.  Don't lip em'.

[soflabasser]

Why would anyone kill a bowfin? Bowfin are a native species to many of the places they live in and fight harder than a bass of equal size. I actually enjoy fishing for bowfin( my PB bowfin is over 13 pounds) and I have spots where you can catch +50 of them in a day, with several in the +6 pound class. Send them bowfin down here to South Florida if you don't like them, I will gladly fish for them.

8 hours ago, UPSmallie said:

Last I checked, bowfin help mange rough-fish populations and are beneficial to maintaining balance.  I'd recommend just throwing them back unless you're planning on eating them.

Well said @UPSmallie. Bowfin are a important part of the environment they live in and I also recommend releasing them. They are a prehistoric species that existed before bass did and will most likely exist longer than many species.