Electro-shocking?

[j-bass]

What's the deal with electro-shocking.  Do people do this as some means of cruel research or for food?  I know in this state it is highly illegal to shock the water for the purposes of retaining fish. Unless I stand alone (or am a complete moron), this just sounds wrong.  Fishing is fishing, and cheating is cheating.

If i'm somehow wrong about this, will somebody please explain to me why.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Your parks department electro-shocks lakes to see what the fish population is like. Like whether the stocking programs, size limits, etc. are working. It's only to help us as the angler. All fish are released unharmed and they are only stunned for a couple minutes I believe ........ if that.

Now as far as other people doing that for their own gain, THAT is HIGHLY ILLEGAL

[cabela10]

Nobody does it to catch fish.  It's a way the DNR does research to see how the fish population is doing.  All those numbers in your little fishing book that says how many fish they caught and how big they were, came from this type of study.  How else do you want the DNR to know how the fish are doing? Get out the rods and gear and catch them how we do, that makes no sense.  I'm not sure where you read that people are doing this illegally and for sport, but if so, show me the link so I can laugh at how stupid that person is.

[j-bass]

Sorry bout the dumb Q.  I just havn't heard about that as a means of research.  What I do know is that in many of the sporting goods stores I have been to around here, there are posters that offer rewards for people who poach using this method.

Thanks for the info.

[Rattletrap]

In recent years, The Game Wardens have busted people for shocking their fish that they were keeping to eat. It's still a way of fishing for some people.

http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=13&id=1127247489

[cabela10]

Sorry bout the dumb Q. I just havn't heard about that as a means of research. What I do know is that in many of the sporting goods stores I have been to around here, there are posters that offer rewards for people who poach using this method.

Thanks for the info.

I would think those are "rewards offered to people that catch a POACHER that is shocking fish"  Not rewards for people poaching fish.