Keeper Bass Size Limit?

[Live.2.Fish]

As I was pulling into the lake today, I caught the "attention anglers" sign that was posted along the drive towards the boat ramp.  It stated that you can only keep a LM bass that if it is over 21" long.  It got me thinking.  Why in the world would the game and parks want to only let trophy fish to be taken out?  I know that it takes many years for a bass to become 21" long and be good size.  So I think that it is very dumb to only let the monsters to be legally taken out.  I am a person that always practices catch and release so I usually don't pay too much attention to fishing signs, but I did glance at this one today and it got me thinking.  A solution to this could be to have a slot limit. (i.e. only let them take one fish 12"-15" perhaps) instead of taking out a fish that is in very limited numbers (big bass) and takes so long to get that size (over 21").  

  As for the fishing, My biggest was an 18" and probably 4lb 4oz-ish LM on a watermelon candy baby brush hog, that was t-rigged.  It put up one heck of a fight and was a total bast to catch.  As I let it go, I could even imagine keeping a Bass over 21"  >  it just seems wrong.  And on a side note, my friends tell me that bass that big are not even good eating, tastes too fishy?  I don't know, i don't ever keep mine, just what he said though.  

Any thoughts?

[MALTESE FALCON]

I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. IT SEEMS TO GO AGAINST COMMON SENSE TO KEEP THE BROOD STOCK AND RELEASE THE SMALL, LESS PROLIFIC SPAWNERS.

THE SLOT LIMIT MAKES MUCH MORE SENSE TO ME.

[RobDar]

from talking with Indiana DNR and having more than one friend who is a naturalist, my understanding is this...

just as the small fish are many times the more aggressive fish, they are also the most active breeders. ( come on you remember being a horny teenager right) In a situation where Bass populations are in question or in jeapordy a slot limit is placed or size limits are increased to reduce the number of fish being taken from the lake. The larger fish are harder to catch...so the bigger the size limit the less fish leaving, the more fish available in the water for breeding. ( in theory anyway) A large size limit is better than closing fishing all together...which has happened up by me on occassion.

Another aspect of the larger size limits and slot limits, is the larger the fish the more they eat and the larger the prey they eat. If there is too many large fish in an area they can decimate both the bait fish population as well as their own population through cannibalism.  

Upping a limit to 21 inch fish says to me that there is an effort to increase bass numbers.

size limits are an attempt to influence numbers of available sport fish. Why 21" was chosen on your lake can only be answered by your local DNR biologist.

Call the DNR office and ask. I have found that EVERYTIME I have called to ask a question the DNR has been more than happy to answer all of my question or refer me to someone who could.

[Matt Fly]

L2F,

    Not everyone in the world are bass fishermen or even artificial users.    People were fishing for "supper" before we ever knew what bass fishing was.  

As long as people abide by the laws that are set forth, there should be no problem.

I believe, if you have an active state, active in the part of promoting the best bass fishing available, they would have taken in all the facts as to setting correct harvesting info and creel limits daily.

If your state doesn't see bass as a money $$$$$$$$$ fish,  them maybe your clubs or other state anglers need to ban to gether to get your state moving towards promoting bass fishing.

Texas biologist have managed our bass program with the anglers in mind, both, those who fish for supper and those who fish for passion.

Hookem

Matt

[Live.2.Fish]

Thanks for the info guys.

[roadwarrior]

DELee36,

Good post.

Instead of telling people they can't keep ANY fish, the DNR simply set an improbale size restriction for most of the fishermen that would keep their catch.

[ThomasL]

I knew a older man once had a pond that he put some chemical in to kill weeds years ago and had to put out signs warning not to take and eat the fish from there,he didn't let but a few people fish there anyways.