The larger fish are the breeders, and there are fewer of them. Shouldn't regulations state that fish OVER a certain size be thrown back in, rather than under a certain size. It may help maintain fish stocks in both fresh and marine environments.
2007-02-22 20:33:16 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Fishing
Here in Texas there are upper size limits on some species of saltwater fish for minimum and maximum limits. In Fayetteville Lake there is a slot size for bass. Speckled sea trout have a minimum size limit of 15 inches with a maximum of 1 trout over 25 inches. The red drum has a slot of 20 - 28 inches, black drum have to between 14 to 30 inches.
The reason for setting a minimum size is so that the fish can at least reach sexual maturity and breed at least one time, I have seen people who have the attitude of if it is big enough to bite my hook it is big enough to keep.
Without having the lower size limit we would not have any breeders. I agree with you about the breeders needing protection to keep producing for future fisherman and fisher-women.
Good Luck and Tight Lines.
2007-02-23 13:57:04 · answer #1 · answered by Lance D 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In ocean fishing situations, where netters take a huge number of fish, a "maximum" size might not save many fish at all. As an example, I used to fish for halibut off SOuthern Califonia. There were good numbers of fish under 22" (the minimum size), but very few over, say, 28 or 30" -- even though these fish actually grow to over 4 feet in length. The netters (and to a smaller extent the sport fishermen) were taking every legal fish they could. At least the 22" limit was giving these fish a chance to spawn once before they were harvested. There was talk years ago about upping the commercial limit to 28 inches, but the paid-off legislature killed it quickly.
On the other hand, another saltwater fish which is protected from the market fishermen (the kelp bass), which has a minimum size of 12", is relatively common in all sizes. A slot limit of, say 12" to 20" legal, smaller and larger sizes protected, might help -- but then (a) this fishery is in good shape, and (b) the better fishermen (who get most of the bigger ones) already release most of the bigger ones anyway.
2007-02-23 09:45:21 · answer #2 · answered by Peter_AZ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some places have slot limits designed to protect fish under and over a certain size.some success has been achieved in the short run this way but overall their are many other factors that influence fish survival more than pressure by fisherman.the weather is one of the biggest factors that determines the success of a spawn and the survival of young.im all for doing what we can and i release most of my large fish.however/too many large fish can cause problems as well.unfortunately/ these laws are not always put in place by people that know what they are doing.
2007-02-23 08:32:58 · answer #3 · answered by john K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some locales have what are called slot limits. You can keep fish that are shorter than the slot length or longer than the slot length, but not fish whose lengths fall within the slot limit. In the US, a common slot length limit is between 12 and 18 inches. In that case, you could keep a fish 11 inches long, and one 19 inches long, but not one 17 inches long.
Hope that gives you a better idea how conservation agencies manage fisheries for optimal growth and sustenance.
2007-02-23 07:50:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
in British Columbia, steelhead have to be released over 36 inches to protect the larger breeding stock.
i rarely keep any fish in fresh or salt water but when i do i keep one that is the right size for a meal. the big ones i give a big kiss, say thank-you very much and release them. they are such a thrill to catch that i would hope someone else gets to have the experience i had and hopefully a kid.
2007-02-23 17:12:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lance got this one hook line and sinker so to speak. When gorwing up in Northeastern Oregon, we would fish for Stergeon and Steal Head. Both had a small size limit on them.. a stergeon could not be shorter than 6' and no longer than 7'6". and a steal head min 18" no longer than 24" and only one longer than 36" all season. Check out your Fishing Regs before heading out.
2007-02-23 23:51:56 · answer #6 · answered by slim69782003 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Where I live (East Coast) there are maximum size limits on certain species like Red Drum.
2007-02-23 09:34:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is one fish in California that does have a maximum size limit. I think there is a max for Lobster, either that or its customary to return Huge lobsters.
2007-02-23 04:42:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some lakes do this, it called a slot. My friend caught a 4 lb bass on lake Houston, it was 1 inch under the slot so he had to let it go.
2007-02-23 06:48:06 · answer #9 · answered by mad_mav70 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because the larger fish I catch go to my table and I eat em. I guess if you just catch and release, you could do that, but I enjoy eating my fish.
2007-02-23 14:43:58 · answer #10 · answered by thinkGREEN 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋