I have been told that DNR stocks over 20,000 redfish a year and apparenlty lots of people release all the redfish they catch. Now that the fishery is doing well shouldn’t we keep our limit? Seems that putting all those fish in the water and no extra bait/food would eventually cause problem for bait fish. This is by no means a slam on the stocking program, I am all for it.
The mullet, minnows, and crabs aren’t in short supply at all from what I’ve seen. There is plenty for them to eat.
I’m pretty sure they narrowed the slot from 14-23" to 15-23", didn’t they? I think the DNR biologists are on top of it.
If you want to keep them, keep what you’re going to eat. That’s what I do. If you can eat your bag limit, go for it.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Hank, you won’t win this crowd over with that logic! I’d love to see red fish 14"-30" 4 fish limit. Not much meat below 14" and after 30" they don’t taste as good IMO.
If a salt water fisherman can’t catch a spot tail around our coast they need to give up and just ride the river.
“Gun’s don’t kill people, it’s mostly the Bullets”
Joeboo, I agree with most of what you said. I read that over 26" and they release 10 times more eggs. I’d like to see a 14"-26" slot. I don’t keep them under 18", cause of the small filets but I know people who prefer to fry them whole. To each his own.
We might keep three or four redfish on my boat every year. Not because I’m opposed, its more just that they’ve been protected so long, I kinda stopped wanting to keep them. The ones we do keep go to my guests on the boat or a friend if requested. I get enjoyment out of letting them go more than anything now. If I want food, I’ll take a fresh flounder over most anything else these days. But it certainly doesn’t bother me if an angler wants to keep his legal limit. I say go for it. Kudos to you if you can have a fun day fishing and take home dinner. Police yourself and be a good steward of the waters and it will pay dividends to you and your family in the future.
Anything under 18" is all head no meat. We have a good population. If people use common sense it will stay that way. I commend you all that are lucky enough to live there and releas most of what you catch. Of course when you fish all the time you can pick and choose …:)…
did the slot really get larger? i saw a 2013 DNR ruler but i thought it still showed the 15-23"…im gonna look more into this…
“Fish On”
quote:
Originally posted by HoofArdedI’m pretty sure they narrowed the slot from 14-23" to 15-23", didn’t they?
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
dam i guess i should read more carfully!
“Fish On”
The older we get the worse it gets. No sweat.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
quote:
Originally posted by hankJoeboo, I agree with most of what you said. I read that over 26" and they release 10 times more eggs. I’d like to see a 14"-26" slot. I don’t keep them under 18", cause of the small filets but I know people who prefer to fry them whole. To each his own.
you’re thinking of trout- 26" redfish are subadults, hence the slot limit allowing only approximately 1.5-2.5 year old fish to be killed… one reason being that the stock assessments use “escapement” to the adult population instead of spawning stock biomass estimates.
quote:Problem is I can catch a Red any day...I only catch 3 or 4 flounder a year. I like fish..Red's taste just fine. Striper still my favorite locally...but fresh caught Halibut is nearly unbeatable.
Originally posted by 23SailfishWe might keep three or four redfish on my boat every year. Not because I’m opposed, its more just that they’ve been protected so long, I kinda stopped wanting to keep them. The ones we do keep go to my guests on the boat or a friend if requested. I get enjoyment out of letting them go more than anything now. If I want food, I’ll take a fresh flounder over most anything else these days. But it certainly doesn’t bother me if an angler wants to keep his legal limit. I say go for it. Kudos to you if you can have a fun day fishing and take home dinner. Police yourself and be a good steward of the waters and it will pay dividends to you and your family in the future.
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.
Being able to catch a red “any day” isnt a proplem in my book! …and can you refer to all flounder as halibut?
“Fish On”
quote:
Originally posted by barbawang 26" redfish are subadults, hence the slot limit allowing only approximately 1.5-2.5 year old fish to be killed... one reason being that the stock assessments use "escapement" to the adult population instead of spawning stock biomass estimates.
You should say to be harvested, killed sounds like they are going to waste.
quote:I was referring to Halibut from the Pacific Ocean. My Aunt and Uncle live in Oregon. He caught some the day before he flew here last year. Had 2 day old halibut fillets he cooked on the grill. By FAR the best fish I have eaten. Did a garlic butter with capers. MMMMM !
Originally posted by StumpNockerBeing able to catch a red “any day” isnt a proplem in my book! …and can you refer to all flounder as halibut?
“Fish On”
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.