Negatory.
You are allowed to release them if you don't want to keep them. To my knowledge TPWD doesn't have any regulations that require any kind of critter to be killed.

The specific wording for Lake Austin is " Any angler who catches a grass carp in Lake Austin may now legally retain the fish, provided it has been gutted or has had the head removed."

Under the general rules section the wording is "Possess tilapia, grass carp or any other fish listed as harmful or potentially harmful, without immediately removing the intestines"

So if you are keeping grass carp they must be gutted or beheaded. One is still legally allowed to release them.
If you have the lakes interests at heart, you will gut them or behead them and not release them.

Considering that the grassers are sterile and that I'm not prepared for gutting beheading and freezer storage when I catch them.I have never felt bad about releasing them.The percentage of grass carp that are captured I would think is very small and would not even have much of an impact.They will eventually die off and the lake will turn back into a giant weedbed. It brings a smile to all the youngers on the the wakeboards to have less weeds> I preferred the days with way less grass carp for my own enjoyment of fishing lake austin for commons and buffalo.For those who are prepared it could be a source of food and help the lake at the same time as long as the heads and guts are not just tossed in the park trash cans or in the lake. My last trip to lake Austin I would have had to carry out close to 100 lbs of just heads and guts.

Care to share what bait worked for the grassers ? A PM is welcome.

NjT,

Not surprisingly, seems TPW has conflicting info on their site.

http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/gcarp/

snip:
Because grass carp is a potentially invasive species, an angler who catches one must immediately remove the intestines, except in waters where a valid Triploid Grass Carp Permit is in effect.

Kill 'em!

I'll be darned.

Thanks for pointing that out. Any day I can learn something is a good day, even if I learn I was wrong.

I guess it's one of those deals that the warden who checks you would have to decide. I don't keep any kinda fish really. I was considering fishing lake Austin while I was around there but may not if I have to kill and dispose of any grass carp I catch. Unless there is a disposal station at the park or something convenient I may just as soon pay the fine and throw them back.

If anyone wants to catch catfish or alligator gar, grassers make decent cut bait for them.

The verdict is in! I asked this question to game wardens in the area and here is the answer, drum roll please!!!!..............the answer from the horses mouth is, we aren't exactly sure!! That's right even the wardens are confused by a few words. Seems that the words, may, have, and posses are confusing more than just us. Basically I was told it seems that you SHOULD but I'm not sure that you HAVE TO.

When I asked what is your suggestion to someone traveling with no way to dispose of the bodies and honestly no where to really do the dead of killing them without being seen by passers by, I was told, I don't know.

When I asked what will happen in the event I am seen releasing one back in lake Austin I was told there could possibly be a fine but one could translate the law to read in his favor.

Basically nobody knows and this wasn't thought thru very well and if I happen to catch one I'll let it go and take my chances.

Good for you CMC, I had a whole write up that I decided to not post at the last minute this morning but it said that even the game wardens most likely would not even know the laws that now require gutting on both sides of Tom Miller Dam which seperates Lady bird lake and lake austin and only a bit earlier required a fine for not releasing them on the lake austin side and a fine for releasing them on the other side of the dam just a cast away.I 've been checked for license on LBL but never at Emma long park.TRYINg to clean and gut fish that average well over 20 lbs is most likely going to be messy and create flies and maggots and not make the lakes and parks a better place for all to use.The vast majority of carp ang;lers have been outlaws on LBL and releasing the sterile grassers in front of the crowds that are sure to gather when fish up to 50lbs + are captured.Putting the burden of weed control on anglers who value catch and release and fine them for not doing so has turned me into one of those outlaws.K-1 baits tutti fruiti flavored corn on a hair rig has been my favorite for grassers.

ATTENTION: Everybody go to Joe Pool Lake in Dallas,
catch all the carp,buffalo you can stand.

I was fishing Joe Pool twice a week but the water is down too far now in my regular spot. You got any suggestions on places.

Can you bow hunt them there?

I do not know

According to an email from Marcos DeJesus you are NOT required to keep and kill the grass carp in lake Austin.

100% correct. Here's exactly what I just got from him.

Hello, Chuck. Thank you for bringing this issue up to us with the applicable links. No one should be forced to kill any fish or wildlife against their will. The ruling is officially worded that they must be killed and gutted if possessed (harvested) in the Outdoor Annual. I believe the wording in the webpage you provided is misleading. I have copied our web coordinator to clarify this on the page. Thanks again for bringing it to our attention.