Searsay,
That looks to be a Porta-Bote. I recognize some of it, as my sister bought one & I use it from time to time. It's a 12' bought back in 2002 for about $1000. A few years ago, she said it doubled its value, or maybe they cost that much now.

Nice fish. Glad you released it. I would also call the game warden on the illegal rig.

Searsay,

I suppose that you think that you are the rightful lawman on that part of the water? You claimed to be doing the "right" thing when if fact what you did was just as illegal as that line you found in the water. You don't know how many times my lines have been cut and or checked while I was watching and notifying the proper authorities. Sure, I could have rolled up on the person doing it and threatened them, but why? I can handle it the proper way by calling the GW.

The old adage of "two wrongs doesn't make a right" applies here. I would advise that you be very careful playing hero to the fish from now on as I have witnessed some crazy stuff happen over a few hooked fish.

Just remember, that a fish on a trotline is now considered the line owner's property and you technically stole from them.

If the trotline isn't marked with any information then its nobody's personal property. If you're going to fish then do it the right way and or don't get upset when something like this happens.

So, a couple issues. Trotlines, even abandoned ones, are considered private property under Texas law. It is illegal for private citizens to remove them. Second, the untagged trotline using gamefish as bait is a violation of multiple laws. By freeing the fish and cutting the line, you not only broke the law, but made sure the other law breaker couldn't be apprehended and punished. If notified, it is a pretty good chance the game warden would have come out to observe and catch whoever set that line.

That's a pretty yellow cat though.

Good deal I wish they would outlaw trotlines and jug fishing

Why

Because they think it's cheating ...And They get tired of running them over in there pretty little glitter boats gettin caught up in there props and what not .

This is real good advice here! You are touching that trotline and a game warden see's you, comes up to you. The trotline is unmarked and you are taking fish off. To the game warden, looks like your trotline and your taking fish off.. get the picture! If you come across a unmarked trotline, GPS it and CALL THE GAME WARDEN. It's his job to enforce the law, and he just might have caught and educated the person who is doing it. Keep yourself out of trouble, it's really hard to prove it wasn't yours when the GW seen you taking fish off. Better to spend your money fishing, then to a lawyer trying to get you out of a ticket.

Also, cutting a trotline in Texas, marked or unmarked is illegal. Your tampering with evidence of a crime being committed. GPS and just call the Game Warden. Also, be careful who you argue with on these pages, you might be talking to a Game Warden.

Some very good advice! I can't stand unmarked Jug lines or any other illegal means to catch fish. Plane and simple!

I don't know.....if you saw antlers sticking out of a truck bed at a gas station I'm sure you would walk over and take a look. If the buck did not have a tag on it, would you reach in and remove the deer and throw it in a dumpster? Or would you write down the license plate, the location and call it in? Hard to say what could have happened....maybe it was tagged and the wind blew it off? Maybe the tag was under the deer? Maybe the hunter had it in his pocket and was buying duct tape at the gas station so that he could secure it properly? The point is, two wrongs do not make a right. And one of the other commenters nailed it perfectly. When you are in some back cove of the lake, self righteousness alone will not protect you when a pissed off local finds you cutting his lines. That could get ugly REAL quick. Saving a catfish's life is not worth getting shot over.

i have mixed emotions about this

From the Operation Game Thief website:

Alert observation by concerned citizens such as yourself, followed by immediate reporting of the suspected violation, gives the local warden a much-needed edge in catching the bad guys. Operation Game Thief is the mechanism that allows you to get immediately involved and quickly get that information to the warden. Receiving a tip on illegal activity while it is occurring can make a significant difference in whether or not the violator is apprehended. Even if the offender has left the scene before the warden can get there, there may be critical evidence, or even other witnesses with important information, that can be used to make a case in court. Make the poachers know that you won�t sit idly by while they exploit our resources. Pick up the phone and call 1-800-792-GAME. Remember YOU can make a difference! The reward hotline is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Over the life of the program, more than 28,000 calls have been received and investigated.

Problem is the OP removed the evidence of any wrongdoing instead of calling the authorities.

Just curious, if it was reported after the fact, what did the LEO tell you about tampering with the scene? Anything?

I too have mixed feelings. It's one thing to run up on a line strung at water surface level that's full of empty hooks and no marker, but what you found was obviously pretty fresh and it's quite likely a game warden could have apprehended the offenders or at least verified the legality of the rigs in question. Pretty sure the OP had honest intent but the end goal is to keep wardens involved since they might even have reports from other areas of similar illegal rigs and can use it to build a case.

Was a pretty fish though.

Hey bud, you did the RIGHT THING. If the people aren't doing it legally they are hurting the resources that we all pay taxes into. I would do the same thing over and over again if it wasn't done legally, Reported it to the Game Warden and put it to them if they messed with me. I can't stand losers that do that sort of thing. I'd dunk em in a heartbeat if they came around. Don't worry about this talk about messing with lines. No telling how many fish are taken out of a fishery like this. This loser was probably selling the fish illegally too. Good Work! Proud of You!

Hahahahaha ^^

I know of a few places for ya to start pullin 'em. You just let me know when ya wanna head down there.