I don't know how old those fish are. These folks are of the opinion that the fish have lifespans of 3-5 or 5-6 years. But, I could be wrong, as both sources could be wrong.

http://fisheries.tamu.edu/pond-management/species/hybrid-striped-bass/

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/wkrec/StripedBassBiology.pdf

I believe they have been catching striper and hybrids below the dam at Livingston since the 80's how would they get in the river if they didn't get washed over the dam at Livingston. Just saying.

So you dont appreciate the sarcastic approach to getting my point across, ok fine lets be direct. I dont usually react to these posts, but get a lot of pleasure out of watching others do it. But when I read your title it sounds to me...."thank you fishing gods for bestowing upon Lake Livingston a bounty of Hybrids" then go on to describe how thankful you are because the TPWD wont do it for you. Then you show the slaughter of this gift with a picture of what looks like about 30 or so Hybrids. Tawakoni, Hubbard, PK, any of the lakes that are refreshed with new stock, fine take all you want or the law will allow. But I cant believe my ears (or eyes) in the heart of Texas when someone says let the government tell we what I should or shouldnt do. We are ALL responsible for protecting the Texas natural resources. If Livingston was given a gift of hybrids then protect them. I dont need to hear your thoughts on keeping hybrids in other lakes. Guides on Livingston can tell their clients up front, this is not a stocked Hybrid lake so throw back any you catch so they can be caught again. I could say look at how the LMB fisherman protect their species, but that would just launch your other discussion in keeping hybrids in general, and I really dont care about that. No sarcasm there. But realize that the TPWD (government) doesnt give a flip about Lake Livingston Hybrid striper protection because they arent supposed to be there. WE MUST CARE. If Walleye somehow made it into our Texas lakes and you caught one, I would hope you would throw it back to protect it and allow it to thrive and hopefully reproduce. My guess, reading these responses, is you would slice it up and brag with stories about your great walleye fishing adventures. Best of luck catching the big ones down there on Lake Livingston (that was sarcsasm). Happy Friday everyone!

Hybrids are not natural, and are deemed a "put and take" resource. Not sure what you're arguing here... TPWD will stock more.

I rarely post on the forum as a lot of us 20 plus year guides don't Whether I post or not I do enjoy reading the forum and often get tickled at how the same argumentative topics resurface every three or four years. Same argument but different people on opposing sides. Before we bash or judge whether or not someone should keep hybrids I think their are some things to be considered. If the fish were legally obtained and they were within the required size and bag limit the only argument you have is your opinion and an argument is all you will end up with. Most of us men only really care about our own opinion right? I am certainly not against catch and release. I have practiced it for many years. I'm not against keeping fish either as I have also practiced this for many years. Yes, it's possible to do both. If you think that every hybrid you catch and release will survive you are sadly mistaken. They don't have to be hooked deep or bleeding. The simple act of hooking a fish is enough to give infection a place to start. Summer water temps make everything worse. Tire a fish from fighting during summer and survival goes way down I don't care how good of shape the fish appears to be in. I would rather a fish go home in a happy fishermen's ice chest than end up turtle food. Now, that last statement is my opinion and I bet the only person that really cares about it is me! If someone chooses to keep fish that is totally their right. If someone wants to catch and release that is their right. I have NEVER witnessed a single internet argument on this subject where one person is able to convince another to do anything by chastising them for what they believe is morally or legally right. The law is black and white and speaks for itself. The question of morals is matter of opinion and how you view the resource. Hybrids are stock and take. If we can prolong life span and size by catch and release then that ensures a few really big ones around. It's good to take and it's good to release.

@catman....I dont disagree with you at all and I think after 3 pages of posts the original point I was making has gotten lost. I am not arguing the right to keep hybrids caught in a TPWD stocked lake. The post was about how unusual it was to see hybrids in Livingston and then a pic was posted of limits of sandbass with these treasured hybrids next to them. Makes no sense to me. Keep the sandies, they have a shorter lifespan than the hybrids anyway, and enjoy the battle a 20" hybrid gives you and the next guy and the next. If he dies from battle scars, so be it. But he is not going on any one's wall and doesnt taste better than the sandies you caught before and after him. Hybrids should be sport fish like the largemouth bass. That is just my opinion as you state, wont change anyone's minds I am sure. Happy Friday everyone!!

What's really funny about the original post is there have been hybrids in Livingston for many years. Not in huge numbers as they don't stock them there. We were catching a few here and there in the early nineties. When Richland Chambers first opened there were some monster hybrids and some nice stripers in there as well. None of which were stocked fish. No doubt they were fish that were trapped in the creeks that fed the Trinity River when the lake was opened. In 92 and 93 we were catching a lot of 10 to 12 pound hybrids and some 10 to 15 stripers. My good friend Bob Holmes holds the lake record striper at 14 pounds and some change that he caught in 1999. I caught one just a few ounces under his one year later. To my knowledge those were the last of the stripers. If anyone has caught one after 2000 from RC please comment.

Yes they are

They truly are, especially that older one! How dare they make posts on a fishing forum with comical titles. Their pictures of dead fish and people smiling are extremely tasteless should be banned. I'll bet that redneck Chris Richardson doesn't have a bit of higher education and lacks capacity of the critical thinking skills required to understand the scope of an ecosystem. It's people like them that are responsible for hundreds of fishing licenses purchased each year that wouldn't be otherwise. It's people like them that teach others how to go out and have a great time on their own and make the most of a fishery. It's people like them that take pride in teaching the next generation that fishing is fun, and that the lawful harvest of a resource can be a great thing.... scum of the earth I tell ya