Was out snooping around some docks at Cypress Springs this morning, and was doing pretty good, when all of a sudden thought I was hung up. Starting reeling and it started pulling. When I finally got it up saw why. So should I have thrown her back or put her in the livewell?





From the looks of her mouth, looked like she had been caught several times before.

I'd say that from a TPWD perspective it's legal as you were not trying to snag and the hook being in the lip area, so the fish may have bit, but a delayed hookset got it on the outside. Tournament legal is another story. In some circuits fish have to be caught through the lip...even others inside to out. I had a potential weigher on Belton I had to release during the last CAT as the line was just wrapped around the fish and no lip hook up.

I would say it was legal

I would have to think about it. Then I would have to eat it.

back in the dark 70's, i went below ll dam and there was a serious run on crappie right after Christmas. they were stacked in a hole about 25x25 ft and the only way to catch them was to snag them. the game wardens had no issues with that as long as you had a license and a jig at the end of the line. the treble hooks above were of no concern, apparently. i bet i saw 1500 crappie and walleye carried out of that hole in just a few hours.

she hit it and you were a little slow on the hook set got her when she spit it out live well and shhhh it can be TFF's little secret,

That is my dock and my pet crappie: Little Fat Annie, I always throw her back. Those are my hook marks in her mouth. I hope you turned her loose.

I'd say it's legal to release her to the grease.

at least u got it by near its mouth.. i got one by its stomach.. how?? i don't know.. felt the bite, i hooked it and that was the result.. i kept it since it was over 10... it's not like i've been catching many crappies. most of time, single digit number in several hours.. By tail, stomach, or back, i don't care as long as i was fishing in legal method...

Thats one I chuncked back last week think She was about 14 5/8 "little short !

Should have put her in my live well.

legal... the "snagging" law is all about intent, I believe.

put a bandaid on it then filet it.LOL