Stop killing Baby Hybrids in Bardwell.
I fished on the east side of the dam in May and literally tore up the baby hybrids with silver rattletraps. I was sent to the east side of the dam by helpful fishermen that said the filled up on sand bass on the east side of the dam. The fish were not sand bass. They were baby hybrids about 12 inches long. The hooks on our rattletraps liberally tore up their mouths, and they were hard to unhook, the fish being out of the water too long. I posted on this forum and was advised to cut two of the points off from the triple hooks of the rattletraps and to mash down the barbs on the remaining points by all y'all.
Folks, there were many fingerling hybrids planted in Bardwell last year. They are hungry, and the fishermen are tearing them up. Well meaning fishermen are destroying the fish that could be a great resource in a few years. Hybrids must be 18" long to be legally kept. Folks are breaking the law by killing the baby hybrids. Hybrids have an uneven stripe pattern -------_ _--_----, and they are darker in color than sand bass. Sand bass are silver. The head on Bardwell's hybrids is darker with a dark eye. Also, check out the tongue pattern of a hybrid in the fishing regulations.

I think too many people get confused with the broken lines because I've seen plenty of stripes, hybrids, and whites with broken lines. The tooth patch doesn't lie, and rarely does the single center stripe that goes all the way down the tail on whites. To be honest, if you aren't sure then toss it back. I just don't know how hard of a concept it is for some fishermen. You'd think the possibility of being fined for each fish would be enough of incentive to ensure you were following the rules, but there are some folks that just don't care.

Below is a pic that should help folks identify them on the spot.

Nice post guys!

Not too long ago I ran across some guys fishing off a boat dock with two baskets full of baby hybrids. As I loaded an headed out i warned them that they were hybrids and they had to be 18 inches and was told to screw off. I went on my way and was fishing near the ramp when I saw the man in green drive down about 30 min later and hand out a couple grand in fines. This was on Belton. I believe the ignorance is widespread. Guess someone called tpwd on the turds hint hint it was me.

3 in sassy shad single hook,won't tear them up as
bad

I've done the same thing on Belton before. Matter of fact, it's the only reason why I have the GW's phone # saved in my phone.

One thing I have noticed over the years is the White Bass only have one stripe that touches the tail and Hybrids have three lines that touch the tail, see photos above

Ignorance must be bliss. You are looking in the mouth to unhook, why not ck the tooth patch while ur removing the lure. ! I get looked at a lot when asking if that is a legal fish, it's not about me so who cares about a little slang thrown my way. I want legal fish to ketch in the future.

Just a added note: While fishing Ben Brook several years ago when it was good, we were in a school of sand bass. Someone did not check close enough and put a small Hybrid in the cooler. Only time in 7 years fishing the lake we have been checked, cost $268 for one fish. Not worth it. It you can't tell throw it back.

Great post

The LTSA would like for you not to kill the small hybrids as well

Lots of small 10" and 12" Hybrids being caught on Ray Hubbard now also. Please watch out for our little ones!

Does anyone have comparison pics of the tooth patches like pixelfish85's pics above? I've seen the ones on the TPWD website but I can't really tell the difference when looking in a fish mouth.

Here you go. The white bass has a single tooth patch and the hybrid has two.

Thanks.