North Texas water. Came across what looked to be an old, neglected trot line. Line was covered in moss. Hooks were bare. a few had been straightened out. HOWEVER, on one hook there was a 30 inch catfish.

Yes, I released him. How bad does that make me?

i would have removed the trotline also. good job.

I've done the same Good for you

Good job! I can't count the number of old abandoned trot & jug lines are scattered around the 2 lakes I primarily fish.

I hardly ever see a trot line that has a proper tag on it, even when it's actually being used.

Photos to prove your statement? About the old Trotline.
An for the rest of you haters on trotlines.
How about the times you have cut lines. Just to retrieive a lure??
Or run the lines your self.
Lets start a thread about it.
Im tired of listen to Whinning, city-Folk crying in their Diapers about Trotlines an Jugs.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with running a trot line and catching fish legally, however if you then abandon that line for someone else to have to deal with then I have every right to Beach about it. I agree that there are some that cut lines as you say but this post was about abandoned trot lines which is a problem. I'm not a city folk, I was raised on a dairy farm and have been in the outdoors all my life and I'll be the first one to defend your rights to run your lines and the first one to beach if you leave it there when you're done.

I fish out of a float tube regularly and if I find an abandoned trotline I'll cut it at both ends. If you want to use trotlines, fine, but you'd better use them properly and maintain them or remove them. Oh, and I AM ONE of those nasty, stuckup city slickers.

I use trot line before I knew how to fish LOL

What is abandoned do you have to remove a line if you only fish it on the weekend?as long as it's tagged I think it is good baited or not

From the Texas Parks and Wildlife Fishing Regulations:

Trotlines in Fresh Water

Tag Requirements
Trotlines in fresh water must be used with a valid gear tag. Properly marked buoys or floats qualify as valid gear tags. Gear tags must be attached within 3 feet of the first hook at each end of the trotline and are valid for 10 days after the date set out.

Construction and Design Restrictions
Trotlines in fresh water may not have more than 50 hooks on any one trotline.

I don't care if a person uses trotlines. I do care when the are in the condition as stated. Generally, moss doesn't grow in 10 days....

I'm tired of listening to whiny, people crying in their diapers about others who simply want trot line users for follow the law.....

A trot line can be left set out forever, as long as the tag is kept up to date.

This line had no tags whatsoever.

I was really posting about letting that big cat go. I thought long and hard about it. Someone might have wanted that cat for dinner. As I released him I said, "Buddy, this is your lucky day."

There are a lot of laws and regulations concerning trot lines and private property. And all of them are frequently broken.