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Texas Conservation Alert #13026330 01/12/19 12:52 AM
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TxCatfishGuide Offline OP
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Texas Anglers

Please read the article in the link below about HB 346, an attempts to legalize bow fishing of game fish by circumventing Texas Parks and Wildlife.


http://www.catfishedge.com/texas-catfish-bowfishing/

Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13026594 01/12/19 11:23 AM
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361V Offline
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I honestly do not believe bow hunting gamefish will make any measurable difference in the game fish populations.Of all my many years of fishing even in clearer water there have just not that many instances that gamefish are close enough to be in danger from a bow. Even the times that I was sight fishing by casting to cruising bass they still kept their distance. The only time I can think(for largemouth bass) that they would be in jeopardy could be during the spawn and even than it is rare that I get very close to a bed without the fish pulling off. While I do not appreciate anyone cercumventing laws to get around them so they can act as they choose regardless of existing laws I do not think this will have any negative effect on gamefish. Make them follow the same limits as rod and reel fisherman incase someone actually gets lucky and dont worry about it.

Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13026645 01/12/19 01:25 PM
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Most of those who would bowfish for catfish or other gamefish, would do so from a boat with strong lights and bowfish the shallows after the sun goes down, similar to those who flounder fish at the coast.
You may not see the fish during daylight, but a dark night with a boat that lights up the water like daytime you see a ton of fish.
Don't confuse fishing with bait or lures and comparing them to shooting fish in the shallows as being the same.....It's more like shooting fish in a barrel, if you want to compare.
I know people want to make a living using the resources available, and those that do see another avenue to do that. That is all I'll say on that!

Last edited by Jimbo; 01/12/19 01:35 PM.

Just one more cast!

Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027383 01/13/19 02:58 AM
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TXMulti-Species Offline
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Time to strike this down yet again, lol. Seems like the bowfishermen like making enemies! No bowfishing for catfish! No bowfishing for any fish! Fishing!!! Rod and reel!! fish


Catch and release. The dream - to catch one of every species of Freshwater fish in our great state! If only I can resist Carp...
https://txmultispecies.imgur.com/
[Linked Image]
Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027406 01/13/19 03:09 AM
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Skavatar Offline
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but there's still bag limits and size limits, right?

if its such a big deal, ban jug lines too, since its illegal to jug line other game fish.


Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: Skavatar] #13027424 01/13/19 03:23 AM
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TXMulti-Species Offline
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Originally Posted by Skavatar
ban jug lines too, since its illegal to jug line other game fish.


+1. Those, trot lines, and noodling. No sport to it!


Catch and release. The dream - to catch one of every species of Freshwater fish in our great state! If only I can resist Carp...
https://txmultispecies.imgur.com/
[Linked Image]
Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027430 01/13/19 03:33 AM
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Skavatar Offline
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or add more restrictions, like the Red Drum Tag or the limit of 1 hog Speck.


Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027564 01/13/19 04:27 AM
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bowfishin_steven Offline
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I will guarantee you, the couple of years that bowfishing was legal in Texas, less than 1% of catfish harvest in the state was due to bowfishermen. People love to hate us and say "Only kill fish you can eat" but then [censored] all over us actually being able to shoot a more edible fish than a buffalo or gar.

Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027595 01/13/19 04:44 AM
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Nobody likes spending time, money, and effort to catch and release big, beautiful fish only to have someone else come shine a bright light in the water shooting and killing the giants. Those fish could be caught, enjoyed, and released by countless anglers and spawn countless offspring with big girl genes. Keep the bows in the forest where they belong. On the water it's all about rod and reel!


Catch and release. The dream - to catch one of every species of Freshwater fish in our great state! If only I can resist Carp...
https://txmultispecies.imgur.com/
[Linked Image]
Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TXMulti-Species] #13027603 01/13/19 04:50 AM
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bowfishin_steven Offline
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If they are legal to harvest how is shooting a couple eaters and taking them home any different than catching them on a trot line? I bet a whole lot more get jerked out of their spawning holes by noodlers every year. "On the water its about rod and reel" is your opinion. Your opinion shouldn't dictate other's rights.

Last edited by bowfishin_steven; 01/13/19 04:50 AM.
Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027614 01/13/19 05:02 AM
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If you read my post above I actually state I don't support trot lines or noodling, either. I for one would love it if the bow guys would target the smaller fish for the table, it'd make things amazing for everybody. Problem is, they target fish that are more like this:
[Linked Image]
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Alligator Gar in particular are a wakeup call. The size and numbers of fish are on the decline in a big way. Bowfishing for catfish, and indeed any fish, is not harmless. Otherwise, you guys wouldn't push so hard for it.


Catch and release. The dream - to catch one of every species of Freshwater fish in our great state! If only I can resist Carp...
https://txmultispecies.imgur.com/
[Linked Image]
Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027710 01/13/19 12:59 PM
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SALLYSUE Offline
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My house over looks the lake and I see how much more pressure is on the lake They need to outlaw jugs and trotlines plus cut the limits back some

Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13027756 01/13/19 02:09 PM
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Skavatar Offline
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what makes you think these "big game trophy hunters" won't keep the big monster catfish, and other monster fishes, even if they had caught it on rod and reel? conservation is mainly on the individual angler/hunter. And partially by law, legal length and daily bag limits.

i watch North Woods Law and Lone Star Law, plenty of poachers out there. as much as i'd like to keep that 13.75" flounder or that 14.5" sheepshead, i release them. i've caught and released many bullreds in the 42-43" range even though legally i can keep one with my red drum tag and then go get a 2nd tag and keep a second bullred for the year. but most years i never even use the 1st tag, and have never ever used the 2nd tag.


Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: Skavatar] #13028764 01/14/19 04:30 AM
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TXMulti-Species Offline
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Originally Posted by Skavatar
plenty of poachers out there


There are plenty of drunk drivers out there, it doesn't mean we should make it legal. I'd love to see a mandatory release law for fish above a certain size on every species - bass, catfish, carp, etc. It's incredibly unhealthy to eat trophy fish, bad for the fishery, and if you want to mount the fish replicas are pretty much the standard anyways.


Catch and release. The dream - to catch one of every species of Freshwater fish in our great state! If only I can resist Carp...
https://txmultispecies.imgur.com/
[Linked Image]
Re: Texas Conservation Alert [Re: TxCatfishGuide] #13041028 01/25/19 12:58 AM
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bluesea112 Offline
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Every alligator gar that is removed from the water saves hundreds of pounds of bass, crappie, and other game fish every year. TPWD have biologists in place who manage the fish population just fine. If bowfishing was hurting the fish population they would regulate it. Opinions are emotion based, and therefore not valid. TPWD adjust fishing laws according to fact based data, so if they allow bow fishermen to shoot catfish it means there are facts backing up the fact that it would not hurt the catfish population.

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