Ok i think they started this new SAL program because in this new format they can get a more accurate count of all the fish over 24" or 8lbs. If ya'll can remember they used to place sheets in all the marinas around lake fork (not sure of other lakes) for people to postand report fish they caught with weight and time they caught them think they had to be at least 6lbs not sure. With this new program you have to send in pics showing weights and length and they offer a pretty good prize pack. Just think its a more accurate way to help our texas lakes grow more and bigger fish and also, see how their restocking program is working to their satisfaction or not.
Just my

yes for sure, the part of the equation you didnt mention is they needed to get people to log their biggs because when they shock lakes they seldom get over 7 lbers, the bigger fish can resist it better and make one or two tail pumps and they are out of range as well as they generally are not shallow enough.

I agree Jerry. Just glad to know they aren’t taking all those other fish in. Wish they’d just go back to 13+.

RIP / RIG Ivie!

Dude at Rayburn kept his SAL 5 years ago, pretty sure he got it skin mounted. Won’t see me donating any fish to the SAL program if I ever get lucky enough to catch one. It’s better off released back into the lake after weight and pics.

I never paid much attention to ShareLunker program myself, but always believed it was a good thing. When KenTex posted about it a while back, it got me more interested and I entered an Elite status fish. Wanted to post pics of the surprise package I received but thought it would take away from anyone else receiving theirs. Let me just say, it was more than expected, and I'm proud of my shiny participation ribbon. Thank you, State of Texas!

Again I don't understand the hate.

The fish removed from any lake and donated to the Sharelunker program don't put a drop in the bucket as far as numbers of big fish on these lakes. Even if the fish were to die and not be re-released, the lake will remain unaffected. I personally believe the Sharelunker program is a big reason why these lakes are so good. Why discontinue a program that made it possible to catch these fish in the first place.


Also don't understand the hate for guys that submit data from fish less than 13 lbs to the Sharelunker program. More Data is always a good thing. Sure some of you guys have caught multiple fish over 13 lbs, but the truth is most anglers won't catch one over 10. So who cares if they are proud of their catch? If a man catches a PB that is 8 lbs, I'm going to be happy for him, and I honestly don't care what he calls it. Instead of being bothered by the fact that he is referring to a fish < 13 lbs as a Sharelunker, I will spend my energy being happy for the fisherman.

I caught my first 10 last October on Ivie. I don't refer to it as a Sharelunker. Personally I wouldn't refer to any fish < 13 lbs as a Sharelunker, but my life remains unaffected if someone else chooses to do so. Why can't we just be happy for each other?

Good philosophy. The SAL program was most likely the very reason there are so many big fish being caught out of Ive right now. If TPWD does the data mining I bet you would find the recent 16.40 from Ive was an offspring of another SAL from some lake in the past. It danged sure wasn't an original fish from 21 years ago when the lake was first impounded.

If you have landed a bass over 8 pounds the chances are very high you have indeed benefited from the SAL program whether you knew it or not. Native Texas fish rarely exceed 8 pounds even when intensively managed in a small lake being force fed a steady diet.

Nobody is hating on this. Just a lot of us still believe a 13 is the true goal of a Sharelunker. I know that’s my goal for sure.
As far as the awards for fish under.....I know I can speak for myself and say I don’t like it for the reason that’s it a reward for something under the original goal. And that’s a lot of what’s wrong with the world today. Nobody wants to work to achieve a goal. They want it handed to them. And I’ll tell you, my kids are the worst. Lol. It’s a daily battle trying to instill in them what I was taught growing up. But in this world today, they are shown different.

I’m not knocking any man woman or child that wants to turn in a fish under 13. That’s their right. Just not my cup of tea and not the goal I’ve been trying to achieve for years.

Since the ShareLunker program began in 1986 there have been 562 entrees over 13lbs. That's an average of 16 fish per year. That's not very many data points per year to try and manage the fisheries on nearly 200 reservoirs in the state. Since they modified the program in 2018, they added nearly 300 additional data points per year on catches over 8lbs. It's purely about data on their end, it has nothing to do with a participation trophy. They get hundreds of extra data points for a few thousand bucks in stickers, hats, and donated soft lures. They are better for it. Our fisheries are better for it. Us anglers are better for it. I don't understand why more folks don't embrace it. Plus putting a sticker on your truck is pretty cool in my opinion. (Yes, I know it needs a wash)

You’re wrong. For years at Lake Fork Marina we were filling out a book for TPW for fish over 7 lbs. Fish 7-12 lbs. you filled out the info on the line at the Marina. Fish over 13, they came and picked up.

Now days you just have to say "Legacy Class" instead of just "Sharelunker" to distinguish between the 13 lb fish or over 8's. Its really not that big of a deal....

TPWD had a recognition program in place previously where you could get a "Trophy Catch" (or something like that) certificate, this has just taken that recognition to the next level while at the same time providing TPWD with more data on fish over 8 lbs statewide than its ever had access to. The program at Fork where you advised the marinas of all catches over 7 lbs was a great idea, now they have been able to expand across Texas with the app. More information to be evaluated by fisheries biologists is a good thing. We're just so darn spoiled here we forget that an 8lb plus bass is the fish of a lifetime for the majority of bass anglers in the country.

Wrong about what? I have no idea what they did at Fork, it's one lake out of 188. Maybe they have that data stored somewhere, but it's not in their data base online. Here's the link. Every number I quoted is straight from their website. https://texassharelunker.com/archives/

About data. They’ve been receiving data for years for fish under 13 lbs.