I received a great number of responses to my first post here so I thought Id post another question that's been on my mind: what size white bass do you keep? Anything over 12-13" but under 2lb has been tossed in the cooler if there is one on hand. I've been wondering if this 2lb max is helping out the future population any or if I am just as well off keeping any non-trophy fish I come across, and putting more food in my freezer. If bled and most red meat is removed these fish are as good as any other in my book, even in heavily stained water. Thanks in advance for your input!

I only keep fish if I am eating them that week. All others I throw back, big or small. I don’t stock pile fish in my freezer. That’s my excuse to my wife that I need some more fish filets.

Sand bass are gross, I don’t eat the nasty things, but just like crappie they’re a fish that anything legal length kept within the limits probably isn’t really going to have a major effect on the population, whether they’re 10” or 17” because they breed like rabbits. The weather conditions and water levels have a much bigger effect on sandbass spawning than anglers throwing back big fish. That being said I don’t keep them, there are much better eating fish in crappie, catfish, black bass, bluegill, and even yellow bass.

If I'm keeping them, anything over the legal size limit gets kept. Somewhere in the past several years I stopped keeping my bag limit most of the time, ten to a dozen makes a good fish fry for dinner. Sometimes I'll keep my limit if I'm sharing with the neighbors.

I quit keeping sandbass, but when I did I kept only the 10 and 11 inch fish. I threw the bigger ones back.
The smaller fish don't have as much red meat and are easier to fillet. The smaller fish taste much better.

Good Luck,
Bozz

Plus #1.


Side Note: I do freeze some White Bass. Love having a few bags on hand !

I just keep a few that I will eat that next few days. I do like the 10 to 12 inch range better for eating.
If I need a bunch for a fish or a fish fry for a group, then I have to say "Honey" I have to go fishing again.

Nick Black bass have worms . Those clock spring looking ones LOL UUCK!!

Glad to hear everybody's opinions! I personally find that white bass eat great whenever they're bled and most non-white flesh is removed. These fish are coming from the muddy Brazos too, I expected at least a slight muddy/fishy flavor. I don't like them as much as catfish or bluegill but when they are the only fish biting they make a lot better dinner than no fish does. Since y'all say keeping the occasional large white bass doesn't hurt anything I'll be doing some experiments soon to see just how much size effects the taste. This has been my first white bass spawn and it has been a blast!

Lone star, where on the Brazil’s are you catching them?

I release most of my fish, but you will not harm the white bass population by keeping fish within the legal limits. If I keep them, I fillet them, cut out the red meat, and soak them in milk sprinkled with a good seasoning. I like mild fish and I find the milk soaking really helps the taste.

For years we kept everything legal and put them in the freezer only to give them away or throw them away if they had been in the freezer for a few years. We were catching way more than we could possibly eat. I think we saw keeping all the fish as proof of a good outing. About 1999 we changed modes and decided to keep fish only if we were going to eat them that day, there was an upcoming fish-fry event, or a friend or neighbor wanted fish. So as not to lose our sense of success (or lack there-of) doing catch and release, we simply just kept count of our catch and took some pictures of the better fish. This new approach has turned out much better and has eliminated many, dreaded, back-breaking hours of cleaning fish.

Regarding taste, it is obviously a personal thing. I like white bass, black bass, catfish, and crappie. My favorite taste-wise is 10 to 12 inch white bass - they have good flavor without having to cut out the dark meat. To me, crappie are so mild that they have almost no taste, but I have known a lot of folks who would only eat crappie.

I don't eat them at all myself as I prefer crappie but this same question is brought up in the crappie fishing world. Those bigger fish are at the end of their life and have most likely spawned more than once. I say eat whatever size you like

Windbreaker, I am fishing the Brazos river just north of Possum Kingdom, near Graham. If you are near enough to make use of my spot I'd be happy to PM you with specifics.

Osborn & Fishin'aholic, thank you for confirming what another user said about harvest being negligible to white bass populations. It's good to know I'm not damaging my fishing for next year keeping some larger fish. Dennis, I totally agree with the sentiment of crappie having almost no flavor, I honestly would take a white bass over a crappie any day because of the meat being a bit more flavorful and less liable to turn to mush when cooking. I'm glad that people who are opposed to even a hit of fish flavor have the crappie to turn to, though.