Anyone know the mortality rate of alligator gar with catch and release? Just curious as although they seem very sturdy and able to handle low oxygen, not sure what a long fight will do to them as lactic acid builds up. I think at any rate if you are going to catch and release big gar it is probably best to use very heavy gear so you can get them in with as little of fight as possible and then let them go.

Personally I am always amazed when a giant alligator gar swims by. Some limit is obviously needed given the very efficient means in which they can be harvested. I am sure the actual need for regulations vary from place to place.

Describe this efficient means you speak of, please?

If you are doing nothing to solve the prpoblem of your fellow bowfishers, then you are part of the problem.

Here is a scenario...

Muslims say that the terrorist are giving Muslims a bad name, yet they are doing nothing to stop them.

The only difference is the severity of the offense.

All that being said, I am NOT against the type of bowfishing that Mesquite Man does. He seems to be one of the good ones.

I cannot say what is against the law or not, but can say what is blatanlty right or wrong. Shooting fish just to shoot them and dump them is BLATANTLY wrong

Mesquite,

You must think we are a bunch of idiots?

I think you should encourage your in-law, the Game Warden, to post in this section. He should explain to us how this specifically worded Wonton Waste of Fish law doesn't mean what it says. He should explain to us how we have it all wrong.


I have a feeling that the TPWD folks that regularly monitor this forum would like to see that.

Contrary to what you say you have the burden of proof, not us. We have the law written in plain English.


Until you/he have/has done so I don't think you have the right to publicly post in a public forum about your misinterpretation of the law.

Also Mesquite, about those copyrights, you might want to convey that same message to your Mike Bommer buddy as well. He took a page from the GASSBAG forum; http://bow.fishingcountry.com/bfcforums/showthread.php?t=12274&page=3

I posted this 7/22/08 when I first heard about this coming down the pipe to get some reactions from people. it was positive.

http://bow.fishingcountry.com/bfcforums/showthread.php?t=7946

That will depend on if you mouth or gut hook the gar. If you gut hook them, it's almost certain delayed mortality. If you mouth hook um, they probably won't die at all.

Now, That being said. I used to gut hook the Gar, but had several die at the boat, or had to watch them on the surface dying. So I've made the change to mouth hooking them and have not had one die on my yet.

I am not going to get into it with you. It is simply pointless and certainly not on topic. Just for the record, though...I have 2 relatives that are game wardens. One of them went with me Christmas night.

Also, I am not even interpreting the law. I am simply going by what I have been told by the folks that enforce the law Like I said before, I don't dump fish because I personally don't feel it is ethical. However, my personal ethics are just that. personal. I don't fish tournaments and go to extra measures to make sure that everything I take is utilized by someone. Beleive it or not, my personal views were changed by some of you guys here.

Not sure who MikeBommer is?? I am a member at the site mentioned but do not participate much at all. I lurk just like most of you.

Did you miss the post about bowfishermen talking about the hundreds of fish they kill per hour? That sounds very efficient to me...

The post is in this same thread.

LOL, apparently, i am a member of PETA according to one of those guys on there

Well look at it from the other side of the fence. Bowfishermen have been told before that our sport should be banned....who wants else wants fishing and hunting banned? I do not know what was stated or why but I do understand the feelings involved. When a sportsman who pays their fees and fishes or hunts legally and is still told they should not be allowed to do it any more it does sound just like peeta.

There are many that believe it should be banned because of the 'bad' seeds that make the sport look like $h!t. That's not the topic though.

The topic is raising awareness for this great fish. I'm glad TPWD are following the lead of other states and looking into the matter themselves. I would hate to see this great fish disappear!

With all due respect...I guess dove hunting should be banned as well since there are a LOT of guys that shoot more than their limit or help others fill their limit once they have limited out. I personally know many who shoot a limit in the morning and then go back out and shot another limit in the afternoon. That is completely illegal. I have turned one in myself. I also refuse to hunt with a number of them because of it. The bottom line is there are bad apples in every cart. It just happens to be that "you guys" are against bowfishing and it does not matter if there are good apples like I try to be.

Will you still defend deer hunting as the general public shifts away from seeing the good of it? Less and less people deer hunt each year. As that happens, more and more become anti hunters. When the majority turn against it, will you still defend deer hunting or will you jump in with them and be in favor of banning it? Deer hunting is certainly a blood sport.

Big Ted, take your scenario to Off Topic (since religion and terrorism don't fit well here) and let's examine your assertion. It's always easy to paint everyone with the same brush.


"If you are doing nothing to solve the prpoblem of your fellow bowfishers, then you are part of the problem.

Here is a scenario...

Muslims say that the terrorist are giving Muslims a bad name, yet they are doing nothing to stop them."