I believe a person who buys a license has every right to keep whatever they want to as long as it is legal. If that means they want to put that 12 lb bass in their freezer to either eat or have mounted then by all means they have that right. In my opinion Fish were put on this earth to eat, not to place in a cage and admire

very tasty indeed

So how would you determine if it was a 14-15" male or a 14-15" female?

I think a lot of tournament fishermen worry too much about the general public keeping bass, which is legally their right, it is no different than shooting a limit of dove, quail, ducks, or harvesting deer etc., I keep a few bass every now and then but never keep large females, I would rather have two pounders. For the most part the folks that keep the larger bass are the bank fishermen or the folks that do not get to fish much, they will not fish a lake out, they have been trying for years and we still have plenty of bass to catch.

Smaller fish tast better y keep fish over 4 lb. I can feed 8 people w/ 5 - 15" easly. Now if your a pig then so be it. Same the big 1's to have better Genedices.

Yes a person does have a right to keep some fish but is also our responsibility to protect these resources and treat them with respect! IF everyone went around keeping all the big females, then there wouldnt be fish to spawn and keep the lakes stocked!

Furthermore, I dont promote keeping big bass, or any wild animal, in a cage unless it is truely for the betterment of the species or that animals well being. In no way do I think it is any better to hold captive than to kill in eat. Both are taking resources out of the water.

Once again, there is nothing wrong with keeping some fish for food, but do it responsibly! If we do not than we will loose this resource!

Youre also from Louisiana

So whats the diferance eat bass,crappie, or catfish there is know a slot limit on catfish in three Texas lakes.

Yes I am and I'm also member of PETA "People who Eat Tasty Animals"

I love how some will say they hate to see a big female taken home and cleaned, yet they will put it in a livewell and haul it miles away from its bed in order to put it on some scales, only to be dumped out of a holding tank at the nearest launch hours later. Sorry but if half of the people who are so adamant about catch and release actually cared about the fish then they would never see the inside of a livewell. That's just my opinion though. Oh and just so everyone knows I haven't actually kept a bass in years, I prefer crappie any day of the week

I dont keep any bass, thats by choice. People do have a right to keep any, but would hope they are keeping the smaller fish for conservation sake.

I also know its not cool to keep fish full of eggs or take the sows from the lake, to eat or otherwise. My question is this though, how many of those who preach day and night about fish care and how bad the sharelunker is...what happens when that same person catches the state record or world record. You would be a complete hypocrit if you didnt release it on the spot.