Ok...most of the time I'm pretty quite on here and only try to help people out when they need it, like I was helped when I first started fishing North Texas.

With that being said I have fished the coast most of my life and grew up in that area. Most guides that I have used will tell you, "hey guys...lets keep a couple fish shy of our limit so that way you can have some to come back to". I respect those guides and those fisherman and have always come back to find more and more. There are some pictures on here particularly this section of the forum with pictures of fish stacked over and over again.

Is this smart? Should we be keeping that many fish...who in their right mind is going to eat that many fish in a month or two? Shouldn't we as experienced fisherman be the bearers of the flame, take pictures and throw some of those back?

Dont get me wrong, keep a couple and have them for dinner but to try and fill an entire fridge in one day is ridiculous in my mind. Most of the time they wont be eaten and get thrown away after a couple of months.

Anyone else feel this way?

2 exceptions: (1) If you are trying to get enough fish for an event fish fry, and (2) if you are supplying fish to a local food pantry - both asking me at present for fish.

I know one guy on here who posts limits of white bass and big hybrids or blue catfish, because he supplies his local church with fish. The fish are all legal, most are magnums, and never more than a limit.

I see no problem with it as long as laws are followed, and the fish are all legal.

On the other hand, i often get asked what i do with all the fish i catch since i post so many pics, most in the bank fishing section. I tell em i catch em take their picture, and release them to fight another day.

Yin/yang!

Rudy

I am sure the Texas fish and game knows how to manage the limits.

Aggie Raf, this post will probably get pretty sticky before it's over.All I have to say is, I love the sport of fishing, and I too will keep fish only as a necessity, and not a nicety, meaning for a family event, or for a weekend as the one we have upcoming. With that said,you'll have many other views, as far as people who say the limit is 25 why not keep that many,and also guides who make a living fishing,and their clients who want to keep the limit they paid for. I can honestly tell you I realease 90% of the fish I catch throughout the year, but that's just me. Oh, except for that one that's on my wall, that one is mine!!!!

You're turn guys..

Personally I understand guides keeping limits for their customers because that's what they get paid for. I'm sure if their customers don't want to keep their limit the guide will throw them back. I keep only what I will eat or only what I need. Probably 50% of my fishing is catch and release. I don't have a problem with someone keeping their limits as long as they're within the law and they eat them or someone they know eats them. I feel like the TPWD does a good job of regulating limits on area lakes. Having said that, if I witness someone catching fish and saving them just to get them back to the boat ramp and throw them away because they don't feel like cleaning them I will take down boat numbers and tag numbers and report them. The same with someone keeping undersized fish. I have operation game theift's number in my cell phone for people like that. Right now my freezer is getting low on fillets and I would like to get on some fish.

Some lakes get more pressure than others, A LOT MORE. Lewisville and Ray Hubbard are examples of HEAVILY pressured lakes. In most cases regarding whites, stripers and hybrids, the TP&W has set the same limits for all Texas lakes. I know there are exceptions i.e. Texoma. I think it is up the individual anglers to recognize that this is not a limitless resource and exercise restraint when keeping fish on heavily pressured lakes. On lakes that don't see a lot of pressure I think it is a good idea to keep some limits of fish. Personally, I'd like to see the TP&W adjust the size limit up and quantity limit down and INFORCE the limits on lakes like LL and RH.

I fish for the fun of it. I only keep crappie and I do not hardly keep my limit. I catch and release about 90% of my fish also. I would love to have more wardens on the lake and have the people that do not go by the law taken to jail. I am not talking about a fish over or having one under or something small, but if they find people taking as many as possible and no lic and things get all the things taken and them thrown in jail. A ticket does nothing. They just do not pay it like they do not get a license. I am one of the few guys that likes to see a warden on a lake. But I agree only keep what your going to eat, unless for a church or something.

I think a large percent of the fish that are kept are wasted. I hear so many people say I had to throw so many lbs of fillets away. I think it is a macho thing to prove how good of a fisherman they are.I always keep afew bags in my freezer so when my grandkids want fish I have them. It is a resoruce that is extremely wasted. It has not been too many years that there was no limit on sandbass so it may not be too long before it is lowered again who knows.I would just like to see the wasted fish elimated. But a lot of people say the law says I can keep 25 they will do it even if they don't need the fish.
As far as guiding if there are several people I try to lead the people into keeping half of the limits allowed. But if they want to keep all the limit allowed their is nothing you can do about because they are paying the bill.
Johnny

I have never been a big eater of fish so I have always practiced catch and release. If somebody wanted some fish than I would keep a few for them. as long as the fish aren't wasted I don't see a problem keeping them. I am going to start keeping some for myself because they are good for you. Just got to find a good recipe.

I rarely keep fish, most of the guides that I know would be happy to release all of the fish they catch, except for Matt Cartwright, he loves to clean fish.

Luckily for me, I can't seem to catch enough fish to be part of the problem.

BrandonA,
I have a great recipe for you.

Before I tell everyone the recipe let me explain my original post. I dont have a problem with people keeping fish...I was just concerned about our future generations with people keeping hundreds of fish. I never thought about churches wanting to feed the hungry and I as a hunter and fisherman I LOVE that idea. I also understand that the state takes things into consideration when making limits, but isnt it also up to us to make sure that our future has the same fishery as we do? For example, while fishing the lower coast last year we had a BANNER day of reds and trout. While talking to an older fisherman he mentioned that when he was a child something like that would be written in the papers for months. He never saw fish like that before and was happy to see the number where they should be. Now, for the longest time those measures were strict and with the help of locals and government the fishing has been great and getting better. I would just hate to see our kids saying that their parents had great trips fishing but they have never experienced it. After all its up to everyone to be a conservationist, right?

Ok recipe time:
Take a couple of fillets of fish and season them with Tony's or anything else you like. Then go and get a Cedar plank that has been soaking in water for about an hour and grill them till the sides start to flake.

In the kitchen make some rice and veggies.

In another skillet quickly saute some 1 shallot in olive oil. Then add some white whine vinegar and let that reduce. Then add some white wine and let that reduce. You want to see the sauce become thick. When that happens add a 1/2 cup of heavy cream and a 1/2 stick of butter. Let all that melt and warm up. Taste the sauce and check to make sure it doesnt need pepper and salt.

When you make your plate place the fish on the rice and spoon the white sauce over the fish. MAAANNNNNN.....this will melt in your mouth and make everyone want more!! By far the best way to eat sandbass and hybrids.

AggieRaf

Ok, Im at work and dont feel like reading each paragraph that was posted on this thread so sorry if I repeat something thats already been said. (yes i'm lazy but at least im honest) The TPWD doesnt pick random numbers for limits, they pick a number that will allow all bodies of water to keep a healthy population of all fish species with fisherman keepin some on a regular basis. It is not our place to say that we are keeping too many.

I love to eat fish and I love cooking it for my friends and family. I keep as much as can (without going over the limit) whenever I can and I have never felt that I was affecting the fish population. Luckily for yall I'm not that great of a catfisherman yet and dont limit out very often lol

Plus I hardly ever fish for sandies or striper so that helps yall out even more haha