Carey, thanks for getting this message out. Kudo's to you for having the courage to take this stand and not any reward $.

I think public hanging is a suitable punishment for people who use gill nets. Ok maybe that is a little harsh..then again. Good job getting those out. Hopefully replacement nets are too expensive for those buying them after they lose a couple.

"Keep the money get another game warden"
Couldn't agree more!

Wow I had no clue, can't believe you found that many at Hubbard!

No wonder I can't catch any fish there LOL. Great job getting that message out..

ive got goosebumps.he even has on a real guides shirt.very professional.

Ok dumb question--if gillnets kill so many fish why is that the method used by TPWD?

I hate to hear that. Hopefully the game wardens can get a handle on it. I would sure like to see those 15lb Hybrids from Ray Hubbard.

Me too Gene!!

For those of you that may not have been around here for long, there was a time when hybrids that size were not rare at all on RH! If memory serves, there was once a 19 lb hybrid caught out of that lake.

Back in the day there was a Sporting Goods store in Oak Cliff, called Smitty's. Smitty himself caught it and for a long time there was some heated, high tone debate over whether it was a hybrid or a full blooded striper(at one time RH was stocked with pure stripers, as was Lavon). Biologists could not even agree if I recall correctly. But as best i can remember, it was finally certified as a hybrid.

Just thought you ought to know.

Rudy

How often does one have to check the gill nets? I just wonder if the game warden could stake out the area and catch the person putting them out. What would the fine/jail term be for that?

Are these even legal anywhere?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-50-X-18-MONOFILA...=item4aa738ce3c

Wow, Smitty caught that fish? I have heard the story about the debate many times before, but never heard Smitty caught it. If so, that is awesome! Smitty also still holds the Lake Tawakoni hybrid record. I'll have to ask Jimmy next time I see him.



expand?




I really haven't heard of TPWD using gill nets. I do know this, they can be ran every 3 hours and fish caught will be alive and able to be released. I have a friend that has a lake right off the Sabine. In 30+ years the river never flooded it. When the river finally did, it was filled with rough fish. They set a gill net and ran it all day and night, releasing all the carp, buffalo and gar back into the river alive.

They have a purpose when used legally. Illegal usage should warrant a hanging. They were running them on the 2mile bridge at Tawakoni several years ago and crappie fishermen kept finding them strung up. I heard a bunch of wild stories of striper that would weigh 30 pounds and catfish that could talk...... but when I talked to the game warden about it, he said there were no record fish in the nets. Still pizzes me off. I think when somebody finds one, they need to be staked out and catch the poachers using it.