Yeah and with a slot you would still have the problem with "bigots" poaching them. Sniff sniff

Albert,,, do you actually catch big fish?? and keep them, or just sucker bite on this topic... for the right of folks that catch and keep them? you seem passinate in this subject and it just makes me curiuous? You are probably my elder so I appoligize if this seems arrogant or disrespectful. I am assuming you are thick skined , since you dish it out to the folks that preach the throw back deal. Again, (and I mean this) I really am not trying to start a big typing war with ya or anyone else, just curious if you actually are putting the throwdown on big eaters or just putting up the good fight for what you believe in
???

BTW I dont have a problem with it either way./// I believe God put all the creatures on this place for us to EAT...

but I am not ashamed of the fact that I chunck back the over 10s . I do how ever eat EVERY BASS I CATCH just to erk my bass buds that fish E.Tex tourneys:)

i think i thought it for awhile.now i think i thought about it too much.time to stop thinking about that thought.

we sometimes catch those big green fish in the beautiful cast nets from jjason!

Iam sure some of you remember when catfishing was considered far less than a sportsmans event and was thought of as less of a sport and more of a way to put groceries on the table.I belive people should keep what they intend to eat regardless of size.Keep what you can eat the rest will stay much fresher swimming in the lake.Catfishing is becoming a very big industry just like deer hunting has become. Remember this (exploitation) of any thing will always lead to a bitter end for everyone.

Any day you can fish is a good day ill do my part to keep it that way.

Nothing tastes better than a 10lbs large mouth bass grilled on the half shell. You don't even have to salt the meat because there will be a bass fisherman crying over your grill. His salty tears season the fish perfectly...

i don't fish even close to the amount i used to but i really like bigger fish for eatin' ... when i tell folks about all the yellers i usta catch most don't seem to believe me until i pull out the pics

i don't want you or anybody else to be ashamed of throwin' big fish back ... but you know as well as i do there are many that want to shame somebody for eatin' a big'un ... i just want the choice to be mine, not some snot nosed basserized elitist ... can't for the life of me see why anybody would want catfishing to turn into what bass fishin' has turned into ... but we are heading there very fast

i feel just as strong about this as the CPR nazis do ... i'm not joking

i would really be fine with this

5 fish limit 12"-30"
3 fish limit 30"-45"
1 fish limit over 45"

The point was you were releasing it not because you didn't want it, but because you wanted it released. Those are two different things that the lady in question probably didn't consider. You weren't denying her of a meal or 12, but you were following through with your plans to release that fish. It would be no different than allowing a buck to walk when your buddy wanted you to shoot it so he could eat it. That happens all the time.

As far as right or wrong, you were not wrong and she was not wrong. Like Albert said, it's not a moral or ethical issue, just personal choice.

Growing up my uncle & dad caught all sorts of big cats out of Texhoma, even back then they would usually release anything over 5 lbs cause they didnt taste as good as the 1-3 lb fish. I do the same, released PB 41 lb flathead, and 36 lb blue, haven't been luck enough to catch a channel over 5...

I have to agree with Albert, it is a personal choice. As long as it is considered legal by the governing laws affecting that lake or river, everyone should learn to respect each person's right to make that personal choice.

As for slots, they are in Vegas, as well as if you cross the border into Louisiana at the riverboat casinos there too. -grin-

As long as the TP&W have done thorough testing & research, I am not against slots. I may disagree, but have to abide by the rule. If I dislike it enough, then I have the right to boycott the lake or river due to it. If I feel strong enough (or had time enough), I might raise awareness & ask others to get involved to get it changed.

I think if you wish to participate in CPR, that is fine. I will defend your right to do so. But that could range in preferences, be it larger fish, or certain slots, as deemed by each person. What is considered a big fish by one, may not be as big to another. So you will have variance & diversity. As they say, its in the eyes of the beholder.

But if you wish to keep all or most of your fish catches, as long as it is legal, then I have no problem with that. I will defend your right as to that. I keep all of mine, but sometimes have gotten home to clean them & had to stop short due to some emergency. If so, I might throw a few in our front tank, if alive. If not, then I mighht pitch them directly in the freezer.

One co-worker caught a huge 14 pound stocky channel from a pond. He brought it by work, gave it to me to add to the next fish fry. I put it in the bathrrom sink & covered it. But I forgot the private water we had, also had chlorine & it killed it. So I put it in several trash bags & put it in the top freezer. I took it home & added it to one of my freezers. I finally pulled it out about two or 3 months later, thawed it, cleaned it, and cut it up into boneless chunks for the company fish fry. I do one fish fry at work once a year (since January 2007)

But if you keep your fish, do so responsibly. Know what you are doing with it. Do not take to excess. As for me & my family, we eat a lot of fish. I do several church fish fries a year. I fry from time to time at the lake & tell other campers to come over & get some. Last year I started a Good Friday fish fry for my son-in-law's side. They have been pestering him for the past month as to whether I will be coming back to do it again. My daughter never told him I said I would. I got a feeling I will be frying much more, as those there have put the word out to those who weren't.

I also give fish (already cut up into boneless chunks & frozen in water in ziplocs) away (free) to those who cannot for some reason go & catch fish, some of which are handicapped. I can preserve a bag of fish for 6 to 10 years in the freezer if I wish to. Kind of like having a favorite good eatin' catch that you want to save a bag of that fine wine (fish) for way down the road to eat.

I don't catch anywhere near what I am capable of. Why? I don't have that amount of time to clean fish, nor the room in the freezers for endless amounts.

But I will tell you this, regardless of your stance, you had better take advantage of your catfishin' whichever way you choose the next 3 years. If you keep bickerin' about it now, you will have wasted all of that time for negativity. The Earth (this ball we call home), as well as the Sun, runs thru periodic cycles. Major drought & famine are just up ahead round the bend, which may run for 3 to 10 years in duration.

I not only study & research catfish (& catfish calendar), but philosophy, people's habits, ancient civilizations, Space-Time, and cycles, among much, much more.

Very well said Albert.

I was told the real big ones have too much fat , tougher meat ,and our favorite,parasites,and last but not least lots of eggs.Proven breeders.

10-4 Albert, I hear ya all the way.... My biggest flatty is only 17 lbs and it was like one big crappie when I chopped it up I dang sure dont like folks telling me what I can or cant do either....

keep the big ones there delisous.