I love catching big hybrids, and I love eating them also. I am with Bluewave on this though, they dont freeze well so I usually only keep 2 or 3 bigger ones, and that is only when I feel like eating some. That is enough to feed my family of 3 plus a little leftover for me to graze on the rest of the night.

Great discussion and one that has been on my mind as well.

In the past I used to keep and clean the hybrids because I rarely caught one. Now that I've been catching quite a few, I think letting them go will be my MO.

Of course.... I do like a 4-5 lb. guy every now and then for some big 'ol blackened fillets in the cast iron skillet.

Good topic.

Jackson

Kept a few, release even more. With budget cuts and a sure decline in stocking program I will more then likley realease alot more then I have in the past. I have no beef with anyone that wants to keep legal caught fish.

I agree with hydrasport- I have seen a lot of hybrids/stripers floating in the heat of the summer at tawakoni

Does anyone know where I can go read about the Lake Ray Hubbard restocking program? I see people quote numbers of fingerlings stocked, but I haven't found where they are getting these values.

I've searched TP&WL website and can't find anything about the Lake Ray Hubbard hybrid program.

Any ideas?

Jackson

here is the Ray Hubbard history by species, hope this helps.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/stock_bywater.php?WB_code=0600

Hubbard , Like Palestine , got skipped in 2010. If we get no fish this year,
fishing will start to suffer soon.

MO

I release them for these reasons: I don't eat them, there fun to catch, give someone else a chance to catch one. The trick is, I believe, is the fight. Take it slow and you will not harm them. At least i've seen all of the ones I release swim off rather hastily. I guess I 'm a pure fish for sport kinda guy

Since I can't seem to catch but one legal Hybrid a year I keep it for the grill LOL . I like sandies for the fish fry

I rarely pull hybrids from a lake but if I do I make sure it is from a good hybrid populated lake.

If you want to keep hybrids and they are legal, of course you have every right to do that. For those who have fished RH for the past couple of years and seen the seemingly depleted hybrid population, now seeing that it seems to be a lot better this year, I think the RH anglers want to see the lake flourish and let the hybrids grow. True they do not reproduce but they can grow.

It isn't common to catch a 10lb hybrid from RH (I know some have, just not common) so I think what the "fear" is is....
We are now (unlike recent years past) seemingly seeing a good hybrid population, lets let them stay in the lake and grow, IMO

I liken it to a deer lease....If we get on a new lease and the first year we see a bunch of 8 points, we don't shoot them that year - we wait and let them grow. Last year on Hubbard we saw a few "six pointers", (meaning not a lot of hybrids and not a lot of big uns). Our hope is those "six pointers" (small - average hybrids) grow to be "12 point trophies" (Big hybrids)

I know a lot of RH anglers who now fish T-Wak because you have a chance to catch a monster hybrid there - or a way better chance than you do at Hubbard. I don't know if Hubbard could ever become a big time hybrid lake but I'll bet the only way to find out is to let them stay for a bit.

Just my 2 cents. I know the Texas Parks and Wildlife know way more than I do.

They are not that good to eat. I think even sandbass need to be eaten before freezing. If you like them keep your limit. I don't cause Palestine doesn't have any.

Just like any other fish.
Keep what you need and let the others live to fight another day!

I know of a local fisherman that is retired.

He focuses on crappie, but limits out about every single day.
Keeps every fish that is legal size.

Heard he has several freezers full of fish.
What a waste!

It sure doesn't take very many hybrids to feed a family one evening.

I typically release them. I prefer the taste of the sand bass but love the sport of the hybrid.

Here lately the only time I'll keep a Hybrid is when my old man is fishing with me....I'd be thrown out of the boat otherwise. Lakesteak knows who I speak of!!

Lake Streak,

You've got it down perfect.

If you need a few fish to eat - keep it.

If you have enough release them all.

I know I'm a guide - most my folks they want to keep all they can (most have to buy a one day fishing licenese before we go out).

It's their day (and if you don't have any) and you'll eat em all - then keep em.

Hybrids don't reproduce - so release them to be caught again (hopefully bigger and for someone else to enjoy em) - or what good does that do since they can't reproduce - and they have a short life span?

It just comes down to if you need some fish to eat (and don't give away fish) them keep you some.

But if you are a fisherman - just keep what you need and release the rest - it's good for our sport (plus there is several better fish for your keeping and eating - Crappie, Blues and Flat Heads).

But still just keep what you need (no give aways - it's our sport) and release the rest,

Give them old people the benefit of living past the great depression. My grandfather was like that, keep everything you can eat, sell or hold water in. Dad always told me it was because of his meals in the depression was boiled bone soup on a good day.