Sharelunker in MY OPINION is built on good intentions but in reality to many big fish are killed or die in captivity before spawning or just don't spawn due go the stress. And also sharelunker will not Spwn a fish unless it's pure Florida and over half are not pure Florida. Personally I'll never turn one in if I'm lucky enough to catch one ever. But to each his own. I do agree that program has drawn some interest in fishing in Texas and therefore has increased revenue.

I dont see any proof of it workin. Someone
Lead me to the results please.

This is what it's hurting.

ShareLunker No. 520
Caught by Todd Elrod of Fritch, TX
13.19 pounds, length 25.5 inches, girth 20
March 15, 2011 in Falcon
Status: Died 3/23/11

ShareLunker No. 519
Caught by David Cosner of Austin, TX
March 13, 2011 in Falcon
13.38 pounds, length 25 inches, girth 21.25 inches
Status: Died 4/8/11

ShareLunker No. 517
Caught by Jason Shropshire of Cleveland, TX
March 9, 2011 in Falcon
13.56 pounds, length 25.125 inches, girth 21 inches
Status: Died 3/13/11

This is what it's hurting.

ShareLunker No. 520
Caught by Todd Elrod of Fritch, TX
13.19 pounds, length 25.5 inches, girth 20
March 15, 2011 in Falcon
Status: Died 3/23/11

ShareLunker No. 519
Caught by David Cosner of Austin, TX
March 13, 2011 in Falcon
13.38 pounds, length 25 inches, girth 21.25 inches
Status: Died 4/8/11

ShareLunker No. 517
Caught by Jason Shropshire of Cleveland, TX
March 9, 2011 in Falcon
13.56 pounds, length 25.125 inches, girth 21 inches
Status: Died 3/13/11

I didn't read all of James Bendele's comments. Didn't need to. He speaks from experience and not out of his keister. I know the jest without reading it.

And I agree. This from a man who sat and visited last Saturday for 15 minutes with THE man when it comes to the SAL Prgram. Mr. David Campbell. A man quite deserving of a place in The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Hall of Fame.

From the time Mark Stevenson kicked off the SAL program with Ethel in 1986 until the time of the LMB virus on Fork, I would have been honored to catch and donate a SAL from Fork to TPWD.

Beyond that point, I don't see the benefit. The research has been done. The mistakes and successes are understood. All any fishery needs is time, a proper prey/predator ratio and minimal pressure to produce a DD largemouth of whopper proportions. EMPHASIS on the "minimal pressure"

I'm a big deer and big bass kinda guy. And I believe given age and nutrition, most are best left alone until full maturity to post-maturity. Unfortunately, we've not yet found a foolproof way to do that with whitetails. But we have with bass.

CPR those giants and let 'em swim!

Just so there is no confusion, I don't think of the SAL Program as a failure at all. Quite the contrary.

We are blessed with THE finest P&W institution of its type in the world. Why would so many other states and countries call upon TPWD for wildlife and fisheries management advice? Think about that for a minute and thank your lucky stars you live in Texas!

But I also agree with James. The SAL program has derived as much genetic material and info, while providing a unique experience for all TX fishermen, as is needed.

Fouz

3 fish out of 520? I'd like to see the overall numbers to form a better opinion. Wonder how many would have died of natural causes anyway due to age? How many died from poor handling PRIOR to Sharelunker picking them up? How many more big fish at Falcon would have had a chance at being a ShareLunker if they had not been kept in a cramped livewell all day waiting for a tournament weigh in?
So many variables that I would love to see black and white facts in order to make an informed decision. I can see a little of both sides but tend to trust the biologists more for now.

How does a couple 13 lb fish dying hurt a lake?