I see a lot of larger hybrids in pictures on here and some other locations on the net and was wondering how many keep all of the over sized fish, or what is the cut off point to release them?

When I was bass fishing >90% of the time, we were encouraged by some of the biologists to keep fish under the slot to assist in population control and to let the over fish go for breeding. Now, since the hybrids are sterile, is there an argument for release other than for the critter to fight another day as a potentially larger fish?

Also, how do the hybrids taste in comparison to sandies after taking a good grease bath? Is there a difference in flavor as the fish get larger?

I'm full of questions when it comes to new things as all of you will soon see!

Charlie

I personally only keep them if they bleed or float. I can't taste a difference but I eat very few so i may not be the best source of info on that topic.

For the very reason that they do not naturally reproduce, i encourage all to CPR as many as possible. On the other hand, I do not throw a fit when I see someone keeping a legal limit.

Let the hybrids grow.....take home some sand bass if your hungry. throw the guts in your hog trap for bait...

I feel the reason to release the fish is because they can not
reproduce effectively . We are at the mercy of TPWD for our stockings.
If they skip your lake for a few years , you will see #'s
fall rapidly.

There are much better eating fish out there.


Mo

+1

I agree catch and release when you are dailed in on them. ( and know how to catch them unlike me ---LOL--)But I only catch 1 or two a year and one on the grill is pretty good . In the past 4 years I have only caught 5 so I am not doing near as much damage as the bankers have been doing in the past couple of months. But I like catching sandies and also LOVE eating them so there is no worry about me putting a dent in the Hybrids population. ---LOL--- But YES!! Catch picture and release I thunk it is good.

I give 90% of my fish away to relatives, friends & co-workers. I have only kept 15 hybrids over the last 3 years of fishing the area lakes. Like Keith I prefer the taste of sandbass. When I have fish in the freezer I release everything I catch unless it won't CPR.

i use barbless hooks,all fish we catch go back.every single one

As stated earlier, I tend to throw back most of the hybrids I catch this time of the year. However, when we get into the hot weather I tend to keep more simply because a big percentage just dont survive the release after a hard fight. If people want to legally keep hybrids that is their right and you wont catch me giving them [censored] about it.

I wasn't trying to get anything stirred up at all. Just curious about it since I've heard both sides of the argument on the water from fisherfolks, from biologists, etc...

I'm a CPR guy most of the time, but per my wife, that will soon change with the sandbass, bar fish, and crappie to be had in RH. She was a bit irked that I came home empty handed last night even though I caught a lot of fish.

Charlie

I don't keep hybrids from Hubbard. Seems there are too few and I can munch on hundreds of sand bass if I get hungry. I do not think there is much of a taste difference but to each is own.

There is no cut off length to keep them or throw them back. The minimum is 18". If they are over that, you can keep 5.

For those who fished Hubbard several years ago you remember how infrequent the Hybrid catching was. After seeing that, even though the fishshing the past two years has improved, I still don't keep them.

If I had a choice I would only eat the 10-11" sandbass and yellow bass. And I would take a yellow bass over any fish EVERY day.

CPR all the way baby. It's not like the other fish in your lake that can multiply. Whatever was stocked is it. It is looking like Twok is the only one that will get replenished and that is thru a private organization. If I do keep fish (crappie or blues)I will take 1-3 fish home and we will eat fresh fish that night. I am done with freezing them. There is no comparison on how good fresh fish taste compared to frozen. But I am lucky to only live 5 miles from the lake so it is not a problem for me. I like seeing the pictures from the guides but it does make me sad to see all the hybrids laying in those photos. But it is legal and that is that. I have really enjoyed having hybrids in Lewisville and would be sad if they were gone.

How does a hybrid get into the double digits? They live past the point of 5,6,7,8,and 9 pounds. Put the hybrids back and keep as many of the sand bass as you want up to 25 per person per day.

+1 on yellow bass. An over looked table fare.

Worm on a hook

Whites are a dime a dozen, fun to catch and good to eat. Hybrids are a good, fun fight but I don't care to eat em. I just like to catch em, snap a pic and throw it back. To each their own....