I know most peoples thoughts on CPR for big blue catfish . My question is what do you think would happen if we practiced CPR for channel cats , say 5# + ? There are places in Canada where 20-22 lb channela are pretty common and they have strict CPR policies . Thoughts ?

i dont think that is something we need for channel cat. canada does have huge channels BUt the reason isnt cpr, its because of all the run off they get. just a rich enviro for a channel.

With all the givin rights up wanted lets just see how long it takes Texas to change to LAWS as in other states ALL FISH CPR PERIOD. The more ya give the more they (goberment) will take. I believe more informed public is a lot better than any law.Just exactly what are the strict policies ?

We are not at arms with our state ,and the US is not trying to take fishing away from us.For the most part it is fisherman such as yourself that would like to fight for your rights to have trophy fish in our future. It is not like the good old days where I could go out on Lake Tawakoni ,and not see but a few boats per trip.Our sport is growing.There are people that are just joining our fourm every day that want shot at a trophy.If everyone that catches a trophy/(or 25) has the right to keep,and eat their fish without the respect/education that alot of us have for the fish/sport.That is alot of breader fish that we have lost.With laws that we have all had input into making we can save the larger fish by CPR ,and or some limits as what can be harvested.In the end hopefully everyone can harvest enough that the good Lord provides for our table,and we have trophy fish in our waters to catch ,and enjoy what we love to do!!!

Bingo!

Some well meaning folks try to make it a political issue, or a financial issue (tourism dollars) so what if those are the motivators, yes I want politics to stay out of fishing, but if the end result is healthier and bigger fish, so that 20 years from now my daughter can still catch one, I'm all for it.

Got no issues out of me. I throw 100% of all the channels that come over my rail back in the lake.

I throw all channels back over 5 lbs., not a law or something I have to do it's just my rule.

I personally throw every fish I catch back in the lake, because I don't eat fish. I fish because the excitement of knowing that the big one could bite at any minute.

I think what somebody does with their fish is there business. I keep big ones a lot and I throw a lot of big ones back just depeneds. everybody is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. We only rod and reel fish because we catch plenty for fish frys this time of year, but in the summer we'll run a line if we are low on fish and want a fry.

Im not trying to upset of offend anyone really, just trying to understand...

Why can a guy go buy a hunting license and be cool with the idea that he can only take 6 does and 2 bucks (or whatever the bag limit is this year) and then only during a few months out of the year.

But tell the same guy that he can keep all the cats he wants except the ones between xx lbs and xx lbs, all year long and he gets downright mad?

Apples and oranges.

Tell the guy he can only kill does next year, he has to only shoot cull bucks, but the price of the permit is increasing to cover policing costs.

Now you have a good analogy.

In your analogy, the hunter isn't losing anything. The fisherman is losing something he currently has. He won't likely get it back.

There are at least two schools of thought on this:

1. Catfish should not be dragged into the sportfish category just because some people decided to use a public resource (lake) to make a living off of (guiding) and want to have legislation that benefits their futures. Just because some people don't eat catfish doesn't mean their particular brand of fishing should get special attention. Catfish have long been a staple in many households and further restrictions on their harvest would do nothing but penalize people who eat catfish while not affecting how many of these monster size fish are actually hooked and dragged into a boat every year by guides.

2. Catfish are a natural resource like bass, they are stocked in most lakes at some point and they are harvested and almost never released. Their numbers are beginning to decline because of the incredible pressure put on them (even by guides who are just conduits to get license holding people to the fish)so they should be conserved for the sake of posterity.


I am a hybrid of the two schools of thought. I don't like knee jerk legislation based on anecdotal evidence from otherwise laymen biologists with rod and reels. At the same time, there should be studies done to determine the impact of the fishing pressure and to come up with a working solution, not just something carbon copy from bass fishing that may or may not do anything (for example, you cannot regulate what size catfish will be on a trotline for hours on end, you can only regulate the trotline itself).

I don't like losing ground on what I am currently allowed to do. I get it that sometimes these things are needed, but let TPW come out with that study. I am not moved by people just making off the cuff suggestions about it not even knowing the facts. (not aimed any anyone in particular).

We have a choice ,I take fish home to eat all the time I just return the larger fish.
If you know anything about wildlife managment on large good leases .They do not just take your money ,and let you shot all the trophys.TPWD does a great job however some of us would like a change before it is too late. You made a great point you can not just go off of their cull report.Time on the water makes a huge impact on what you see go on on a lake.I am not trying to tell anyone what to do by any means,I personally see a huge change in our area lakes.Some for the good ,and some for the not so good.I just do not want to come to this.....
Buffalo hunting (hunting of the American bison) was an activity fundamental to the Plains Indian tribes of the United States, which was later adopted by American professional hunters, leading to the near-extinction of the species.

Fair enough Kat man,

I never meant to imply that any limit or slot restriction should be imposed lightly or summarily, what I am saying is get TPWD over to do a legitiamte professional study, and put forth reasonable laws if they are needed.

I just want to see the big cat fishery last a long long time. It seems like just good sense.

If you notice, most people who talk about CPR of catfish dont say anything about changing the laws. The few who bash us for bringing up CPR are the ones who cry about changing the laws. I am not a guide but still have changed alot of peoples minds about keeping bigger fish. The catfish community can pretty well take care of its own if more education on the subject gets out.
most people nowadays do not count on fish as a staple of their diet so there is no real reason for them to keep every fish they catch and will agree with CPR if introduced to them in a civil manner. Even the petition got blown up about changing the laws when if you actually read it, it only calls for people to show they are interested in growing a trophy catfish program and would like the TPWD to actually do some studies on what would be the best way to go about it. JMHO