I fish on average at least 50 times a year, I've seen fish that were shot left at the ramp once in the last two years (1%)

Ive seen beer bottles, bait packages and liver containers left by bank fishermen 100% of the time.

Should we give all bank fishermen a black eye because of a few slobs? Because it seems like thats exactly what you're trying to do with bowfishermen.

Smoked fish is one of my favorites.

Received this from TPW today:


---------- Forwarded message ----------

This would be a violation under the "waste of fish" clause, which can be found on page 33 of the regulations booklet:

----
It is unlawful to leave edible fish or bait fish taken from the public waters of the state to die without the intent to retain the fish for consumption or bait.
----

Some anglers would argue that gar and buffalo are "trash" fish, and not edible. But there are people who eat both species; in fact, those fish are sometimes caught and sold by commercial fishermen. So this behavior is technically illegal. As a practical matter, however, it's seldom prosecuted, because:

- A Game Warden would have to catch a person in the act of shooting the fish and leaving them to rot and so many Texans have traditionally thought of gar and buffalo as trash fish


Leaving heaps of dead and dying fish near a public boat ramp is CERTAINLY bad manners, and could be classified as littering and/or creating a public nuisance. If local authorities could figure out who's doing it, charges of that sort might be easier to file.

Here are some places to call when you see this type of violation:
- Operation Game Thief hotline at 800-792-4263 (especially if you see the behavior in progress)
- The county sheriff's office
- The river authority or whoever maintains the boat ramp. This behavior is "polluting" a public use area and making it unpleasant for other visitors. If enough people complain, they might at least put up signs telling these folks to dispose of their carcasses somewhere else.

Web Coordinator, Inland Fisheries Division
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(512) 389-8055


-----Original Message-----
From: DONOTREPLY@prodcs.tpwd.state.tx.us [mailto:DONOTREPLY@prodcs.tpwd.state.tx.us]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2014 7:28 PM
To: inld
Subject: Web Site - E-MAIL REPLY REQUESTED - Fishing, Freshwater


*** E-mail reply requested!


User was on this page:
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Comment or Question:

Is it legal for any fishermen to leave dead or dying fish taken out of public waters on the ground? Specifically I have witnessed large piles of long nose gar and buffalo on the banks of the Brazos and at a boat ramp on the Brazos. The fish appeared to have been shot with rifle or bow. Is this just littering or is it waste of natural resources? If it is illegal, in the future should I report this and if so to whom?

Would I eat one, not in a million years with the best recipe.

Its your obvious contempt for bow fishermen (as evident in about 100 threads) that makes me question why you're on this bowfishing smear campaign.