You will get a ticket for a fish that touches the 14" mark. The game warden says a fish 14" long is in the slot.

I've known Game Wardens to be wrong before. I also know that the GW will try to get the absolute maximum length possible from the fish by pinching the tail. I measure fish the way that I've had GW's show me that THEY measure fish.

How I interpret it, is if I'm looking for a fish fry, I'm turning loose anything at or over 13 3/4". Just like if minimum size is 14", he has to be 14 1/4" or more before I'm putting it on ice. Doesn't matter if its bass, trout, redfish, etc.

Now for a tournament where money is on the line, that 13.99" fish might mean the difference in a loss or a win, cashing a check or not cashing a check.

I'm not concerned about the 24 or greater part. That will likely never happen for me..............

My whole point is that a simple change in wording would solve any misunderstanding. I have asked TP&W about this and was told this is how they want it to read.

how would you word it to make it any more clear than it is. The wording seems very clear to me. A gamewarden who writes a ticket for a 14" or 24" fish would be wrong.
Edit: Ok I read the red letters and see that they might have used the word or
instead of and. Is that what you are suggesting?

I suggested wording to be: "less than 14" and more than 24" may be retained"

I've felt this way for years!
I have to agree with the last sentence of TPWD reply!
It seems key areas of their game law booklet, as well as their website is worded to confuse, and they obviously and admittedly like it that way!....More revenue generated that way!
Giving them the benefit of the doubt maybe it's because there are too many people envolved to simplify some of the regs or it's by design, to which I prefer to pick the later. It would seem save on time, paper and print if they did it right, but maybe they think they are doing it right for their purpose.

I think it's so the game warden, if he chooses, can write a citation for a 14" bass. Then it is up to the judge to determine. Most would just pay the fine and restitution by mail, but if you wanted to contest it, it would mean a day off to appear before the judge and then it is a roll of the dice if he will see it your way.

I've talked to a few GW's about exact situations like this where I didn't understand the wording of something and every one of them said they were pushing to have the wording changed so that it was easier for people to understand.

The question is Why on earth would you kill a BASS? Crappie and Walleyes are for eating.

What? You don't like a nice delicious bass?

You must not be from around here.........Oh and BTW what the heck is a walleye

It is important to understand that measuring slot limits are different for freshwater and saltwater. On a freshwater 14 to 24, if you can get it to 14" put it back, if you can't get it longer than 24" put it back. The real key is to measure the fish the way the Warden will.

TPWD allows you to measure a fish one of two ways to determine the fish's maximum length. You can use either or both methods to determine the fishes maximum length. Warden's understand that if you put a fish on ice, it will shrink a very very small amount, but not a 1/2". So you can't tell a Warden that the fish was legal when you caught it. Just use good common sense and be an honest fisherman. Most of the time if you're a 1/16-1/8" off on one fish, it could come down to how it was measured and by who. Wardens aren't out filling a quota, they are out to protect the fisheries and boater safety.

If it's on the line, I throw them back. No worries that way.

^ That pretty much sums it up. Almost like Capt Craig is reading my mind. You on the payroll?