In Alabama, it is illegal to fillet a fish on the rivers,until you get home, because we have size limits, and "slot limits" on largemouth bass (you must let largemouth between 13-16 inches go).The marine biologist keep a close eye on the bass population, and if it is getting too big, they will remove the slot limit for a few months, or a season, to get the largemouth bass back to where the populations need to be. They say that law is mostly because Weiss lake(the backwater of the Coosa River) here is considered the "Crappie Capitol of the World" by many, and the Crappie must be 9 inches long in most rivers, and 10 inches from Lake Weiss, and the game wardens cannot measure the length of a fish from a fillet. Also, you better not have more than the creel limit of any species on you PERIOD.. If you are gonna keep the biggest fish, then you must immediately release one (Live) smaller fish right then, or they will give you a HUGE ticket(s).... I like those laws, cause it really does cut down on poaching etc, and gives us all a healthy, prospering fish population here, Chuck
----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 12:36 PM Subject: RE: [VFB] Environmentalist/Conservation - FR&R This expression probably refers to the practice of dropping EVERYTHING you catch into the live well. When you get to shore, you fillet the fish you intend to keep, and throw the rest (too small, etc.) back into the water, whether or not they are still alive, and whether or not they will survive after the way they have been treated (including the trauma of being caught). I have seen this done. This is a lot more damaging to fish populations than keeping one or two for dinner. It's outrageous. Larry J >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2/9/2006 9:06 AM >>> I was a little curious about what a filet and release is also. I thought it was just dumping the waste until I saw Paul Marriners post about filleting and releasing them live???? How's that possible? I'm not sure I really want to know but you know what they say about curious minds*. Regards, Deb -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ed Roden Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 9:25 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [VFB] Environmentalist/Conservation - FR&R That issue is still on the night-stand - I'll try and read Ted's rant later today and comment.....if you aren't familiar with Ted Williams, he is an EXTREMELY thought-provoking writer who will usually rub you the wrong way for something. Almost every issue has a letter of somebody complaining they're canceling their subscription because of him, but I have found him to be very thorough in most of his research, even if I don't agree with all of his conclusions. I would encourage you to do a google search on "michigan coaster brook trout" to find out more. They are endangered, though in the UP more from sulfide mining than from "fillet-and-release" crowds. I'll add more later.... On 2/8/06, Kevin W. Machon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On the environmentalist topic, has anyone found Ted Williams article in the newest FR&R, "Bringing Back The Giants", about great lakes "coaster" brookies mildly disturbing? I'm fine with fishing magazines calling for removing dams and new legislation and even picinkg out any political party for doing whatever they're doing. But this article seems to cross some line. A couple passages (and I'll try to not otally remove them from context): "Although Wisconsin and Michigan still allow the mass slaughter of potential coasters in most of their tributaries," and "In 1989, despite an ugly confrontation with the fillet-and-release crowd-". C'mon! Slaughter? Fillet-and-release? What does that even mean? Keep some and release some? I know folks on the list here keep sone fish they catch for the freezer (gasp!) - bass, trout, panfish, whatever - and I have some in my freezer - bass, trout, panfish and whatever - although I release 95% of what I catch as I'm sure most of you all do, too. I don't need to feel guilty about eating what I catch, and I don't think anyoe who legally catches and keeps fish. This article seems like over the top browbeating. Has anyone else senn this and have any reaction? Or am I totally overreacting? Sorry - had to vent. Kev Proud Member, Fillet-and-Release Club (whatever that means) -- Ed Roden flyfished at gmail dot com - OR - flyfished at questquality dot com
