People Keeping Every Fish They Catch 2024
cpm032987 reply :
I have only been bass fishing for a little under a year. I have noticed a lot of times when I fish, people catching any size fish and throwing them into a bucket and continuing to fish. I have literally seen guys walking from a pond with a few fish in their hands and going to their cars. I get upset seeing people do this and keeping fish that are not the appropriate size. I, myself don't eat fish and my girlfriend is a vegetarian, so we only catch and release. I know that some people will eat anything they catch, is it wrong for me to say something to these people who are keeping fish they shouldn't? Or is it best to not confront others while fishing?
Alonerankin2 reply :
I do not believe it is wise to approach some one on fish that may or may not be legal... Let the professional agency's do that. Now that being said.... There is nothing wrong with fisherman keeping their legal catch for a fishfry... It's still a safer food than most grocery stores carry.
WRB reply :
If the anglers you observe are fishing illegally report them, do not confront them.
Catch and release can impact small fisheries by over populating the ecosystem, fish are prolific breeder and removing smaller fish can help the overall fishery.
Tom
dam0007 reply :
I have a local lake that used to have tons of bass crappie and Sunnys. Over the years I've seen people literally fill a bucket with fish and after they die dump em back in. I totally feel where your coming from. I've given em my 2 cents.
*edit, in CT there's less than 5 wardens that cover the entire state, and unless there's a immediate threat to the environment they don't come out.
Darren. reply :
Agree that you should inform the authorities if what they're doing is illegal. Never know what kind of person/people you're dealing with. There are crazies out there!
papajoe222 reply :
Got a cell phone with a camera? Take pics of them, undersize fish, and license plate of their car and send to your state or county DNR office.
Our state has a limit of 25 panfish per angler per day. On the big lakes, that kind of harvesting isn't anywhere near as devistating to the overall fish population as it is to smaller lakes or ponds. It's kind of like bed fishing for bass. It's legal, but I'd never catch and keep a bass off a bed.
A short story that this relates to: The first time I went fishing with a neighbor and his father the first fish I caught was a 12in bass. After unhooking it, I gently released it to the outcries of his father. Injecting color into his comment, he informed me that any fish caught was to be kept. I promptly bent down the barbs on my hooks and didn't boat another fish that day. A month later his family was on the same lake I was fishing and I witnessed him keeping undersized fish. At the dock, I informed our local game warden and upon his return to the dock he was found with four undersize bass in his lunch bag. He knew the warden was at the lake that day! They confiscated his gear and his boat and he was fined and lost his fishing priveleges for the year. He got his boat and gear back and was arrested by the county cops three weeks later on the same lake for violation of that suspension. He no longer has a boat and refuses to go fishing with his sons. He blames the state for unfair regulations.
jbsoonerfan reply :
I can't tell by your first post if any law is being broke. Are the fish under the length limit? Are they keeping too many? If no laws are being broken, then you should mind your own business. Believe it or not, some people do enjoy fishing and eating what they catch. Not everyone only fishes for sport.
Bluebasser86 reply :
If they're keeping fish that are too small or over their limit, report them. If not there's nothing you can do about it. Don't confront them yourself if they are breaking the law though, that ends badly for you 100% of the time.
Missourifishin reply :
On 5/15/2014 at 8:02 AM, cpm032987 said:I have only been bass fishing for a little under a year. I have noticed a lot of times when I fish, people catching any size fish and throwing them into a bucket and continuing to fish. I have literally seen guys walking from a pond with a few fish in their hands and going to their cars. I get upset seeing people do this and keeping fish that are not the appropriate size. I, myself don't eat fish and my girlfriend is a vegetarian, so we only catch and release. I know that some people will eat anything they catch, is it wrong for me to say something to these people who are keeping fish they shouldn't? Or is it best to not confront others while fishing?
Are you sure they're breaking the law? People where I fish load up their buckets with small bluegill and crappie all the time, but it's perfectly legal here as long as they don't go over their limit, which I know is 30 when it comes to crappie.
Lund Explorer reply :
I wish I had a dollar for every person who has had their life ruined by a bucket fisherman.
SirSnookalot reply :
It annoys a bit when I see people keeping a lot of fish, I supposed everyone has a different requirement on what their need is. Bucket fisherman don't bother me, except being in my way sometimes, they don't fish for the kind of fish I do. When the fishing is slow for me I may try and catch a few for them.
Confrontations don't pay
Grant Schuen reply :
i would definitely say something, maybe just mention that its not legal and it is hurting the fishing. i don't really keep game fish, i maybe keep one every once in a while for a dinner. i always throw the fish of perfect spawning size back and keep the big ones. this excludes panfish because of their larger populations, and walleye because the 15 in-18 in fish taste so good! (I also only keep keeper sized fish of course.)
Bankbeater reply :
Around here, If the body of water is managed by the state there is usually a sign around the parking lot, or boat ramp, that says what size fish you can take, and your daily limit.
geo g reply :
Except for a small segment of the fishing community, I don't see alot of people keeping fish these days in South Florida. The mercury levels of bass down here are so high that the word has finally gotten out to the masses, and people are now catch and release for the most part. Here in South Florida if you want to catch good food, you always have salt or brackish water to catch some tasty treats from the ocean or bay. Something that tastes alot better then a bass.
Catch and Grease reply :
When I fish with my grandfather ( he is in his 80's) he likes to keep every bass he catchs as long as they are in legal limits, he was just raised that way because back in the day there was no catch and release lol when I fish with him we just keep the bass because it makes him happy but when I'm alone I practice catch and release with the occasional bass kept for dinner.
Edit: haha this looks kinda silly considering my username is catch and grease
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
On 5/15/2014 at 3:34 PM, Lund Explorer said:I wish I had a dollar for every person who has had their life ruined by a bucket fisherman.
If that were your only source of income, you'd probably have to fish for dinner. 
Violinguy reply :
On 5/15/2014 at 6:01 PM, Grant Schuen said:i would definitely say something, maybe just mention that its not legal and it is hurting the fishing. i don't really keep game fish, i maybe keep one every once in a while for a dinner. i always throw the fish of perfect spawning size back and keep the big ones. this excludes panfish because of their larger populations, and walleye because the 15 in-18 in fish taste so good! (I also only keep keeper sized fish of course.)
As much as you might want to, this is bound to lead to a confrontation that you don't want to be a part of. Sooner or later, you will run into a total nutjob and could get hurt or worse. Here in the south, more people carry guns than not. In GA, where I have lived for 2 years, I have seen many people just walking around wally world or Academy sports packing. Nothing wrong with it, especially since it is within the law, but when you add a firearm into a situation where you are confronting a fisherman who is fishing illegally (allegedly), bad things will happen.
People fishing outside the regulations/laws need to be reported for sure. Confronting them, no matter how much of a badazz you think you might be is never a good idea.
Obviously, no offense intended. Safety is always the #1 concern with me. Just like when I'm driving. I don't worry about me. I worry about the other guy. 
David D. reply :
My favorite local pond has a lot of people who fish it without a license and then keep every single fish that they catch.... It frustrates the heck out of me. Usually they are only catching small panfish, but occasionally catfish are caught and whenever a bass angler catches a fish the poachers will harass him (or her) trying to get the fish. The other day I was out there and caught a bass that weighed about 3 lbs off of her bed. For our small pond, that is a really good fish. The whole time that I was bringing the fish in and removing the hook I had 5 people yelling/begging/harassing me to give up the fish. I completely ignored them while I released the fish thinking it woul make them stop.... Nope.
I continued to get an earful when I got back to my spot about how I waste a fish and how I was a stupid and selfish person. I told them why you are supposed to release bedding fish and that it was spawning season to try to educate them a little but I'm pretty sure it all went in one ear and out the other. They continued their rant and I finally snapped and told them that I would be reporting each of them to the TPWD office which is a 10 minute drive from the pond.
Some people just have no respect and won't learn... Thankfully there are also some really good people out at that pond to keep me sane... For the most part
cpm032987 reply :
I understand that a lot of people I see fishing actually fish to put food on the table. But when people take fish that aren't legal and show no respect for the area they fish it makes me even more mad. I took my girlfriend out fishing we me at a local pond that gets fished by a lot of people. The first thing she says to me is "this place is gross" . People leaving food wrappers, beer bottles, and shot gun shells all around definitely doesn't make her want to fish any more. Then on top of litter all over, watching people take fish they shouldn't is just infuriating. Maybe I should just not worry about it and go about my business but when I'm out trying to enjoy myself and have to step over Budweiser cans to throw out my line, it just doesn't settle well.
Hyrule Bass reply :
my question here has to do with the location youre fishing. you said pond in the OP. is it a private pond? if so then i doubt its regulated by any size or length limits.
Alonerankin2 reply :
What I don't get? ..... How do you surmise,...to know, that these Alleged people have no license?
Also.... That the catch is illegal ?
The illegal ( alleged) catch.. Maybe easier to validate... But the no (alleged) license part... I really don't understand.
Catch and Grease reply :
What's the point in freshwater fishing license anyways... its just a way for them to make a little extra money in my opinion. they get 5 dollars for you buying it and If they catch you without it they can give you a juicy fine. If anyone disagrees please tell me why i'd like to hear others opinions.
Violinguy reply :
On 5/16/2014 at 1:08 AM, Catch and Grease said:What's the point in freshwater fishing license anyways... its just a way for them to make a little extra money in my opinion. they get 5 dollars for you buying it and If they catch you without it they can give you a juicy fine. If anyone disagrees please tell me why i'd like to hear others opinions.
OK, I'll bite. License fees are used for many things like maintaining public fishing areas, state and county parks/boat ramps, enforcement personnel, and overall improvement of the state's fishery. IMHO, if you want to take advantage of public fishing areas, park ponds, and other non-private fishing spots, you should suck it up and spend $16 (Georgia) every 2 years. If you are only fishing in your back yard, then do whatever you like.
Catch and Grease reply :
Yeah IMO the only reason for them is to have money to fund certain things, not saying I disagree with them or anything...
Lund Explorer reply :
On 5/15/2014 at 10:12 PM, SPEEDBEAD. said:If that were your only source of income, you'd probably have to fish for dinner.
Couldn't make a living from it, but could easily afford a quality six pack of adult beverages on a fairly regular basis.
The people who could make a living from their special talents are all those who know everyone else is catching and keeping over limits of under sized fish all the while not having a fishing license. If I remember correctly, several have even made the point that these dreadful violators are also in this country illegally. These folks really need to get a job with their state's conservation office (or perhaps the US Border Patrol) so that they alone can save the resource from something never seen before in history, like before catch and release! How in the world our fisheries even had anything left swimming in them before they came along to advocate throwing every fish back is beyond me.
Perhaps these stewards of the environment can list all of the fresh water fish that have become extinct due to over fishing by sport anglers.
Lund Explorer reply :
On 5/16/2014 at 2:18 AM, Catch and Grease said:Yeah IMO the only reason for them is to have money to fund certain things, not saying I disagree with them or anything...
Imagine that, people who take part in the sport having to pay for the overseeing of it.
BTW, federal funds from P-R and D-J excise taxes are divided up to the states based on the number of licenses sold.
Alonerankin2 reply :
How about just buying the license... Just because its what is required....now the alternative is ....
A large fine... Potential loss of equipment ....
Possible criminal charges depending on the circumstances ... Maybe even leading to arrest!
Buy a license.. Enjoy fishing... Let government decide where the money is allocated to!
HeavyFisher reply :
If your gna confront someone just make sure you don't live in a state where someone can shoot you over a physical altercation, example Florida
everythingthatswims reply :
I keep the wildlife crime hotline in my phone at all times. But if I think someone genuinely doesn't know that they are doing something wrong (sometimes it is easy to tell) I will just let them know. Especially if it is 2 or 3 live fish in a bucket or on a stringer that can be released. I love eating fish, but I struggle to see a bunch of fish kept in a body of water that can't handle it, or if someone releases a bunch of bluegill and keeps bass instead. But to each his own, as long as it's legal I say go for it.
David D. reply :
On 5/16/2014 at 12:25 AM, Alonerankin2 said:What I don't get? ..... How do you surmise,...to know, that these Alleged people have no license?
Also.... That the catch is illegal ?
The illegal ( alleged) catch.. Maybe easier to validate... But the no (alleged) license part... I really don't understand.
If you are asking about my post, I know they don't have licenses because they say so. And they go on to tell others that you don't have to have a license because the license is for state and federal lakes and we are just fishing a small city pond...
Too bad for them I contacted TPWD and confirmed that a license IS required and on top of that; that specific pond is catch and release only. Sounds like some people are gonna get in trouble soon.
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 5/16/2014 at 8:10 AM, David D. said:If you are asking about my post, I know they don't have licenses because they say so. And they go on to tell others that you don't have to have a license because the license is for state and federal lakes and we are just fishing a small city pond...
Too bad for them I contacted TPWD and confirmed that a license IS required and on top of that; that specific pond is catch and release only. Sounds like some people are gonna get in trouble soon.
So the Goons admitted it! Lol!! Well you did the right thing in my opinion! Calling the proper authority is wise...
AK-Jax86 reply :
I understand some people need to fish to eat but I can't stand it when I see people taking a big bass!!! Take all the dinks you want weed em out, and I have heard that the big ones aren't good to eat the small ones are. I have had people ask me if I keep my fish I say no and they ask me why not. I tell them I am fishing for sport not food I take a picture of the big ones so I can put them on my Facebook and Instagram and throw them back to be caught another day.
I got this guy on my Facebook who ABSOLUTLY disgusts me!!! He keeps ALL his fish can't tell you how many trophy fish he posts and then later you see them in his cooler when he posts his final day pics! He has to be breaking some sort of Florida fishing rule idk he even went as far as to take a road trip to NC with a bunch of coolers and hit up spots on the way there and back and came home with, don't remember actual #, a bunch of coolers PACKED with bass. Turns out he sells them to people around his neighborhood.
If there's anyone who wants to "investigate this" like they did to that golf course kid feel free to PM me, add him as a friend and you will be as disgusted as I am
joeyfishes reply :
It's pretty rare to have a true bass fisherman keep fish. I really want to say something to people who keep fish but can't because they aren't breaking any laws.
WRB reply :
Back in '69 I wrote a article on how modern skilled bass anglers could impact big bass populations on small lakes under 2,000 acres. My goal was to get the average bass angler to release adult size bass. You can't believe the hatred this article created. The general overall feed back was very negative, the consensus was bass anglers can't impact a bass fishery by catching and keeping the bass they catch.
Today the pendulum has swung the opposite direction, bass anglers release every bass they catch like it's a religious cult.
Bass are a renewable resource, I still believe big bass over 24" need to be protected during the spawn and should be released in healthy condition whenever possible. Keeping a few young adult size bass in the 1 1/2 to 2 lb size range, 14" to 15", or bass when bleeding from being caught, shouldn't severely impact a fishery. The bucket anglers rarely catch adult size bass, mostly pan fish and a few juvenile bass, let them be, they are not ruining the fishery.
Tom
*Hootie reply :
On 5/15/2014 at 10:12 PM, SPEEDBEAD. said:If that were your only source of income, you'd probably have to fish for dinner.
I knew a fellow whose life was ruined by bucket fishermen. I think they wrote a country song about it.
"Take this rod and shove it,
I ain't fishin here no more".
Hootie
Lund Explorer reply :
On 5/16/2014 at 4:26 PM, *Hootie said:I knew a fellow whose life was ruined by bucket fishermen. I think they wrote a country song about it.
"Take this rod and shove it,
I ain't fishin here no more".
Hootie
Is he a member here? I only need a couple of more lives destroyed to move me beyond a good domestic!
*Hootie reply :
On 5/16/2014 at 5:32 PM, Lund Explorer said:Is he a member here? I only need a couple of more lives destroyed to move me beyond a good domestic!
Gave up fishing, he's on a golf forum somewhere out there in the WWW.
Hootie
FrankW reply :
a lot of meat fishers around here target Pan Fish and in many cases they need to be harvested (the fish, not the fishers). I have seen pictures in BASS and Bass fishers on the lake that kill trophy Bass to show their family and friends. Or, to mount. If any bass should be spared it is the big bass. We need the biggest Bass to spawn and contribute to the gene pool. If I eat bass I kept the one and a half or two pounders.
When I lived in Arizona they were trying to close bass fishing in Lake Havasu during the spawn period. While it would have been good for the fishery there were a lot of people opposed to it. I don't remember if it was passed or not. I personally would like to see the spawn season closed in our Florida Trophy lakes even if it meant less fishing time during the year. The Bass population could then be regulated by not allowing the lake to over populate.
Frank
einscodek reply :
Really ticks me off when guys keep bedding fish esp. when the spawn is not bass season.
I inspected 2 beds last weekend where I expected to see fry being guarded by the males and both males are nowhere to be found and the frys and eggs gone.
Someone must have taken those bedding fish cause newly hatched frys dont go that far from the beds.
SudburyBasser reply :
On 5/15/2014 at 3:34 PM, Lund Explorer said:I wish I had a dollar for every person who has had their life ruined by a bucket fisherman.
Goodness. Did the bucket fisherman deprive them of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness?
Lund Explorer reply :
On 5/17/2014 at 9:20 AM, SudburyBasser said:Goodness. Did the bucket fisherman deprive them of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness?
All Three!
One guy has someone on their Facebook page that so ABSOLUTELY disgusts him. I guess he is so upset that he can't remember that it is possible to actually remove them. 
You'll also notice that even though this person has rock solid evidence of this violator's crimes, there isn't any mention of them being turned into the authorities. Why is that?
Fishing Rhino reply :
I have only one bit of advice. You either learn to live with it, or do something else.
I was a commercial fisherman and had to deal with far more serious matters than bucket fishermen. Getting gear towed up by draggers. Some fishermen who poached other fishermen's gear. Some "fishermen" who scrubbed egg bearing lobsters so they could sell them. People who had no courtesy and would set their gear over yours, and to make matters worse, if your trap came up over their line, they would cut the trap off rather than cutting and retying their own line. Then we can talk about the weather, and storms that destroyed lobster traps by tumbling them around on the rocky bottom.
The reality is that if you could not deal with these things you would not last long as a lobsterman. It was reality, and it wasn't going away.
You may get some small measure of satisfaction by "venting" or reporting the violators, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, the bucket fishermen are not going away anytime soon, if ever.
They are like the litterbugs that trash ramps and shoreline fishing areas. If it gets you upset, you are better off finding another pursuit, because those who lack decency, consideration, and courtesy for others will always be with us.
I refuse to let the few slobs ruin my day. I'll pick up some of their trash and debris. But I don't dwell on it. I will not let it eat me up.
RoLo reply :
Whether you're a vegetarian, carnivore, piscivore or omnivore, removing a legal limit of bass from a lake
is generally beneficial to the fishery. On the other hand, if you have evidence that a fisherman
is violating the law, feel free to contact the local authorities who are paid to legislate the laws
and to enforce the laws.
Roger
SudburyBasser reply :
On 5/17/2014 at 6:39 PM, Lund Explorer said:All Three!
One guy has someone on their Facebook page that so ABSOLUTELY disgusts him. I guess he is so upset that he can't remember that it is possible to actually remove them.
You'll also notice that even though this person has rock solid evidence of this violator's crimes, there isn't any mention of them being turned into the authorities. Why is that?
Facebook activism is always easier than actually doing something.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 5/18/2014 at 12:35 AM, SudburyBasser said:Facebook activism is always easier than actually doing something.
There is a story going around, the validity of it I don't know. A few years back a young man posted a picture of a snook he had caught on Facebook. The picture was taken at his home, the fish was not legal slot size, out of season, and he caught it spear fishing, which isn't legal. He was reported to the FWC, and I heard the fines were like $2500.
SudburyBasser reply :
There have been plenty of idiots arrested by police after they posted details or pictures of their crimes -- some guy who killed his wife incredibly posted pictures of her body on Facebook and was arrested. I have a problem with people who complain on line and expect that to be sufficient to solve the problem.
geo g reply :
Tonight I fished a Broward County Public Park that was an old dump site that was on the National Super Fund List for the worst dumps in the nation. The park has three lakes that a full of bass that look great, but full of who knows what! It is a catch and release only lake, and most people don't have to told twice. Tonight there was a group taking every fish they caught. I went over and told them about the old dump and that they were putting their families health in jeopardy from eating these fish.
Two hours later, and another five fish killed, I told them in two weeks they will start glowing in the dark. Its hard to reason with flat out stupid!
jbsoonerfan reply :
On 5/16/2014 at 8:10 AM, David D. said:If you are asking about my post, I know they don't have licenses because they say so. And they go on to tell others that you don't have to have a license because the license is for state and federal lakes and we are just fishing a small city pond...
Too bad for them I contacted TPWD and confirmed that a license IS required and on top of that; that specific pond is catch and release only. Sounds like some people are gonna get in trouble soon.
Make sure you report all seatbelt violations as well.
David D. reply :
On 5/20/2014 at 10:12 AM, jbsoonerfan said:Make sure you report all seatbelt violations as well.
Will do. Those are a little harder to catch, but I did alert the authorities to a couple jaywalkers earlier today.
Lund Explorer reply :
On 5/18/2014 at 12:44 PM, SudburyBasser said:There have been plenty of idiots arrested by police after they posted details or pictures of their crimes -- some guy who killed his wife incredibly posted pictures of her body on Facebook and was arrested. I have a problem with people who complain on line and expect that to be sufficient to solve the problem.
This!
einscodek reply :
Bank fishin this mornin..
Saw a guy caught a bass and he threw it in a plastic shoppin bag.
It was tossin around in the bag for the longest time.
It didnt even look that big and its not even bass season yet.
Didnt have a license visibly on him.. should I have called the ranger?
CDMeyer reply :
I know how you feel their are people that come on my home lake fish with worms and keep EVERYTHING in bucket then just go home with it, our lake is small so game wardens are rarely out there, I have never said anything in the past but I know in the future I will and I will take pictures, it is not only morally wrong to keep past what you need to eat but it is also ILLEGAL to keep small fish and over your limit..... God gave us these fish we cannot just take, take, take, we must give back as well.....
einscodek reply :
Yea I agree I am gonna put the wardens number on my quickdial..
if he didnt have a license and was fishin but put the fish back I really dont care its up to the wardens..
but if he take fish out of season (esp. spawn season) then theres a problem
If everyone took fish out of season without limits, we'd be out of fish to catch
Master Bait'r reply :
On 5/20/2014 at 10:02 AM, geo g said:Tonight I fished a Broward County Public Park that was an old dump site that was on the National Super Fund List for the worst dumps in the nation. The park has three lakes that a full of bass that look great, but full of who knows what! It is a catch and release only lake, and most people don't have to told twice. Tonight there was a group taking every fish they caught. I went over and told them about the old dump and that they were putting their families health in jeopardy from eating these fish.
Two hours later, and another five fish killed, I told them in two weeks they will start glowing in the dark. Its hard to reason with flat out stupid!
You haven't heard? They are building an X-Man baby. So far they've got gamma rays and radioactive spider bites into the kid and it's worked out pretty good.
If they can get toxic sludge into the mix, there's a solid bet the kid will fly and fart laser beams. Don't crush their dreams, man.
Catch and Grease reply :
There is a lake on moody Air Force base here in valdosta I fish and it has signs everywhere saying the bass have high levels of toxic things in them and I see people keeping them all the time, bass is good but that's just not worth it haha
fishva reply :
I was one of those people at one point in my life. When I was a kid, we would catch catfish while camping and always ate them.
For me, catching fish meant eating the fish for a really long time, regardless of species. Didn't know any different.
Only once I started learning more about bass did I start to appreciate them and respect them. Once the respect kicked in, I became a catch and release guy, save a few 1 pounders I might keep on a camping trip.
SirSnookalot reply :
I've been a bit annoyed with some of the fishermen down here in Florida, although calling them fishermen IMO is a stretch. Whether it's a hook and line or a cast the object is food. There's one guy in particular down here, he was using a cast net for lookdowns, 2 days in a row took out 100# per day. This is perfectly legal, moonfish are a unregulated species, I do feel it's over harvest and affects the food chain. Perhaps in years to come with more breeders taken out now there may be less fish for them in the future...........they won't care.
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