Ken Freeman goes to bat for trophy catfish!!

[price]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/23/catfish-the-focus-of-debate/

Great job Ken at thelast TWRA meeting!

 

[SpurHunter]

Thanks Price for posting this!</p>

I wonder what the outcry would be if there was a maximum length for blue cats??? I am thinking no harvest at all over 34".

</p>

Any thoughts on this guys?</p>

 

[Bprice]

I think the one fish a day rule is a good one...  I wonder and sometimes compare it to deer hunting.  What would happen if we didn't harvest (in limited quantities 3/year) mature bucks... I think some harvest of larger fish could be good for the ecosystem.  I don't have ANY scientific data to back that up

 

[price]

I agree as long as that 1 per day is angler that can do with it as he sees fit. The problem is when, as Ken Freeman proved by video, that commercial fisherman take and sell trophy cats to pay lakes. A lot of commercial fisherman in West TN have gone to Alabama and Arkansas when TN placed the no cats over 34" for commercial fisherman. They went to these states that had no reg's and started rapeing their lakes and rivers of trophy cats to sell at pay lakes. That is also why these states have also started the process to restrict the taking of trophy cats in response to what is going on and how it upsets (rightfully so) anglers. The bottom line is that these large fish over 34" are the MOST unsafe to eat in any lake or river. If you were going to eat catfish, as I do at times, the 5 LB'ers and less make the best meal. You can't mount a trophy cat like a bass, crappie, or striper because it has no scales. So if you really should eat it, can't mount it, just take a pic and let it go. I will always support an angler's right to pick and choose what fish to keep in the limits of the law, but this selling to pay ponds needs to end all over America. I think that West TN is the most heavily involved in this (Barkley, Kentucky and Pickwick) and Freeman has proved without a doubt that if these rules were not in place that commercial fisherman would be selling as many trophy cats as possible to pay lakes for profit at the expense of the angling community. If anyone has not seen his video (I have), after watching it you would never support a commercial fisherman another day the rest of your life.

 

[Guest]

I would agree to the one fish over 34" limit. The only reason to change this would be if there were solid scientific evidence to prove that the big fish were going away. It is like the old growth timber debate. Why just let these resources die of old age or disease without someone getting some benefit from them.