No More Bowfishing Cats

Honky_Tonk · Minnow Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Status: **Offline!**

I seen this and thought I would post it here. Many other changes were adopted by the TPW like no more 40# draw weight limit. Right or wrong this is what our state has adopted for now!!!

Quote From:

Steve Lightfoot, (512) 389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.state.tx.us

March 31, 2008

"One other proposal, which would have extended regulations allowing the take of catfish by means of bow and arrow, was also withdrawn. As of Sept. 1, 2008, taking of catfish by means of bow and arrow will no longer be legal."

Honky_Tonk · Minnow Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Status: **Offline!**

Link to the info:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20080331a

ScottB · Posted: Sat, Apr 05 2008 09:19 am Post subject:

although I think that bowfishing for cats would be difficult, I'm glad to see they pulled this one. Thanks for the post!

JohnnyD · Posted: Sun, Apr 06 2008 09:40 pm Post subject:

I agree except for the week or two they are in heavy spawn.
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Get the net!!!

imthbdmn · Posted: Mon, Apr 07 2008 08:27 am Post subject:

Tonk why do you enjoy being the person who gives bad new? I'll have to ball you up for that. I will miss shooting dinner from time to time but I have till sept to gather a few more small whisker fish with the bow.
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Honky_Tonk · Minnow Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Status: **Offline!**

Country, after all the years I have spent on the lake bowfishing I have yet to tag a catfish. You can tell it hasn't hurt the populations just by looking at the catfish forum. Oh well, I've never had a problem getting them off of a rod and reel or trotline.

ScottB · Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008 07:46 am Post subject:

I would like to see jugs and trotlines be banned personally. I know that some people are responsible with them but when the water was low you could tell that there are a lot of people who are not. The only thing is when they start taking things away, where do they stop?

anyfishwilldo · Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008 08:11 am Post subject:

I'm not opposed to jugs & trotlines (as long as they are done right), I just don't ubderstand that if a warden sees one that is illegal why they don't cut them down. There are areas at T-wok that you can't fish when the water is down because of all the old lines & now that the lake is up I don't dare try & fish that area cause I know what is underneath. When the water was low would have been a good time to clean up some of those. I'm sure we could get enough volunteers to help as long as we had the authority with us.
...Don
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NetMan · Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008 08:27 am Post subject:

if those trots are not marked i see no problem cutting them down, but if you cut them down i would suggest going on and running the line from end to end, not just one side.........get it all out!!!!! jugs i don't see the problem,pick up what you put out........
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anyfishwilldo · Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008 09:47 am Post subject:

I'm always a little leary cutting lines, I grew up in Mississippi & there are lots of people that make their living & feed their family from those lines even if they aren't marked they don't take kindly to someone cutting them. I would like to see the authorities get more involved on cleaning these up when they are exposed.
...Don
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Married men don't live longer, it just seems longer!

JohnnyD · Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

ScottB wrote:

I would like to see jugs and trotlines be banned personally. I know that some people are responsible with them but when the water was low you could tell that there are a lot of people who are not. The only thing is when they start taking things away, where do they stop?

I'm with you Scott but it usually stirs up a hornet's nest if you bring that up (especially on the other forum). I'd at least like to see a regulation limiting the time you can have a fixed trotline in the water...maybe 48 hours or so. I don't mind saying it at all but I cut old lines from time to time that have been left in the lake. The issue I have with them is clutter in the lake and the ensuing damage they can cause to lower units, people not running them often enough, and personally I don't feel they are very sporting at all. Some will argue they use them to feed their family but anyone can catch plenty on rod and reel to fill the freezer as often as you'd like so I don't buy that argument. As far as bowfishing goes I was glad to see the regulation ended. It wasn't hurting the cat population but two things bothered me: 1) There is no option for releasing the fish and 2) As a fan of catfishing and a person interested in seeing the sport and tournaments grow I never liked seeing them lumped in with other so-called "rough or trash fish". JMHO
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Get the net!!!

shawn · Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008 03:06 pm Post subject:

I guess I'll have to go back to catching them with my cast net

Honky_Tonk · Minnow Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Status: **Offline!**

You all pose great arguments, looking at it open-minded. The only problem I have is losing a right to do something. While bowfishing for catfish does not directly affect me, it is the possibility that it could lead to.

polebender · Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008 07:30 pm Post subject:

Old abandoned trotlines (given water level changes) become very dangerous items. I HAVE and WILL continue to remove them in that case. I don't mess with them otherwise. I think you can make the argument that illegal stuff should be reported/removed. Causes thousands of dollars of damage in the process also.

it is illegal for me to lay spikes across the road in front of my house, but say I don't really care and do it anyway cause I can. You drive over it and ruin 4 tires. Don't touch it though cause I am serious about my spike being in the road and I am watching....

You should just drive around them and hope for a law change....

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DavidP · Posted: Wed, May 21 2008 02:23 am Post subject:

Well, I don't usually mess with trotlines unless they are scummed over & the hooks are rusting. Those lines have been abandoned and usually aren't tagged either. Those I remove whenever I hang up on them.

Came across one like that when I wuz a much younger feller and felt a tug. Checked the line and found a cat that had fought so hard the hook had ripped from his lip all the way up to his eye. And, the rip had heeled back up!!!! Huge head on that fish and virtually no body. He had been on that line a very long time. Released the fish and removed the trotline.