What's the logic?

[J. J. Magnum]

Can anyone tell me the logic the State is using to keep the size limit on Large and Smallmouth bass at 14"

When I was a kid it was 10" and we had a better fishery for larger bass than now.  I still feel that 10-11-12 inch bass make a fine meal.

Down south (in SC) a bass can grow to 14" or more in the first couple years because of the year long feeding/growth habitat; however, here in Michigan it takes several years for bass to grow leaving lots of stunted fish eating more of the food the larger ones need.  There are no size restrictions down south; folks keep what they want to eat and yet the fishery remains first class.

Several of our smaller lakes here at the wrist of the big mitten have no other predators (no pike or walleye) to take up the slack so the bass is the #1 predator with nothing bigger to eat them.  Lots of small bass survive, but with everyone competing for the same food they stay small.  They are fun to catch but we are unable to keep them due to the size restrictions.

I'm hoping someone will bring this to the attention of those making the rules at the DNR...

[spruce]

It's a more or less arbitrary number set by a Government bureaucracy - I doubt logic had anything to do with it!

On a more serious note, up in Canada where we used to go on our annual spring trip for Walleyes there was a 6 fish limit with no minimum size requirement.  Fish over about 19.5" (I forget the actual centimeter measurement) could comprise no more than one (1) of the six fish limit.

Seemed to work good.  We always had fish for the evening meal and the bigger, mature fish were protected so they could produce more fish.

[petemi]

On the east coast, Striped Bass have had size limits for decades.  They make sence the way they do it.  You can keep anything between 18 and, I forget, 28 or 30 inches.  The big breeders live to reproduce.  Years ago, plugging the surf, I caught over 140 consecutive shorts.  The next few years I had all the keepers I could handle.

Patty and I were wadeing and plugging the Indian River Lagoon in front of our house south of Ft. Pierce, FL when the water errupted and my plug was gone.  I was fishing 8 lb. test on a light rod with a Zara Spook.  About a half hour later, I brought in a Sea Trout that measured 42 inches.  She was loaded with roe.  I held her in the water while Patty removed the treble hooks, and then we walked her til she recovered enough to swim on her own.  We turned her loose.  I have never, ever, seen a Sea Trout that large.  She may have been a Florida record, but all we cared about was getting her to live to deliver those eggs.  To us, that is what responsible fishing and hunting is all about.

Pete

[ihookem]

I don't catch many 14" bass since the 14" limit went into effect. When there was no limit I caught 16" bass all the time and threw them back to keep the 12" bass for a meal. Now if you want a meal you have to keep the spawners. The useless DNR at it again.