jetties bull reds

[nozediver]

Nice catch....Too bad you didnt let it go. Thats breeding stock.

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by nozediver

Nice catch....Too bad you didnt let it go. Thats breeding stock.

There are plenty of them out there. The breeding stock is in no danger of being over fished since the feds banned all keeping reds in federal waters and the states banned all commercial fishing.

Redfish are borderline overpopulated and probably hurting speck stocks through predation and competition. Redfish have almost an 80% forage overlap with specks, especially in years with low crab numbers. Taking a 25 lb redfish out of the competition leaves enough food for ten 2 lb specks.

[duckman1911]

Originally Posted by nozediver

Nice catch....Too bad you didnt let it go. Thats breeding stock.

That's also a legal fish for him to keep and eat. Let yours go if that's what makes you happy. No reason to knock a guy for doing what makes him happy. Its his time and $ not yours.

[ifsteve]

Originally Posted by nozediver

Nice catch....Too bad you didnt let it go. Thats breeding stock.

Sorry but I am with nozediver. A fish that big isn't near as good an eating quality as a nice slot fish. Perhaps it is competing with specks for food but on the other hand if its released another angler might have the fun of catching it and it will breed again.

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by ifsteve

Sorry but I am with nozediver. A fish that big isn't near as good an eating quality as a nice slot fish. Perhaps it is competing with specks for food but on the other hand if its released another angler might have the fun of catching it and it will breed again.

You have any idea HOW MANY bull reds are out there? Too many. There are plenty left. The last few years they have been depleting their food supply to the point that they averaged 20% under-weight. Underweight fish lay FAR FEWER eggs. Fewer fat fish reproduce much more effectively than a lot more skinny fish. There are times and situations where it is better for the reproductive potential of the stock to harvest more fish!

You can't breed cattle successfully on pasture at stocking densities of 3 cows per acre. The thin cows just won't all get pregnant and have successful pregnancies.

Fat, happy animals have lots of offspring.

[ifsteve]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

You have any idea HOW MANY bull reds are out there? Too many. There are plenty left. The last few years they have been depleting their food supply to the point that they averaged 20% under-weight. Underweight fish lay FAR FEWER eggs. Fewer fat fish reproduce much more effectively than a lot more skinny fish. There are times and situations where it is better for the reproductive potential of the stock to harvest more fish!

You can't breed cattle successfully on pasture at stocking densities of 3 cows per acre. The thin cows just won't all get pregnant and have successful pregnancies.

Fat, happy animals have lots of offspring.

Ok fair point. If your facts are correct. Certainly fisheries can become so plentiful that culling is important to keep stocks healthy.