should red and drum limits be changed?

[Ratdog]

Originally Posted by keakar

WELL THE LIMIT WAS 50 REDFISH PER PERSON

and the point isn't about the amount of meat you or I or anyone else "feels" like is enough. the amount the limit is set at is designed to keep a good healthy population of fish and right now they are so overpopulated they are breeding like rabbits out of control and there isn't enough food to go around for all of them and other species too. as with any species you must thin out the herd to maintain a good healthy breeding stock otherwise they will harm things like crab and oyster populations and reduce the amount of spawn due to them being less able to eat as much from the competition of the shear numbers of them.

no matter what the limit is people will only keep what they want or need, the only thing raising the limits and reducing the size will do is create healthier large fish and they will breed a much larger spawn because of a healthier and better food supply for them and their young.

the mindset of "hey just put a small limit number on them for absolutely no reason" just because a few fish is all anyone should need, that is NOT how proper management of fish populations is done. by that reasoning I could make the case that all any one person needs is one nice speck or one nice red so take your choice you are now limited to only one fish per day limit over 16" for all fish (red, speck, drum, or flounder) so how does that sound for "feel good" for no scientific reason but "just because it sounds good" limitations?

leaving the limits where they are is hurting the red fish and drum populations as well as harming oysters and crab populations from over harvesting them by those overpopulated fish.

if they don't want to change the limits then they should force every redfish or drum caught to be killed regardless of its size, before its put back into the water to stop the overpopulation problem. they are overpopulated and becoming an infestation at this point and something needs to change.

they tried ingoring overpopulation issues before in florida with aligators until they ran out of food and gators were walking down the road and in front and back yards through subdivisions eating pets and living in peoples swimming pools. one 6 footer even came in through the doggie door and the lady found it in the kitchen that morning. they only yielded to public pressure then because kids lives were being endangered by it but the parallels are the same, either start mass killings of reds and drum to reduce the numbers or allow more to be kept by raising limits. however it is done large numbers of them need to start being removed from the water to reduce the overpopulation problem,.

this is not a thing were just ignoring the problem and pretending nature will work it out, nature will work it out by making crabs and oysters reduced to the point that they suddenly need protecting from their breeding stocks being reduced to near nothing.

I agree with most of what you say but let's take a look at the UK and the situation of the Cod. Due to size limits on them and commercial fishing the cod have started breeding at a younger age. So they have altered the normal life cycle of the fish. This is what I feel is happening to reds now.

I really would like to know of how many people have cleaned a fish on the upper end of limit that had eggs.
Or any fish with eggs. And what size it was.

I personally do not want or need to clean more than two fish 30 lb or more. It tires me out after an allredy long day.

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by Ratdog

I personally do not want or need to clean more than two fish 30 lb or more. It tires me out after an allredy long day.

We can usually put 4-5 bulls (reds and/or drum) in a 120 quart ice chest. These fish are typically 36-42" long and barely fit lengthwise. If I don't have the energy to clean them the same day, we ice them down well and I clean them the next day with no loss of quality. Even when the drum have the parasites, there is plenty of good meat in the back area with the parasites closer to the tail. We've notice a tendency to get more usable, quality meat from bull drum in the cooler months with more waste in the warmest months. Some summers Barataria drum are clearer and some summers Calcasieu drum are clearer.

I'd rather clean 4 bulls than 20 smaller fish. I've done so many that I've got my procedure down, and my wife and daughter have learned how to trim for excellent flavor and how to select recipes that make excellent use of the firmer texture: drum kabobs, drum parmesan, grilled drum, coconut drum, etc. We usually have plenty of fish around for dishes more suited for more tender, flakey fish (catfish, sheepshead, trout, bass, etc.)

[keakar]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

I'd rather clean 4 bulls than 20 smaller fish. I've done so many that I've got my procedure down, and my wife and daughter have learned how to trim for excellent flavor and how to select recipes that make excellent use of the firmer texture: drum kabobs, drum parmesan, grilled drum, coconut drum, etc. We usually have plenty of fish around for dishes more suited for more tender, flakey fish (catfish, sheepshead, trout, bass, etc.)

but that's just it, if you keep the 16" reds they are just as tender and flakey as the catfish, sheepshead, trout, bass, etc, that's why I am so much in favor or reducing the keeper size to 14".

next time you go keep a couple 16" reds and try them the same as you would the other fish. naturally trimming off the red blood meat (and there isn't much of it in smaller fish) but im sure you knew that.

16-17" is best and the meat starts to firm up at 18"+

[Quackhead62]

I say leave it the same. The fishery is really thriving. I agree with Montauk about the ones over 27" let the breeding stock swim. I much rather catch plenty between 18"-24" than just a few over 27" just for thw fight.

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[capt hoop]

With larger limits it would put a burden on the charters during slow days because the customers would want to stay till dark to get their money's worth of meat. Makes for an even tougher day.

Just the mind set of some customers.

[swamp snorkler]

Originally Posted by Quackhead62

I say leave it the same. The fishery is really thriving. I agree with Montauk about the ones over 27" let the breeding stock swim. I much rather catch plenty between 18"-24" than just a few over 27" just for thw fight.

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Sure the redfish/drum population is thriving but it is killing the oyster and crab industry.

[Clampy]

I don't ever recall cleaning a redfish with eggs


Spiral Out

[mallardhead]

Originally Posted by Clampy

I don't ever recall cleaning a redfish with eggs


Spiral Out

I never have.

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["W"]

Originally Posted by Clampy

I don't ever recall cleaning a redfish with eggs


Spiral Out

Because the ones with eggs are in offshore waters where they spawn and your not allowed to keep reds in fed waters

[meaux fishing]

Originally Posted by "W"

Because the ones with eggs are in offshore waters where they spawn and your not allowed to keep reds in fed waters

Yep

[swamp snorkler]

When I helped clean fish for the Hercules we cleaned some Bull Reds with eggs in them.

[Ratdog]

Originally Posted by swamp snorkler

When I helped clean fish for the Hercules we cleaned some Bull Reds with eggs in them.

Ware were they caught in close or out by rigs.

[Ratdog]

This whole thing is screwed up.

[southLA]

I already catch and eat more redfish than probably healthy!