[Dmille5]

Tomorrow the AGFC will enact a catfish size limit on the Mississippi River along with Tennessee and Mississippi .It seems this was spurred by Bill Dance and BASSPRO to preserve so called TROPHY CATFISH on the river.It will reduce all harvests to only 1 fish over 34 inches for all anglers including the commercial fisherman.JB WELD you may wanna step in and make some waves on this.It’s headed to the same place our duck hunting went for a FEW DOLLARS MORE.Our commercial fisherman have been harvesting big catfish outta the river for decades and I certainly don’t feel like they have hurt the TROPHY fish there at all.There’s many guides making lotsa money taking folks to the Mississippi to catch trophy catfish and it’s not really that hard to do.These guys making a living on fish outta that river are gonna suffer from this beat down.

 

[Ghost1]

It’s not the AGFCs job to preserve people’s income made off of our resources. Their job is to preserve the resource.

 

[Dmille5]

So they will be preserving a resource for another group who’s goal is to profit off of said resource??

 

[Ghost1]

So they will be preserving a resource for another group who’s goal is to profit off of said resource??

Im just saying people’s salaries shouldn’t be their concern

 

[arkrem870]

Can you imagine how many fish are in that river. Honestly more than stars in the sky.

 

[Dmille5]

Being a river rat and making a living on the river has been a very long tradition in Arkansas.We are blessed tohave a fishery that can support this way of life as it has done for decades.It’s sad that a monetary force has swayed the AGFC to this new regulation.

 

[JB Weld]

I would be curious to see the actual statement from AGFC on this. Anyone have the official link?

 

[Dmille5]

I have it in an email but I’m computer challenged and don’t know how to get it here.

 

[Dmille5]

There is a public meeting on it tomorrow

 

[Scatterlandsfarms]

I sure am for it ,, hell I'm going to go and support it.

 

[Kinglake]

I can't find the AGFC link, but I'm sure the change would be to match the existing regs in TN and MS of only 1 catfish over 34 inches in reciprocal waters.

 

[OL'Sweet River]

What about all us Snaggers that yank indiscriminately with evil treble hooks ?

 

[SwampCat]

Going to get like the Gulf where the commercial and sport fishermen are constantly griping about each other because one thinks the other is getting too much of the share

 

[JB Weld]

I have it in an email but I’m computer challenged and don’t know how to get it here.

If you open the email on your phone, you can long press the link in the email and copy it. Then come here and open a new response. Long press on the place where you would type and it will give you a paste option. Paste the link and then hit Post Reply.

 

[elwaller]

One of the most ridiculous things to be proposed of many that they make.
There isn’t a huge presence of catfish guides or fishermen on the river
see some commercial fishermen but no big abundance of them.
No way are they being overfish.
probably the only waterway in the US won’t ever have that problem.
Been running up and down for almost 44 years and never any big crowds of catfishing at one time.
the sheer size and volume of water makes that regulation ridiculous.

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

Mo gubmint regs means mo money for the gubmint.

 

[JB Weld]

What about all us Snaggers that yank indiscriminately with evil treble hooks ?

 

[firehog]

I’m curious where the number of “one fish” came from. I’m no catfish expert on the Mississippi but seems like you couldn’t hurt the numbers even on that length. Most of the big trophy guys that I’ve seen, release them back so I guess most likely that’s where it’s coming from also.

 

[JB Weld]

I can't find the AGFC link, but I'm sure the change would be to match the existing regs in TN and MS of only 1 catfish over 34 inches in reciprocal waters.

I bet this comment probably smacks at the heart of the issue. Reciprocity with those other agencies.
If those other two states refs have not gutted the commercial fisherman, it is hard for me to understand how AGFC’s new reg will hurt the commercial fisherman.

We need that official link so we can make sure we are working with accurate information. Then the name calling can begin in earnest!

 

[OL'Sweet River]

View attachment 390371

If May have changed but in the past we could keep 10 catfish over 10” and 10 under 10”