5 sunfish is utterly ridiculous

Pig-hunter wrote:

See that is the problem right there. The key you said is intelligence and restraint. Over 50% of anglers don’t have that.

Panfish are too dumb and easy. When you get on them, generally you can take all you want. They need protection from the freezer fillers, guys that go back day in and day out, etc.

Do I necessarily like the 5 fish limits? No, but unfortunately, there are just too many people that have no restraint and are basically walking cormorants that ruin it for the rest of us.

Winner.

I’ve never been a part of a hobby or sport where so many people break the rules and regs to take advantage of the resources because they just don’t give a s$&^.

Pig-hunter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Andy Fiolka wrote:</div>
Lastly, it’s 2021. Why does the success of a fishing trip still depend on putting the knife to a pile of dead fish? Again, just my opinion. Nothing more- nothing less.

Sometimes it just does if you like fish meat. The year has nothing to do with it. Its no different than hunting and there is no C&R there. There’s Nothing like fresh fish you harvested yourself. Its a deep down feeling of accomplishment and survival. Your eating a rare item that few get to sample. The key is intelligence and restraint. Especially when you have a good bite figured out.

See that is the problem right there. The key you said is intelligence and restraint. Over 50% of anglers don’t have that.

Panfish are too dumb and easy. When you get on them, generally you can take all you want. They need protection from the freezer fillers, guys that go back day in and day out, etc.

Do I necessarily like the 5 fish limits? No, but unfortunately, there are just too many people that have no restraint and are basically walking cormorants that ruin it for the rest of us.

I must be in the minority – I don’t eat fish – I am out there for the experience, the nature and the fun of the hunt. I already think the new technology should re label it “catching” not fishing and I have side imaging and down imaging so take me at your own value.
I have no problem with the limit cause I can catch a hundred a day, they are all going back. I “heard” the under currents of paving the way for things more restrictive down the road and I believe in that to an extent so will just continue to watch this and make “noises” to the people who are making the changes . They are all accessible on email lists and most of our legislators give credence to overwhelming views on a particular subject. Do my homework and find out who to voice my concerns to, that’s all I can do right now.

I like to eat fish, but I don’t fish to eat.

Won’t get a license? Gonna sell the boat?
Bye, Felicia…

Pig-hunter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Andy Fiolka wrote:</div>
Lastly, it’s 2021. Why does the success of a fishing trip still depend on putting the knife to a pile of dead fish? Again, just my opinion. Nothing more- nothing less.

Sometimes it just does if you like fish meat. The year has nothing to do with it. Its no different than hunting and there is no C&R there. There’s Nothing like fresh fish you harvested yourself. Its a deep down feeling of accomplishment and survival. Your eating a rare item that few get to sample. The key is intelligence and restraint. Especially when you have a good bite figured out.

See that is the problem right there. The key you said is intelligence and restraint. Over 50% of anglers don’t have that.

Panfish are too dumb and easy. When you get on them, generally you can take all you want. They need protection from the freezer fillers, guys that go back day in and day out, etc.

Do I necessarily like the 5 fish limits? No, but unfortunately, there are just too many people that have no restraint and are basically walking cormorants that ruin it for the rest of us.

Hahaha, I’m going to start using this term, if you don’t mind.

cass wrote:

the possession limit is also 5

Incorrect, and has been answered already

WSAF wrote:

From the MN DNR website:

The new regulations only modify daily limits on the affected waterbodies. Anglers can only keep the prescribed number of fish per day from the water but can return the next day for another limit as long as they don’t exceed the statewide inland water possession limit of 20 sunfish per angler.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/2021/03/02/new-sunfish-regulations-effect-nearly-100-waters

Umy wrote:

I already think the new technology should re label it “catching” not fishing

Let’s not get carried away

Or maybe I just haven’t bought enough stuff yet…

One of only two women to ever win the nobel prize in economics studied this problem.

She won it for coming to the conclusion that it didn’t matter too much whether the resource was regulated or not because in an unregulated scenario fishermen who took a fair share would punish fishermen who abused the resource.

JasonP wrote:

One of only two women to ever win the noble prize in economics studied this problem.

She won it for coming to the conclusion that it didn’t matter too much whether the resource was regulated or not because in an unregulated scenario fishermen who took a fair share would punish fishermen who abused the resource.

How’s that been working out?

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JasonP wrote:</div>
One of only two women to ever win the noble prize in economics studied this problem.

She won it for coming to the conclusion that it didn’t matter too much whether the resource was regulated or not because in an unregulated scenario fishermen who took a fair share would punish fishermen who abused the resource.

How’s that been working out?

LOL which part?

I think a size limit on panfish is harder to enforce and harder for the public to even self-regulate. Kind of hard to tell the difference between a 5.5 and 6.6 inch. Plus panfish are almost treated as disposable. Kids fishing on the dock, dogs grabbing them. It’s just a different beast for many reasons than the bigger species.

I don’t know what the right answer is, but it hurts more than the walleye regs because panfish has always been the every man and kid’s fish an accessible to all. You don’t need a boat and you can catch them on corn and a cane pole.

I think we also have to thank many of the out of state guys who get caught with buckets full of them. So many of the people caught with over limits seem to be from out of state.

JasonP wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JasonP wrote:</div>
One of only two women to ever win the noble prize in economics studied this problem.

She won it for coming to the conclusion that it didn’t matter too much whether the resource was regulated or not because in an unregulated scenario fishermen who took a fair share would punish fishermen who abused the resource.

How’s that been working out?

LOL which part?

The self policing. I think that would just about as effective as the DNR’s “enforcement” and would only lead to more assault charges at boat ramps.

Sounds like you got it. That was the whole point. She won the prize and a million bucks for proving that top down management was “just about as effective” as bottom up management.

Carry on sirs!

JasonP wrote:

Sounds like you got it. That was the whole point. She won the prize and a million bucks for proving that top down management was “just about as effective” as bottom up management.

Carry on sirs!

Misread your post. I would agree with that.

So MN has the most lakes with supposedly the best fishing but we can’t hardly keep walleye or panfish but down south they can use 8 or more rods with a crap ton of hooks on each rod and keep a cooler full of big crappie and sunnies and never seem to run out? Sounds like we need the southern states DNR to relocate up north! I don’t personally keep fish but once a year on a camping trip for a fish fry but it’s the gosh darn principle!

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pig-hunter wrote:</div>
See that is the problem right there. The key you said is intelligence and restraint. Over 50% of anglers don’t have that.

Panfish are too dumb and easy. When you get on them, generally you can take all you want. They need protection from the freezer fillers, guys that go back day in and day out, etc.

Do I necessarily like the 5 fish limits? No, but unfortunately, there are just too many people that have no restraint and are basically walking cormorants that ruin it for the rest of us.

Winner.

I’ve never been a part of a hobby or sport where so many people break the rules and regs to take advantage of the resources because they just don’t give a s$&^.

So do you believe the new 5 fish limit will stop the cormorants ? Laws only affect people who follow them, the folks you mention, the walking cormorants, could give a crap about what the limit is.

catnip wrote:

So MN has the most lakes with supposedly the best fishing but we can’t hardly keep <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye or panfish but down south they can use 8 or more rods with a crap ton of hooks on each rod and keep a cooler full of big <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>crappie and sunnies and never seem to run out? Sounds like we need the southern states DNR to relocate up north! I don’t personally keep fish but once a year on a camping trip for a fish fry but it’s the gosh darn principle!

Catnip, fish grow much faster in southern warm waters than they do here, so they can be replaced at a faster rate. Especially referring to warm water species like crappie and sunfish. Most of the fish here only grow 6 months out of the year because of this thing called winter here.

robby wrote:

What is the DNRs reason for this small limit? I will say this, here we have a local, State owned and managed lake. Man made, good lake, 160 acres or so. For a long, long time the limit on Crappies on that lake was 5/day. That said, 14 inch and larger were not uncommon. After running that program for years, 2 or 3 years ago they increased the limit to 10/day. And last year increased the limit again to 25/day. Still lots of good sized <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>crappies there, not as many as before, but still a great Crappie Fishery.

Btw Crappie and sunfish are biologically nothing alike other than they are both fish.

big_g wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pig-hunter wrote:</div>
See that is the problem right there. The key you said is intelligence and restraint. Over 50% of anglers don’t have that.

Panfish are too dumb and easy. When you get on them, generally you can take all you want. They need protection from the freezer fillers, guys that go back day in and day out, etc.

Do I necessarily like the 5 fish limits? No, but unfortunately, there are just too many people that have no restraint and are basically walking cormorants that ruin it for the rest of us.

Winner.

I’ve never been a part of a hobby or sport where so many people break the rules and regs to take advantage of the resources because they just don’t give a s$&^.

So do you believe the new 5 fish limit will stop the cormorants ? Laws only affect people who follow them, the folks you mention, the walking cormorants, could give a crap about what the limit is.

Of course not. But maybe a few of them that will follow is better than none. And the harvesters that collect 25 a day lawfully, will now collect 5 (hopefully). My only question is will this result in MORE stunted populations because less fish taken? I think it all comes down to not selective harvest more than how many are harvested. Which many people also refuse to do.

JasonP wrote:

Sounds like you got it. That was the whole point. She won the prize and a million bucks for proving that top down management was “just about as effective” as bottom up management.

Carry on sirs!

As a life long middle manager and I reject this study.

In this day and age if you’re still fishing purely for the food, give it up. Fishing had become a hobby/ pastime. Nobody should be using natural resources for subsistence in MN. It’s far cheaper to buy fish at the store than to go and legally catch them yourself. Im not saying we shouldn’t keep fish just that it shouldn’t be why we fish.

I see, I guess I only get to be a REAL fisherman if I don’t keep fish. Getting a little hyperbolic around here.

Wildlifeguy wrote:

In this day and age if you’re still fishing purely for the food, give it up. Fishing had become a hobby/ pastime. Nobody should be using natural resources for subsistence in MN. It’s far cheaper to buy fish at the store than to go and legally catch them yourself. Im not saying we shouldn’t keep fish just that it shouldn’t be why we fish.

I see, I guess I only get to be a REAL fisherman if I don’t keep fish. Getting a little hyperbolic around here.

Maybe read posts twice, and make sure you comprehend them before you comment and make yourself look foolish.
Don’t put words in my mouth.

Some super dangerous thinking here. While I don’t like the spiteful attitude of the meat hunters on this. I also equally dislike people telling me “I only need 5 fish”. It comes off holier than thou and that I should be so happy that kings have granted me permission to kill a handful of sunfish. I hunt multiple states and usually have a combination of of 3-5 (deer, antelope,elk) tags on any given year…. one is all I need though right??? Yet you all know zero about my lifestyle and eating habits. I’m really tired of both the extreme sides in this discussion.

Feathers wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>ajw wrote:</div>
Some super dangerous thinking here. While I don’t like the spiteful attitude of the meat hunters on this. I also equally dislike people telling me “I only need 5 fish”. It comes off holier than thou and that I should be so happy that kings have granted me permission to kill a handful of sunfish. I hunt multiple states and usually have a combination of of 3-5 (deer, antelope,elk) tags on any given year…. one is all I need though right??? Yet you all know zero about my lifestyle and eating habits. I’m really tired of both the extreme sides in this discussion.

In case you didn’t notice, a vast majority of lakes in the state did not have a change of limits.

No one is telling you that you can’t go to other states with higher limits.

The state is looking at cutting limits on <em class=”ido-tag-em”>crappies and sunfish state wide by half and I sure hope they do. I hope you can handle those restrictions from the king. If not time to go to the land with a different king.

You very much missed my point.

Pretty sure I got the message, loud and clear. From you, and several others.

May as well rename The United States of America to The United States of AmeriDRAMA. Every subject has to be dramatized, and people have to be either on one polar end or the other.

I am not a fan of big Gov’t, and never will be, that is not what this country was founded on. But I am a fan of Natural Resource preservation. And I also agree with what was stated earlier, most people cannot control themselves.

The problem I see with any of these fishing regulations, is the enforcement group is way to small to enforce them successfully. The people that don’t follow the rules, are going to keep not following the rules, and then rules don’t matter.

Not to get off subject, but its just like all of these gun control laws being thrown around. Do you really think the bad guys are going to register their guns and ammo, seriously!!

So all of these laws just keep the honest, honest. And the crooks are still crooks.

Matt Moen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JasonP wrote:</div>
Sounds like you got it. That was the whole point. She won the prize and a million bucks for proving that top down management was “just about as effective” as bottom up management.

Carry on sirs!

As a life long middle manager and I reject this study.

We’ll settle this after a few beers buddy!

Joe Scegura wrote:

Btw Crappie and sunfish are biologically nothing alike other than they are both fish.

Not true at all. I can list at least a half-dozen ways they are biologically similar… starting with the fact that they are technically both sunfishes (centrarchids).

JasonP wrote:

Not true at all. I can list at least a half-dozen ways they are biologically similar… starting with the fact that they are technically both sunfishes (centrarchids).

I don’t think that’s what he meant. I saw that too and immediately thought that. But I think he was getting at something else.

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/bluegill.html#:~:text=Bluegills%20are%20colony%20spawners.,water%2C%20you%20always%20recognize%20them.

If any of you care to read this would be the rationale for the lower limits. I would love to see the limit be 10 and 1 over 9″. The one over would be best but that’s a different story. You need big bulls protecting the beds so that the smaller males don’t start reproducing. If there aren’t enough large gills to protect the beds the smaller males will move in. Once they reproduce their growth rate slows dramatically. Taking 5 is a lot better than 10 especially during the spawn when you can get on a bed and catch every big male available. This might not be perfect but it’s a step in the right direction. You need big gills to sustain big gills.

Personally I don’t think it’s that big of a deal to get undies in a bunch. We have so many lakes if you can’t get a meal of fish, it’s certainly not the DNR’s fault. Did anyone contact them to ask why? Did anyone participate in one of the surveys? If you go to their webpage, you will get some answers, you may not like them, but they explain their rationale.

I’ll add my last $.02 on this subject.

Times are changing. The “good old days” of supplying family, friends, and coworkers with bags of fish are ending. I’m not saying that’s a good or bad thing but it’s the reality of the times. With increased angling pressure and better gear, fishermen are increasingly becoming more effective at finding and catching fish. Add in the social media aspect of sharing bites and it’s only a matter of time before more lakes have regs that resemble what you’re currently seeing at Mille Lacs.

At some point, we ALL need to look in the mirror and get better at selective harvest. Trust me, I’ve thrown the knife to my fair share of fish over the years but with more age comes more wisdom. Now days I rarely keep fish. When I do, it’s just enough for a fresh (not frozen) meal for my small family. Typically 3-4 walleyes or maybe 8-10 panfish. It’s also nice after a long weekend on the water to back the boat in the garage when I get home and be done. No worries of making a fish fillet mess.

I know people are extremely passionate about the ability to keep as many fish as the law allows and I’ll never fault someone for that line of thinking. It’s legal and they bought a license. End of story. I do however, feel like the current level of growth of the sport and current regulations on certain bodies of water are not sustainable long term. Thus, I promise much stricter regs are coming and probably sooner than you’d think.

At the end of the day, we all fish for the total experience. To get out on the water with friends and family, and to make memories that will last a lifetime. To some, that experience involves eating the catch. In 30 years however, nobody will remember that casual meal of crappies or walleyes. What they will remember are those trophy caliber fish caught along the way and the adventure that goes along with finding them. I know I do.