Going On A Collecting Trip Saturday
Started by
Sean Phillips
, May 28 2014 12:21 PM
8 replies to this topic
#1
Sean Phillips
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- NANFA Member
- Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA
Posted 28 May 2014 - 12:21 PM
My local fish club is doing a native collecting trip at the mouth of my local creek on Saturday and even if I don't keep any fish I'm going to help out and give what I catch to others anyway. I don't have time to setup and establish a native tank in less than a week obviously but I know I'll be tempted to keep some if the fish they pull out which include darters, minnows, sculpins, and sunfish (sunfish are what I'm after ). I could use a mid level fish in my soon-to-be-in-a-few-days 75 gallon catfish tank and was wondering if I could just snag even a single sunfish (something like a green or bluegill) to take home with me. Only thing I worry about is the creek I'm getting them from is a creek so the water is probably cold and running although it flows into a river so it may be water than the other parts of it and if I took a fish from it the catfish tank is set on 75-76 F and I worry tats be to much of a shock for the fish even if I slowly drip acclimated for a few hours.
Just let me know what your guys opinions are on whether I should risk it and try to acclimate the fish or just go and help.
PS, the only fish I'd consider keeping would be sunfish or catfish since minnows and darters would definitely do terrible in 75-76 degree water. Here are the fish I'd consider since I know they are ones that I've seen in tropical setups before.
-Bluegill
-Pumpkinseed
-Green Sunfish
-LMB (as a GROWOUT)
-Any Bullhead (as a growout)
-Channel Catfish (Again as a growout)
-Flathead Catfish (don't think for a second I'm stupid enough to try to keep one after it hits 8-10")
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage
#2
Guest_gerald_*
Guest_gerald_*
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- Guests
Posted 28 May 2014 - 05:09 PM
I have many times caught fish in winter (35 to 45 F), let them warm up slowly to room temperature over 24 hrs in an aerated cooler, and they did fine in a 70-75 F tank the next day. Also, there's plenty of warm-water minnow and darter species that will do fine in 75-76 F tanks. I would suggest not bringing home any fish that you can't accommodate when it grows up.
#3
Sean Phillips
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- NANFA Member
- Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA
Posted 28 May 2014 - 06:47 PM
Alright thanks. I've been working like crazy for the past week to setup a new tank for my cichlids to make room in my 75 for any natives I may want. I don't plan on keeping any bass or flatheads or what have you but if I did there is always somebody at my LFC who would bid for it at the monthly auction.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage
#5
Sean Phillips
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- NANFA Member
- Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA
Posted 28 May 2014 - 08:18 PM
Careful there. Better check laws. I don't know of any state that lets you sell wild caught gamefish. Most states require special licensing to even sell captive bred gamefish. Poaching laws are strict.
I'm not sure whether it's technically selling since money goes to the club but otherwise I'll just give it away. Although like prior mentioned I don't plan on keeping one that'll get to big.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage
#6
Guest_Skipjack_*
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Posted 28 May 2014 - 08:27 PM
Yeah, that is probably a gray area. Probably no big deal if it were shiners, but states take their gamefish seriously. Also assuming the club is non profit, that will likely change the legal status.
You might be able to enjoy a flathead catfish longer than a channel. I may be wrong, but believe they are slower growing, hence why they are not grown commercially.
You might be able to enjoy a flathead catfish longer than a channel. I may be wrong, but believe they are slower growing, hence why they are not grown commercially.
#7
Sean Phillips
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- NANFA Member
- Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA
Posted 28 May 2014 - 09:09 PM
Yeah, that is probably a gray area. Probably no big deal if it were shiners, but states take their gamefish seriously. Also assuming the club is non profit, that will likely change the legal status.
You might be able to enjoy a flathead catfish longer than a channel. I may be wrong, but believe they are slower growing, hence why they are not grown commercially.
Good point with the flathead, although it's probably choke trying to eat my striped raphael catfish or gibbiceps pleco was it got big enough, hopefully not though.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage
#8
Guest_Doug_Dame_*
Guest_Doug_Dame_*
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- Guests
Posted 29 May 2014 - 12:49 PM
Collecting issues on gamefish:
(1) In most states (that I am aware of), it is illegal to catch gamefish with anything other than hook & line. If you catch any with a seine or dipnet, they need to go back ASAP.
(2) Selling gamefish caught under a recreational fishing license is usually illegal.
(3) It's good to double-check the state regs for exactly what is considered a gamefish. Sometimes there's a few species in the list, or not in the list, that are surprising. (e.g., is a dollar sunfish a gamefish?)
So if people in your fish club want to keep fish listed as game fish in your state, catch them with a fishing pole and then just give them away to whoever wants them. (Take pre-orders, so the collecting expedition doesn't bring back gamefish that nobody actually wants.)
Much better to be safe than sorry. As Matt said, states take their gamefish seriously. And their gamefish regulations.
(1) In most states (that I am aware of), it is illegal to catch gamefish with anything other than hook & line. If you catch any with a seine or dipnet, they need to go back ASAP.
(2) Selling gamefish caught under a recreational fishing license is usually illegal.
(3) It's good to double-check the state regs for exactly what is considered a gamefish. Sometimes there's a few species in the list, or not in the list, that are surprising. (e.g., is a dollar sunfish a gamefish?)
So if people in your fish club want to keep fish listed as game fish in your state, catch them with a fishing pole and then just give them away to whoever wants them. (Take pre-orders, so the collecting expedition doesn't bring back gamefish that nobody actually wants.)
Much better to be safe than sorry. As Matt said, states take their gamefish seriously. And their gamefish regulations.
#9
Sean Phillips
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- NANFA Member
- Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA
Posted 29 May 2014 - 05:37 PM
I agree, don't want to mess with the PFBC but I know that website better than the back of my hand and I know in PA you are allowed to keep up to 50 "baitfish" (Which in PA darters and minnows are part of) a day per person, although I'm not sure about sunnies.
I don't know but the other about 30 people there are obssesed with natives and collect all the time so I'm sure they can fill me in on regs, I doubt they do anything bad since the guy in charge says there's always a conservastion officer there when they collect watching them.
I don't know but the other about 30 people there are obssesed with natives and collect all the time so I'm sure they can fill me in on regs, I doubt they do anything bad since the guy in charge says there's always a conservastion officer there when they collect watching them.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage
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