Hello all, as some of you know I can not legally collect natives in my state but I can purchase from aquaculturists, this is the only way to legally keep them. Heres my question, I purchased 2 dozen fat head minnows and a doen shiners from a bait shop, do to the hours of operation of the bait shop I bought them the day prior t my planned fishing trip, well the weather turned and I wasnt able to make the trip I now have them divided in to tanks, I used some of the fat heads for feeders. Here is my question, I think I may keep the fat heads to breed for feeders. Now onto my question.

In my opinion I legally purchased these fish so I should be within the law on keeping them, what are some of your thoughts on this?

Also I was out of town for a month and during that time my kids went fishing with a relative and ended up bring a green sunfish home, they new my interest in natives but didnt know the laws. I have it in a tank and watching it is amazing, I have never seen a more aggressive fish, he will even try to eat shiners that are 1/2 to 3/4 his length. I can not legally have this fish per the colorado regs, I really dont want to kill it and I cant release it any thoughts on what I should do? what would you do? My personal opinion is to keep it but then again I don't want to break ANY wildlife law.

You can certainly keep your minnows you bought.

The green sunfish is a thorny question.

I don't know if green sunfish are native to Colorado.

I would keep it this once and call it a day.

Just make sure whoever kept it and broke the law knows the law now.

Educate them.

You didn't bring the fish home.

Edited by Gambusia, 13 June 2008 - 10:31 AM.