GARZILLA
- Thread starter Gnuhen
- Start date
Polypterus;2208576; said:
I though iv'e read a while back that it was a Florida Gar, but didnt want to post without having the info to back that up 100%. Thanks for the clarification.
stotty;2210332; said:
I have to agree with richard on this...without protecting the younger population what will happen to the elder population? We really need those younger fish to replace the older ones.
Polypterus;2210553; said:
As stated the females have to be older to breed so an older bigger fish should produce more spawn if you havent got mature adults youre just stopping the breeding cycle
But I do know there has been a decline in the numbers of alligator gar due to impoundments that have taken away valuable spawning habitat but thats why I think its impotant to keep the ones that can spawn doing what they do.
Please dont look at this as an argument I had the same problem at home as I am Pro fox hunting, I just like to see all sides and I see a reason to cull vermin. But as I have kept gars for years and have a bit of a soft spot for them it would be a shame to see them wiped out and the only ones that you will see would be in a tank. I just think the large ones end up as a trophy and dog food its nice to see you eat them as a few years back most of the people on here didnt
'O' I got the data from the Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department
stotty;2210672; said:
Again however it is not a matter of "old big fish" but of maturity and juvenile survival. Many of the big trophy fish shown here are no more productive than a smaller mature fish. These Large old fish are, as far as management goes, the better of the fish to take.
Also again note that Alligator gar are under protection in many areas now and further refining of management techniques is always going on. It really was not until recently that a re-appraisial of gars in management has really taken effect and increased study has been conducted. Obviously it is of great interest to me to also keep these fish around, and one of the best ways to do that is to make these fish Game rather than vermin (which many here see them as).. The careful take of these fish is nothing to discourge if anything it should be encouraged more...Taking of these large trophy fish is not a hinderance to their survival it is a path to it...
From what I am taking from poly, if more and more people are taking these fish as trophies and as sport it will help their conservatation. Sportsmen are the #1 conservationist.
Mmmmmm just had a look at a bow site this is quite intresting
http://forum.bowfishingassociation.com/index.php?topic=1350.0;prev_next=prev
I have been around a lot of these
guys
and they advocate the take of trophy alligator gar only. "Trophy" to
the
majority of these guys means a fish in excess of 150 pounds. I have
been
out with a lot of these guys and seen them pass over 100 pound fish on
numerous occassions. These 75 to 100 pound fish are sexually mature
fish
that can assur ea self sustaining population.
I guess by now everyone can see where I am going with this. These
bowfishermen and women are die hard advocates of their sport and they
spend a lot of time and money on the water persuing big fish. So, when
I
have had the chance to talk to these folks I have encouraged them to
take
only trophy gar and pass on the fish that they are not willing to pay to
have mounted for display. I know this is not the perfect scenario for
managing gator gar, but it will ensure an adequate number of adult fish
survive to spawn if we get enough folks to buy into it. I do not feel
we
ever see the States enact anything to protect gator gar by size
restrictions. I feel the best they can do is maybe regulate possession
limits.
Just my thoughts
Ricky
Its working out the best size to take as I see a lot of this on the net as well
http://forum.bowfishingassociation.com/index.php?topic=1350.0;prev_next=prev
I have been around a lot of these
guys
and they advocate the take of trophy alligator gar only. "Trophy" to
the
majority of these guys means a fish in excess of 150 pounds. I have
been
out with a lot of these guys and seen them pass over 100 pound fish on
numerous occassions. These 75 to 100 pound fish are sexually mature
fish
that can assur ea self sustaining population.
I guess by now everyone can see where I am going with this. These
bowfishermen and women are die hard advocates of their sport and they
spend a lot of time and money on the water persuing big fish. So, when
I
have had the chance to talk to these folks I have encouraged them to
take
only trophy gar and pass on the fish that they are not willing to pay to
have mounted for display. I know this is not the perfect scenario for
managing gator gar, but it will ensure an adequate number of adult fish
survive to spawn if we get enough folks to buy into it. I do not feel
we
ever see the States enact anything to protect gator gar by size
restrictions. I feel the best they can do is maybe regulate possession
limits.
Just my thoughts
Ricky
Its working out the best size to take as I see a lot of this on the net as well
JD7.62;2210896; said:
I totally agree. It just sucks that most people don't understand that or want to believe that it's true. Lots of people like to complain and want to fight for the protection of a species yet they have never given a dime towards the cause.
The fish in those pics are not gators they are Shortnosed and Longnosed all of which are pretty good sized. The one that I worry over is that Paddlefish in the first pic...
I was never aware these where allowed to be taken anywhere with a bow...
You can take up to two paddlefish per day by bow in my state. I almost noodled a paddle that was over 4ft once. It swam buy me in a little more then knee deep of water when as I was fishing below a dam on the Ohio, I grabbed him by the tail but of course I was no match and he took off! I love paddlefish and I snag every season. TOUGH fighters!
