catfish picture

**choco-lab** · 04-01-2007, 04:21 PM

We got on some catfish last weekend. Fun was had by all. We caught 50 in total.

**dukhntr** · 04-01-2007, 09:01 PM

Nice catch, Choco! [img]graemlins/thumb2.gif[/img]

**Moatsy** · 04-02-2007, 12:04 AM

that's why they call it a MESS of catfish, LOL!

**Slappy** · 04-02-2007, 08:20 AM

nice mess of kitties!

**DUCKMAN** · 04-02-2007, 01:22 PM

How will the new law on blues affect you in the future with a catch like that? Super trip!

**Trail'nTree** · 04-02-2007, 02:39 PM

DUCKMAN, if I am not mistaken, it will not affect him if he is on the PEE DEE, the new regs. are just for the santee system, right?

**Palmetto Bug** · 04-02-2007, 03:03 PM

What do you do with that much catfish? Kind of reminds me of old pictures of boats full of spottails or stripers. I guess if the resource is sustainable with folks killing that many per trip it's fine but who'd want to clean that many catfish anyway? Legal or not, it definitely puts you in the category of "meat hog". Maybe your family is a lot bigger than mine.

Are these catfish indigenous to the Pee Dee or transplanted?

**DUCKMAN** · 04-02-2007, 03:07 PM

My bad! Correct!

**Dook** · 04-02-2007, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by Palmetto Bug:
What do you do with that much catfish?

Cook em in a Stew? [img]graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Originally posted by Palmetto Bug:
Legal or not, it definitely puts you in the category of "meat hog". Maybe your family is a lot bigger than mine.

You should explain yourself here buddy, you assume choco is a "meat hog", ever thought he may be cleaning them and taking them to the local nursing home for a fish fry? Better yet, putting them in his freezer to eat at a later date. Ever thought he may only get to fish 3 month's out of the year and likes to eat fish? Just wondering where anyone get's off calling someone a meat hawg.

Just cuz you can't boat any while you fish doesn't you the right to minimize someone else's catch with snide comments like that.

**hunt em down** · 04-02-2007, 03:38 PM

Good Fishing!! look to do the same this weekend

**mirroman** · 04-02-2007, 04:26 PM

We caught a total of 3 Cats this weekend, kinda slow, but with the new law we would have been able to keep 1.
I will have to agree a little with P Bug (with the exception that I do not know how many people he plans to feed) that it looks a bit excessive to keep that many fish. I cleaned our 3 20-25 lb cats and that meat should be enough to feed my family of 7 (6 eat fish) for quite a few meals.
Again I do not know the situation, but I sure hope all the meat is utilized and none wasted. If you are keeping them for the picture then shame on you if not then great catch!!

**choco-lab** · 04-02-2007, 06:41 PM

I can assure you that every fish was cleaned and no meat was wasted. Three of us filleted every fish and then we fried fresh fish for lunch on the river bank. We split the remaining bags of fish. I kept one gallon bag for myself and then delivered the rest to some of my customers on Monday morning.

**DUCKMAN** · 04-03-2007, 09:34 AM

In fairness to Choco, there are commercial guys who catch that much or more on many, many days. I support the "no limit" and "catch them all" for I feel and have read many studies that state Mr. Catfish is a very agressive non-selective feeder that can and does have an impact on game fish! They are prolific breeders which compounds the problem!

Great work Choco!

**mirroman** · 04-03-2007, 09:42 AM

I would agree with you DMan, but only with Flatheads. I do not have any scientific backup for my arguement. Only countless hours on the water. I have seen a dramatic increase in the flatheads, and somewhat of a decline in the Blues. Hopefully the new size limit will help the big breeders.
And good for you choco...

**Palmetto Bug** · 04-03-2007, 10:27 AM

Don't be so brittle Dookie. "Meat hog" is a term of endearment. Some of the best mentors in my upbringing were true dedicated meat hogs. I'd say anyone who will clean that many cats in one sitting definitely qualifies for the title. I qualify for the title in the deer category.

If it's legal and the resource can support such bag limits, it's really up to the fisherman to figure out how much is too much. Personally, I don't like eating frozen fish that much. I also think catching fish to give away often results in fish being thrown away after it is too freezer burned to eat.

Now if those fish are not indigenous, I think we need to find more meat hogs to help correct the situation.

**jwilliams** · 04-03-2007, 01:17 PM

catch em all....It doesn't hurt my feelings a bit keeping all of those cats...good job...if those were gamefish on the other hand,...I would agree w/ the meat hog statement.