25 fish aggregate panny limit

[taxi1]

You raise fish for a living by selling pond raised gills or for stocking ponds?

I'm a fish taxidermist that raises trophy size fish for sale frozen to taxidermists as far away as Hawaii. They use them for their showrooms, competitions, and make molds of them.

If I have extra YOY bluegills or yellow perch I sell them. But I don't sell fish for stocking specifically.

It's illegal to buy or sell fish out of public waters hence my niche market.

[taxi1]

Taxi is the man when it comes to raising trophy fish!

Tony (sprkplug) raises some bruiser bluegills!

You should post some pictures Tony!

[taxi1]

I'm more interested in trophy fish sandwiches for selling at my pubs!

You own some pubs? Where at?

[taxi1]

Methinks that would be one expensive fish sandwich if Taxi's fish were involved!

I don't even eat them as I get too much for them

Here are a few pics of gills from my pond.

I think this one was 1 lb. 7 oz.



My bluegills are 1 lb. at 9.5 inches. 1 lb. 4 oz. at 10 inches and 1 lb. 6 to 7 oz. at 101/4 to 10 1/2 inches. Hand fed commercial pellets and only males in the trophy pond. If I ever get one to 11 inches I'm hoping it will be 2 lbs.

More pics:

[bramabull]

Those are some beautiful fish! I am afraid of what I would do if I had those in my back yard. I don't think I have enough self restraint to leave them alone. Cool job! I am jealous

[crappie66]

Mr. Taxi those are some nice gills you got there.  How many years does it take to get to 10 inches under the conditions you provide?

[sprkplug]

Beautiful fish! Very well done.

[spring bobber]

That's a thing of beauty how built those fish are. Your 10" fish are 20 ounces and I caught one this summer that doesn't even seem like it was 12 compared to those. Here's a pic for comparison:

[bubbagill]

So Taxi what do you consider to be a trophy mountable gill from a public body of water?   

[taxi1]

Those are some beautiful fish! I am afraid of what I would do if I had those in my back yard. I don't think I have enough self restraint to leave them alone. Cool job! I am jealous

Don't be jealous. Come out in March or April when we harvest the bluegill and perch. You could even get one mounted if you wanted to. This spring I will also be seining the pond as some are getting wary as they get older and bigger. My guess is there are some that have been caught and released that may not bite anymore.

[musky8it]

                                                         Not in Michigan, 25 only, I think you cant clean fish on ice, if you do better have the carcass, to prove what you had, correct if I'm wrong!  If thrown in the water, littering!

I don't know the Ind. regs on cleaning gills on the ice. But if you clean it to fry it up and eat it right there, I can't see why that would be a problem. And since you ate it I don't know if its included in daily limit.

As for throwing the carcass down the hole, thats called chuming and thats legal in Ind.

I emailed the DNR last year and hear is the reply.

It is legal to use native species of snails as bait for fishing. There are some exotic species of snails that would not be legal to use, but native snails found in the lake could be used as bait.
 
Secondly, the DNR does not prohibit a person from chumming when fishing.  However, you should use a limited amount and not apply a large amount of dead fish that could give the impression of a fish kill or other water quality problem.  A small amount of dead fish and corn in an ice fishing hole would not be a problem.
 
Sincerely,
Linnea Petercheff
Operations Staff Specialist
Division of Fish and Wildlife
402 W. Washington Street, Room W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204

[taxi1]

Mr. Taxi those are some nice gills you got there.  How many years does it take to get to 10 inches under the conditions you provide?

It can be done in 3 to 4 years by growing them year around by bringing the YOY inside in tanks for the winter. They don't grow under the ice or if they do it's very minute. I also have tanks at three high schools. In the wild a 10 inch bluegill 8 to 10 years of age.

Lincoln University in Missouri has produced 10 inch bluegill in one year but not on a regular basis. Selective breeding is the key.

Keep in mind fast growth and commercial feed has its downside. Fast growing fish typically have shorter lifespans and the commercial feed tends to produce fatty livers. This can also shorten their lifespans. I have only grown a bluegill over 10 5/8's inches once. I'm hoping there will be some this spring. Along with fishing I will be doing some seining to find any hook shy ones.

[musky8it]

I don't even eat them as I get too much for them

Here are a few pics of gills from my pond.

I think this one was 1 lb. 7 oz.

Do you ever flyfish for them? Catching one like this one on a flyrod would be a awesome battle.

[taxi1]

Do you ever flyfish for them? Catching one like this one on a flyrod would be a awesome battle.

Yes I have. It is a blast. You have to get down to about 8 feet to get them. These fish stay deep except at feeding time.

[wax_worm]

I don't know the Ind. regs on cleaning gills on the ice. But if you clean it to fry it up and eat it right there, I can't see why that would be a problem. And since you ate it I don't know if its included in daily limit.

If they put a limit on gills, any fish you clean and eat on the ice would count as part of your 25 fish daily limit.  I don't think there is a law against cleaning fish on the ice that have a daily limit, but you better keep the carcasses to prove you are within your 25 limit.  Guys that fish in groups now and are used to throwing their fish into the same pile or bucket will now also have to keep piles separate as it will be illegal for one guy to catch 30 of 50 fish that make up a 2 man limit. Same rules apply in Michigan.

[taxi1]

So Taxi what do you consider to be a trophy mountable gill from a public body of water?

Lengthwise 10 inches.  But a really rare trophy would be 11 inches or more.

Weightwise over a pound.

[taxi1]

That's a thing of beauty how built those fish are. Your 10" fish are 20 ounces and I caught one this summer that doesn't even seem like it was 12 compared to those. Here's a pic for comparison:

(Image removed from quote.)

Still a very nice fish just slower growing hence the slimmer profile.

[OpryIcin]

Some of the big sunfish the boy and I have caught out of our backyard pond.  The light-colored sunfish isn't the proper color for a gill, but if it is, it's the biggest i've ever seen at 11".  The redears are 11.5 and 12" respectively.  Other gills we caught there range from 8-10.5"

[taxi1]

Nice fish!

Redears don't always fare well in ponds up here. They are sensitive to rapid temp flucuations in the fall and are close to their northern range limit. In deeper lakes they do better where temps are more stable.

[OpryIcin]

Here in Tennessee, they thrive.  Of course, I'd trade my shot at any trophy fish for the rest of my life if I could ice fish each winter.  To me, there is no substitute.  I'm going to get a one man pontoon and take my flasher and ice rods out in the Spring and give that a shot... see if it compares...  But I'm fairly confident it will be a poor substitute for the ice.

Little to no chance of consistent ice here (or anywhere within a 4 hour drive of here) but I hold out hope for at least one or two weeks when all is right with the world and I can drill a few holes and jig a few fish off the bottom. 

[Stinkybaits]

I'm a fish taxidermist that raises trophy size fish for sale frozen to taxidermists as far away as Hawaii. They use them for their showrooms, competitions, and make molds of them.

If I have extra YOY bluegills or yellow perch I sell them. But I don't sell fish for stocking specifically.

It's illegal to buy or sell fish out of public waters hence my niche market.

Ahhh sweet! Kinda like raising trophy bucks. Great looking fish Taxi! How close are you to the Fort Wayne area? Get people asking about taxidermy all the time. You do everything or more into just fish? Pm me your info I'll post it if your looking for work.

[spring bobber]

Here in Tennessee, they thrive.  Of course, I'd trade my shot at any trophy fish for the rest of my life if I could ice fish each winter.  To me, there is no substitute.  I'm going to get a one man pontoon and take my flasher and ice rods out in the Spring and give that a shot... see if it compares...  But I'm fairly confident it will be a poor substitute for the ice.

Little to no chance of consistent ice here (or anywhere within a 4 hour drive of here) but I hold out hope for at least one or two weeks when all is right with the world and I can drill a few holes and jig a few fish off the bottom. 

That's interesting that a lot of people (yourself and ryoder) who move away from regions where Ice fishing is a big deal seem to really miss it once they leave. I agree it's a good time and is a lot less of a hassle (for the most part) to get out and fish without hitching up your boat, launching it, waiting for all the people who have never launched a boat before, etc. I guess if I lived in Tennessee I would just bass fish all the time. I say that now, but if I really lived there, who knows how I would feel. Only a few weeks out 

[taxi1]

Ahhh sweet! Kinda like raising trophy bucks. Great looking fish Taxi! How close are you to the Fort Wayne area? Get people asking about taxidermy all the time. You do everything or more into just fish? Pm me your info I'll post it if your looking for work.

I specialize in fish. Used to do the gameheads but got to the point I was so busy I had to cut back. My solution was to specialize in fish. Not a big hunter anyway. Got fed up with tresspassers hunting in my spots too.

I already have a lot if business as it is. Almost a year out right now. Thanks for the offer though. If you're ever out this way I can give you some business cards.

[taxi1]

That's interesting that a lot of people (yourself and ryoder) who move away from regions where Ice fishing is a big deal seem to really miss it once they leave. I agree it's a good time and is a lot less of a hassle (for the most part) to get out and fish without hitching up your boat, launching it, waiting for all the people who have never launched a boat before, etc. I guess if I lived in Tennessee I would just bass fish all the time. I say that now, but if I really lived there, who knows how I would feel. Only a few weeks out 

I'd be fishing the Cumberland River for huge browns and the TVA lakes for big crappies! Not a big green carp fan. LOL

[rico]

If they put a limit on gills, any fish you clean and eat on the ice would count as part of your 25 fish daily limit.  I don't think there is a law against cleaning fish on the ice that have a daily limit, but you better keep the carcasses to prove you are within your 25 limit.  Guys that fish in groups now and are used to throwing their fish into the same pile or bucket will now also have to keep piles separate as it will be illegal for one guy to catch 30 of 50 fish that make up a 2 man limit. Same rules apply in Michigan.

Never thought of it that way Waxie.  I can only think of one time where me and a buddy got our limit.  That was crappie and it was on Salamonie through the ice.  We had them in a pile.  I couldn't tell you who caught what!!!!!!  Interesting.

[Stinkybaits]

Hmmmmm odd you would think it would apply then in the summer we throw the crappie into the same live well. Have never had the DNR say anything about it. We also merge salmon and steelhead in the same cooler and just know that per boat what our limit cap is. Even on charters walleye fishing they just count total per head or uses to. Been a long time since I did a walleye charter. Good points though.

[wax_worm]

Hmmmmm odd you would think it would apply then in the summer we throw the crappie into the same live well. Have never had the DNR say anything about it. We also merge salmon and steelhead in the same cooler and just know that per boat what our limit cap is. Even on charters walleye fishing they just count total per head or uses to. Been a long time since I did a walleye charter. Good points though.

Never thought of it that way Waxie.  I can only think of one time where me and a buddy got our limit.  That was crappie and it was on Salamonie through the ice.  We had them in a pile.  I couldn't tell you who caught what!!!!!!  Interesting.

I do know a couple years ago when fishing up in Michigan 3 of us were fishing and had about 68 gills laying on the ice.  When we bagged them up we put them in bags of 25 and each person carried a bag.  In the parking lot the CO was there  and checked our catch and licenses and specifically said they must be kept separate.  Had he come on the ice, one or all 3 of us would have been fined or warned. 

I think you would have to catch a CO in a bad mood to write you up for it if he just walked upon 2 guys and they had at or under the 2 man limit and over the 1 man limit, but had them in community pile.  He may suggest you separate them, though.  However, if he is watching from a far which they often do before approaching, and sees one guy catching 2 to 1 and then checks and you don't have your fish separated you will likely get a warning or fine.  In the end it is your word against his in court if you take it that far, but it easier and less expensive to just keep the catch separate.  People use a single cooler and livewell all the time, but I think by the letter of the law, one person is not allowed to limit out and then contribute to another person's limit in the same day.  I am not sure if the rules for charters are different or not, but anyone who has been on one knows the catch rate is rarely equal among all people on board, so some are contributing to others limits.  That would be a good question for the DNR. 

[Gills-only]

I do know a couple years ago when fishing up in Michigan 3 of us were fishing and had about 68 gills laying on the ice.  When we bagged them up we put them in bags of 25 and each person carried a bag.  In the parking lot the CO was there  and checked our catch and licenses and specifically said they must be kept separate.  Had he come on the ice, one or all 3 of us would have been fined or warned. 

I think you would have to catch a CO in a bad mood to write you up for it if he just walked upon 2 guys and they had at or under the 2 man limit and over the 1 man limit, but had them in community pile.  He may suggest you separate them, though.  However, if he is watching from a far which they often do before approaching, and sees one guy catching 2 to 1 and then checks and you don't have your fish separated you will likely get a warning or fine.  In the end it is your word against his in court if you take it that far, but it easier and less expensive to just keep the catch separate.  People use a single cooler and livewell all the time, but I think by the letter of the law, one person is not allowed to limit out and then contribute to another person's limit in the same day.  I am not sure if the rules for charters are different or not, but anyone who has been on one knows the catch rate is rarely equal among all people on board, so some are contributing to others limits.  That would be a good question for the DNR.

                If it does go to court and your word against his, you are in deep doo doo!!  They will almost all the time take the CO word before yours!

[wax_worm]

                If it does go to court and your word against his, you are in deep doo doo!!  They will almost all the time take the CO word before yours!

Likely true, that is why it is easier to just keep them separate to avoid the issue altogether.  If the CO has no evidence other than than a pile of more than 1 man limit and under a 2 man limit in a pile between 2 guys and both guys are willing to testify neither had contributed more than 25 to the pile, then you may have a shot at getting off, but still have to pay court costs and a lawyer unless representing yourself.  Not worth the risk or expense, when so easily avoided.

[Gills-only]

Know of a guy that had 26, in fish basket in summer that came in to load boat, and was ticketed , took fish, cost $85 was a couple yrs ago in Michigan, found out later that the same guy had been caught numerous times for same offense!!  Now I think if they want in a worse case scenerio they can confiscate your vehicle!!