Author Topic: bowfin: To kill or not to kill? (Read 13707 times)

LPiceFishn · « **on:** Feb 14, 2011, 11:14 AM »

Wanted to know what ppl have to say about this. We hooked into 2 10lb+ bowfin on saturday. A couple of my buddys said thease fish destroy other fish population and that DNR do not want you to release them. Another friend has a small pond with no fish in it so he took them to release into his pond. The fish didn't die so I felt a little better about it. Is there any truth to this or are my buddys full of it? Wanted DNR to come over check our licenses so I could ask for myself, but, they checked everyone on the lake except us.

mschma000 · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:00 PM »

Kill em all.

fshnbudy01 · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:09 PM »

The DNR by us actually stocked bowfin in a lake to attempt to control a large carp population. Most all fish eat other fish, and bowfin are no exception. I doubt that killing them would make much of a difference in the biology of the lake. Even if you could catch and kill them all, all the other fish down there would still be eating all the other fish down there.....cause that's what fish do.

The only question I have is.....Has anyone ever eaten one before?

HighPockets · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:14 PM »

All i know is when you cut into them they sure are bloody, but eating them?

LPiceFishn · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:16 PM »

would you eat that nasty dinosaur? I didn't even want to touch it!

countryboy · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:19 PM »

ya pretty nasty lookin fish there...dogfish are crazy lookin too

Gill Gitter · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:21 PM »

bowfin are an invasive species and anytime i catch one i make sure to kill it. bet it was fun to catch through the ice !!

LPiceFishn · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:27 PM »

I thought I had the tourney winning pike on, but alas, just a nasty old dogfish

HighPockets · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:31 PM »

We catch them pretty regularly on Reel Foot Lake in the spring and they are quite the fight!! Through the ice has to be fun.

fshnbudy01 · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 12:36 PM »

Im thinking that the DNR would not be stocking a species if they determined it to be totally worthless to the body of water. The lake I know of that stocked bowfin was a natural lake in Wisconsin, so perhaps the species is not considered as invasive there.

The body looks like a lake trout to me, but Ive never tried to eat one.

socerplyr27 · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 01:08 PM »

I would get rid of them. They serve no purpose.

Flat Bob · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 01:09 PM »

Kill em.

IceJunkie0602 · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 01:15 PM »

I caught one right after I got my licence check by the dnr. I wasn't sure what it was so I went back and asked him about it. He said it was a natrual fresh water fish and I could take it home to put in my garden or release it. Didn't say to destroy it. I think the big ones are fun to catch.

abishop · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 03:55 PM »

Quote from: IceJunkie0602 on Feb 14, 2011, 01:15 PM

I caught one right after I got my licence check by the dnr. I wasn't sure what it was so I went back and asked him about it. He said it was a natrual fresh water fish and I could take it home to put in my garden or release it. Didn't say to destroy it. I think the big ones are fun to catch.

What do you think he meant when he said to put it in the garden. dugh?

?

TeacherPreacher · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 04:15 PM »

Bowfin and dog fish, same fish.

LPiceFishn · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 04:23 PM »

Thanx for clarifying that there teach.

Ice Sergeant · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 04:47 PM »

Kill em all, nasty things anyways. I have never caught one on open water, only through the ice.

jcindiana · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 05:03 PM »

i have bowfished all over northern IN for 3 years and EVERY lake has dogfish. we always get a few everytime out.

mroy44 · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 05:17 PM »

We spear them and leave by the side of the road, the asian family from up the road comes by and picks them up for supper. eeww!!

I heard there meat was wicked mushy, and soft

got1 · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 05:20 PM »

kill em

checherdfly · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 05:35 PM »

looked down the hole ,channels at wawa one time they coverd the WHOLE BOTTOM .CRAZZZZZY

wawaseebass · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 07:12 PM »

When we catch them bass fishing we filet them and throw them right over the side of the boat. after we stab them one hundred times poke their eyes out anything we can do to harm them. They are nasty and serve no purpose besides reaking havoc on equipment. They do put up a good fight but we kill everyone we catch.

bass_in_ice · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 07:47 PM »

i think you should release any fish that you dont want to eat. unless the dnr says otherwise. like with the asian carps. they dont say anything about dogfish terrorizing bodies of water.

Kinger53 · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 07:54 PM »

To my knowledge they are NOT invasive species. I've never heard of them hurting fish populations for that matter. Now Snakeheads on the other hand are invasive species and you are supposed to dispose of them. I don't see the point in just killing a fish cuz' it looks like menacing. Anyone else agree?

FondoFishin · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 07:58 PM »

Quote from: wawaseebass on Feb 14, 2011, 07:12 PM

When we catch them bass fishing we filet them and throw them right over the side of the boat. after we stab them one hundred times poke their eyes out anything we can do to harm them. They are nasty and serve no purpose besides reaking havoc on equipment. They do put up a good fight but we kill everyone we catch.

You have a problem...

esox v · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 14, 2011, 08:32 PM »

Quote from: FondoFishin on Feb 14, 2011, 07:58 PM

You have a problem...

LEAD PAINT CHIPS !!

nhpikeking · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 15, 2011, 12:13 AM »

there a native fish been around for millions of years fun to catch and its pretty ignorant to kill them for no reason

walkerd · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 15, 2011, 04:32 AM »

I agree why killem if they dont hurt anything. No wonder fisherman get a bad rap...................

Throwmeaway · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 15, 2011, 06:46 AM »

This is probably the most ignorant board I have read since joining Iceshanty.

1.) Bowfin are native predators- perhaps the oldest predators we have in our natural lakes. Just like any predator, they serve a role in controlling prey species- from panfish to minnows.

2.) Killing and wrecklessly disposing of any fish or wildlife is illegal. Below is the regulation regarding wanton waste:

"The intentional waste and destruction of fish is prohibited unless the fish is required by law to be killed. Fish must not be mutilated and returned to the water unless the fish is lawfully used as bait. Fish parts, including entrails, must not be discarded into any state waters, but should be disposed of in a sanitary manner that does not pollute the water or become detrimental to public health or comfort."

Does anyone ever wonder if people from other states venture on to these boards to see what hoosier anglers have to say? I sure hope they don't end up in this board- but realize that the opinion and bad behavior of select individuals doesn't extend to good, respectful fishermen.

fshnbudy01 · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 15, 2011, 08:43 AM »

Well said Throw...I agree 100%

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Author Topic: bowfin: To kill or not to kill? (Read 13707 times)