08-29-2013, 12:20 PM
There is another side to this also, that in many instances, is the more applicable reasoning; taste.
Since you mentioned catfish specifically, I'll go this way first. With cats, and I catch a lot of catfish, the larger cats (over 20 pounds) tend to have strong taste. I don't keep any type of catfish over 15 to 20 pounds. With that said, I don't keep channel catfish either, as I will only eat medium sized blue and flatheads. A 40 pound flathead taste like river mud. YUK!
This same rule actually applies in most other species of fish as well, salt and freshwater. King Mackerel are a perfect example. Large king Mackerel taste like ball sack. However, smaller kings in the 12-15 lb range are great table fare.
The breeder concept is more applicable with fish like LMB, striped bass, redfish (ocean), etc.... Typically, there will be regulations protecting breeder fish in these instances, and there will be a slot incorporated with a small catch limit.
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Since you mentioned catfish specifically, I'll go this way first. With cats, and I catch a lot of catfish, the larger cats (over 20 pounds) tend to have strong taste. I don't keep any type of catfish over 15 to 20 pounds. With that said, I don't keep channel catfish either, as I will only eat medium sized blue and flatheads. A 40 pound flathead taste like river mud. YUK!
This same rule actually applies in most other species of fish as well, salt and freshwater. King Mackerel are a perfect example. Large king Mackerel taste like ball sack. However, smaller kings in the 12-15 lb range are great table fare.
The breeder concept is more applicable with fish like LMB, striped bass, redfish (ocean), etc.... Typically, there will be regulations protecting breeder fish in these instances, and there will be a slot incorporated with a small catch limit.
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