Legality Of Me Keeping Native Fish...

[Trevelyn1015]

Since I keep getting comments about my supposed illegal actions, let me tell you the law in my state about the fish I have caught and kept.

Possession of Fish

NOTE: The bag limit for a guided fishing party is equal to the total number of persons in the boat licensed to fish or otherwise exempt from holding a license minus each fishing guide and fishing guide deckhand multiplied by the bag limit for each species harvested.

It is unlawful to take, attempt to take, or possess fish and other aquatic life within a protected length limit, in greater numbers, by any other means, or at any time or place while fishing on or in public waters other than as indicated in this guide.

NOTE: It is unlawful to land by boat or person any fish taken from public water within a protected length limit, or in excess of the daily bag limit or possession limit established for those fish in Texas, regardless of the state or country in which they were caught.

It is unlawful to possess a finfish of any species, except broadbill swordfish, shark, or king mackerel taken from public water that has the head or tail removed until such person finally lands the catch on the mainland, a peninsula, or barrier island not including jetties or piers and does not transport the catch by boat.

It is illegal to be in possession of a number of fish that exceeds the daily limit while actually fishing.

And here is the list of native fish I have in my aquarium(s), how I caught them, and their length...

Minnows/Shiners: I have caught hundreds of minnows with a dip net, out of a PRIVATE creek, and bought some at a bait shop.

What is the law on minnows?

Freshwater Fishing Harvest Regulations of Texas Parks and Wildlife have no restrictions, whatsoever, on the catching, possessing, etc of minnows.

What is the law on dip nets?

Dip Net:
A mesh bag suspended from a frame attached to a handle.
May be used to take NONGAME fish only.
May be used to aid in the landing of fish caught on other legal devices.
In SALT WATER, nongame fish may be taken for bait purposes only.

Next...

I caught a Yellow Bass, which you can read about here, recently on a fishing line.

What are the bag limits and size limits on a Yellow Bass? There is no limit, and their size doesn't matter.

Next...

I caught a couple of Bluegill Sunfish(i kept one for my tank) on a cane pole, with some earthworms... and one with a dip net...

What is the size limit on sunfish? What is the bag limit? No limit, and unlimited.

Are they considered game fish, in Texas? No, they are not, so they can be taken with poles, nets, traps, etc...

P.S. - I have a valid Texas Fishing and Hunting license, so everything I have done has been legal.

So, in the future. If I make a topic about a new fish I caught, and kept, or anything really about native fish of Texas, know that I probably know the law, and did it legally.

 

[Iron Man]

What would be illegal about you catching and keeping fish (as long as it isn't by the hundreds every single day)?

 

[CatLover]

He is just stating that the legality of keeping certain fish differs from state to state, and he has caught his fish in the legal way, and have kept the ones that are legal to keep. There are many animals, and I'm sure certain species of fish, that are illegal to keep no matter where you are. I know that it's illegal to catch and keep native birds here in the US. Even if you find a baby bird and try to raise it or help it, that's illegal in all states. You are not supposed to keep found birds any longer than it takes you to find a bird sanctuary/rescue center. So, needless to say, no bird that is native to North America can be kept as a pet, and I'm sure that law applies to several other animals as well.

 

[Opcn]

Its illegal in Alaska, people keep illegally stocking, even fish and game has to give themselves permits to move live fish or unsterilised eggs or plants or arthropods, snails are fair game however.

Edit: Re: catlover

There are species of finch that are established within the pet trade that you can keep, other than that they are illegal, I'm gonna have to get me some south american humming birds one of these days

 

[Trevelyn1015]

there were some people in my other threads, that were question how legal it was for me to keep the fish i keep...

i was just proving here, that i have not broken any laws...

 

[pica_nuttalli]

you should save time and link this in your profile... glad to see you're in the clear!

 

[LoachLover]

Yeah if you aren't taking them on a large scale there isn't a problem with it. It's just like catching one and eating it, except you put it in a aquarium, big whoop. Sometimes people get bent out of shape and it's irritating.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Sure, say its legal, but have you considered the morals of what you are doing?
You may want to keep somthing unusual in your tank but im sure the fish hate it; would you like it if one day, while sitting in your mansion, somone hooks you out and makes you spend the rest of your life in the space equivilent of a caravan?
All im saying is that it must drive these fish crazy after living their lives in a lovely pond/lake/river and then been cooped up in a fish tank.
Im sure fish bred in captivity don't mind living in aquariums because they've had a whole life to adjust living in one, but i don't think its very fair for fishthat has lived, breathed and tasted freedom to be then put in a tank for the rest of their lives...

 

[Trevelyn1015]

dude, get a life...

it is a freaking fish. i didn't go and take a human child...

i don't think the fish give a crap...

for now on, i won't bring em home and put em in the aquarium, i'll just filet them and fry em up...

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How dare you !
And i suppose we should just put bettas in tiny cups because "they don't give a crap"?!
You know, maybe its not your ignorance that gets me, but the fact you seem to be completely unaware you are in a forum that deeply cares about fish and i have already warned you before about what you have been saying is offending people!

 

[Paul_MTS]

it might be legal, but there are sensitive moray issues here aswell.

i will soon be keeping several new rare® catfish that are caught from the wild and i have no problems with doing this so what you are doing doesn't particular bother me aslong as you take care of them properly and release them if you realise you can't handle them properly.

 

[Trevelyn1015]

How dare you !
And i suppose we should just put bettas in tiny cups because "they don't give a crap"?!
You know, maybe its not your ignorance that gets me, but the fact you seem to be completely unaware you are in a forum that deeply cares about fish and i have already warned you before about what you have been saying is offending people!

oh, i was just playing...

i don't like to eat fish at all...

i'm the only guy on the deep sea fishing boat that doesn't keep what he catches...

sorry for my harsh joke...

every one of the people on this forum is keeping fish in an aquarium. my fish have a larger aquarium than probably 80% of people that keep fish.

we happen to be on a fish forum, where the more enthusiastic owners seem to come to, and have much nicer setups, of course...

i don't see, in my opinion, any harm in keeping a few bait fish(which is all shiners/minnows are), and a perch, and a bass...

they are all plenty small for my aquarium, currently, and are well taken care of.

you claim morals, but what about the cruelty of raising hundreds of thousands of fish on a fish farm to be put in a case in wal-mart or a lfs and have a higher chance of dying in the aquarium, than being sold?

if you all hate keeping fish so much, you should stop buying them, keeping them, etc...

and everyone on this site needs to let the plecostomus out of their tank, and ship them to a south american river!

p.s. - you all have to realize, i am not doing anything cruel to these fish. i bring them home, and i keep them in better shape than they probably were in the stocked lake. now, they have little to no competition for food, no risk of being caught and eaten, etc...

 

[chkltcow]

Sure, say its legal, but have you considered the morals of what you are doing?
You may want to keep somthing unusual in your tank but im sure the fish hate it; would you like it if one day, while sitting in your mansion, somone hooks you out and makes you spend the rest of your life in the space equivilent of a caravan?
All im saying is that it must drive these fish crazy after living their lives in a lovely pond/lake/river and then been cooped up in a fish tank.
Im sure fish bred in captivity don't mind living in aquariums because they've had a whole life to adjust living in one, but i don't think its very fair for fishthat has lived, breathed and tasted freedom to be then put in a tank for the rest of their lives...

Well don't ever buy anything other than guppies and bettas, because you can never be certain where your fish come from. Lots of fish of many different species are still wild caught, and we would hate for you to deprive them of their lovely pond/lake/river/ocean.

Those kuhli loaches in your profile.... you should go ask them if they enjoyed their stream in Sumatra before they were caught and shipped here for your tank. I know they're not tank bred, as I've been told before that they were "out of season" and the store wouldn't get any in for a while.

Morality of the overall concept of fishkeeping aside, at least Trev knows HOW his fish were caught and transported, and knows it wasn't somebody dumping cyanide in the water to drug them, then over-medicating and sedating them for a long journey. If Trev has the space to adequately keep them, I see nothing wrong with it.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

When i bought my khuli loaches a while back now i didn't know they came from the wild...I know many fish come from the wild and end up in lfs but i have already done threads on how i realy dislike it...
I just don't see the point in fishing out even more fish by yourself when there are enough already in shops, well maybe not bass but then again why add to the growing problem?
I was just trying to raise an issue thats all in the attempt to try and persuade people from taking even more fish out of the wild than there already are..

 

[ccg]

Trevelyn1015 I agree with you, and even if it was not legal, you are doing it on such a small scale, who cares anyhow...


As for Tokis-Phoenix, there are many loaches, plecs, etc that don't breed in captivity. So it is NO DIFFERENT keeping a tropical fish that was caught in the wild as it is keeping a few native fish.

And about keeping wild birds, I have had a red tailed hawk for 2 years now, everyone I know knows about him and no one cares or even brings up if its legal or not. I gave this bird a chance at life, and if it was not for me he would have died, and there is no way he can survive in the wild.