On the Line by Mike Conner

No Gators in My Pan

I know that many anglers struggle with the concept of letting the big ones go and keeping the small ones to eat.

But it makes perfect sense to do just that, in many cases. May is a top month to catch a so-called "gator" trout in my home waters of the Indian River Lagoon. Big spotted seatrout in the 5- to 10-pound-plus class seem to light up just as our spring bait run commences, and it is in full swing right now.

I made a quick wading trip yesterday on the lee side of the river (it was blowing at 20 knots plus) at 5 p.m. Had a big flood tide, so could not wade far from the roadside pulloff. And did not need to. Missed a good thump on my favorite trout plastic, a DOA Shrimp. By 6 pm finger mullet were so thick, every splashdown of my shrimp sent 'em showering. Things were slow, but just as I thought about heading home, I got another telltale thump and set the hook. Nothing spectacular at first, just a head shake and a momentary standoff before the fish wallowed on top before taking a little line. A half-jump convinced me it was a snook. As I got the fish closer, in the poor light, I realized it was a stud trout. Played her to my feet, a 30-incher as my rod measurement divulged later. "Great way to bring in May," I thought. Should have brought my camera.

As I walked the fish along to revive it, a guy down the bank called out, "That a trout?" I said yes, and he came closer and asked if I wanted it. "No, I release all trout over 18 inches. I just eat a few small ones now and then."

As I watched her go away strong, the guy commented that he saw anglers filleting big trout like mine earlier in the week at the cleaning tables. He commented that is perfectly legal, and I agreed.

"It's legal, but really not good in the long run," I said. Then we talked about the superior table quality of smaller seatrout, and the importance of big breeders in the water and so on.

Driving home, I got to thinking about the recent push by CCA Florida and other recreational angling groups to get the state of Florida to do away with our long-standing regional closed seatrout seasons. The state obliged, but also  increased the commercial hook and line catch limit in step. Hey, why wouldn't the commercial guys want more? Sport anglers shined a bright light on assessments that stocks were in excellent shape, right?

I think the short closed seasons benefit the overall numbers of trout. Now trout will be harvested year-round, and despite the conservative bag limits in the 5- to 6-fish range (depending on region) fewer will be released to become "gators," those prolific, genetically superior egg-laying females so vital to the fishery's future.

What I would suggest is keeping the current 15- to 20-inch size limit, but with only one fish in the bag allowed at the maximum of  24 inches in all Florida waters, rather than the current "one greater than 20 inches" allowance. How often do you catch one over 24 inches anyway? Well, there is a reason for that. Why not put the bigger ones on your memory card rather than in the pan?