Native fish collecting

[imtcurveball]

I was just wondering if anyone else on this site collects their own native fish. I've done it for a while but I'd like to hear other people's experiences and what equipment and methods you use.

I always bring a friend, four 5 gallon buckets and a back pack filled with the following: 8x4 seine, 12x4 seine, minnow nets and bait sometimes. Whatever fish I catch Goes into a bucket. Then I decide if I want to keep it. If I do keep it it will go into a bucket along with other fish of its size/temperament. This is why I bring multiple buckets.
I mostly collect the smaller sunfish species like bantam

 

[jefferzbooboo]

I live in ND and we can't collect anything legally, you can get a permit but it's insanely hard to get. There's nothing I'd really want though anyways.
I'd love to go on a collecting trip though, I'd love to catch my own least killis and there's some shiners I'd like to have that aren't sold in pet stores.

 

[imtcurveball]

I wish I had the money to go to south America to collect. That would be fun

 

[Wy Renegade]

There are a number of people on this site that collect their own specimens. Regardless of where you live, its a very good idea to be aware of local laws and regulation regarding collection of native species. Some states permit it, some require a permit or liceanse to do so, and some states don't allow it at all.

 

[Oohitsae]

I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but have not had the chance yet. Plus I think I need to research some more about rules and regulations of it in my state, and see if there is anything I'd even want to keep.

On my next trip to Florida I would love to get some Pygmy sunfish, but I don't know if that's really legal yet.

 

[Wy Renegade]

I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but have not had the chance yet. Plus I think I need to research some more about rules and regulations of it in my state, and see if there is anything I'd even want to keep.

On my next trip to Florida I would love to get some Pygmy sunfish, but I don't know if that's really legal yet.

Good idea, I know that Florida has some pretty strict regulations on fish collection, but can't give you the specifics. Maybe Jetta will comment, as I know that he collects Pygmy sunfish in Florida.

 

[Oohitsae]

Well hopefully we can get a comment about them! They would definitely be a good centerpiece fish in a nano tank!

 

[jetajockey]

Florida is actually pretty lax on non gamefish collection. You just need a fishing license and the ability to differentiate between species and know collection laws. If you can't i.d.it then take a photo and release it. Oh and if you collect in fl watch out for gators and snakes!

I got a few elassoma a few weeks ago while we were on a trip to get some new bunnies.

 

[Oceangirl]

Wow, we can collect local? I never knew! I am setting up a collection club!!

 

[LSUMAN]

Wild fish are the only fish I keep in my tanks! At one time I had a bass, a bluegill, a mudcat, and a war mouth. They were so much fun to watch especially when I fed them. Sometimes when I go fishing I'll catch a tiny one on my hook and I'll keep them to put in my tank, sometimes I'll catch sunfish in my crawfish pond, and sometimes I'll catch all kinds of different fish in the gully with a net!

 

[AfricanCichlidOwner]

I jut collected 2 baby rock bass also a crawdad in ahomemade crawdad trap. Pretty awesome if you ask me!

 

[LSUMAN]

I jut collected 2 baby rock bass also a crawdad in ahomemade crawdad trap. Pretty awesome if you ask me!

Those are fun fish! Especially feeding them, they go crazy! I had one with red eyes and was almost completely black in color.

 

[Taiken5968]

I eventually want to have a 100 gallon tank with fresh water North American fish. Like largemouth bass catfish brim exc. I know that is probably not what this thread is about, but I love fishing and I think it would be cool to have some fish that I enjoy catching in my home.

 

[MMantelli]

i wonder if there's anything worth collecting on my side of the swamp? ? ? Jeta do you know anything about the Lake County area? i have my scuba cert so if anyone wants some native Florida fish LoL ill dive just about anywhere ... just don't ask me to hit up lake griffin lol

 

[98kshooter]

I used to do this as well Catching fry with a seine net and bringing home from Minnesota (Which lets u keep them for Aquarium purposes, and I believe they still do??? Any Minnesotans here know if that still stands?)
It is a blast watching eat but messy and have a lid! My baby bass were jumpers when eating! Not only could they jump out, but they splashed water everywhere!

 

[LSUMAN]

I eventually want to have a 100 gallon tank with fresh water North American fish. Like largemouth bass catfish brim exc. I know that is probably not what this thread is about, but I love fishing and I think it would be cool to have some fish that I enjoy catching in my home.

I say go for it! I also enjoy fishing, it's my favorite hobby. It is very interesting watching how bass, catfish, bream an other sunfish act and watching them grow from day to day.

 

[Taiken5968]

I say go for it! I also enjoy fishing, it's my favorite hobby. It is very interesting watching how bass, catfish, bream an other sunfish act and watching them grow from day to day.

That will be a few years from now wen I buy a house, and have a good place for it. I will likely catch them out of my families pond. Haha. How big of a tank do you have them in?

 

[LSUMAN]

That will be a few years from now wen I buy a house, and have a good place for it. I will likely catch them out of my families pond. Haha. How big of a tank do you have them in?

Sadly those all were from a couple years ago. Now that I'm in college and in an apartment there isn't much tank room but this summer I'm moving into a house and getting a 55gal for natives. I currently have 2 young green sunfish I caught out of my crawfish pond haha. They are just in a 10gal which is not near big enough but it will be ok for a month or so given that they are barely over an inch long

 

[Taiken5968]

Sadly those all were from a couple years ago. Now that I'm in college and in an apartment there isn't much tank room but this summer I'm moving into a house and getting a 55gal for natives. I currently have 2 young green sunfish I caught out of my crawfish pond haha. They are just in a 10gal which is not near big enough but it will be ok for a month or so given that they are barely over an inch long

I have a 60 that I want to use for native fish but I don't think it is bi enough forint to back. It is only 12' forint to back. I feel that I would need more space for those bass and catfish to turn around.

 

[LSUMAN]

I have a 60 that I want to use for native fish but I don't think it is bi enough forint to back. It is only 12' forint to back. I feel that I would need more space for those bass and catfish to turn around.

Once they get bigger like 8-10 inches it might be more of a problem but I raised 4 mudcats out of a pond that were 1/2 inch when I got them and put them in a 10 gal. One grew faster and eventually ate the other ones one by one but she stopped growing after she got to be almost 6 inches. So what I'm saying is they will grow to match their environment, at least in my experiences.