Are THESE things endangered too???

[bulletbob]

OYSTER TOADFISH-
Length in Inches Bag Limit season
10 3 July 16- May 14
Copied this from NY state regulations..


Is this serious?.. I have never in my life even seen a 10 inch oyster cracker, and if I did, I would have cut the line.. Have we really gotten to the point where we are limiting toadfish?... Watch out, Sea Robin fans, they're coming for you next.... sheeesh.....

[MrAC1980]

Darn it wish I knew! I fished out in Long Island Sound on Saturday and all of them were over 10in! A few were prolly around 15" and 1-2lbs! Ugly mofo's only a mother could love!

[hartattack]

Beauty !

[olbarneybasser]

I was fishing over in Pennsylvania a few years back and saw something that looked just like that picture. Wait....sorry, I just remembered that scary face was my ex-mother in law. Easy to confuse...they're both ugly mf'ers.

[bulletbob]

I used to catch them by the millions in the Shrewsbury/Navesink, and most were pretty small... Never caught one in open water in the bay... I didn't realize the could reach 15 inches or better,, In any case, HOW can there be a limit on a creature that NO ONE eats, or even wants to catch??.. bob

[thefishermanmechanic]

I caught one on a luher once and put a knife in its mouth to see what would happen? The knife lost! Viscous creatures!

[reason162]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

I used to catch them by the millions in the Shrewsbury/Navesink, and most were pretty small... Never caught one in open water in the bay... I didn't realize the could reach 15 inches or better,, In any case, HOW can there be a limit on a creature that NO ONE eats, or even wants to catch??.. bob

Nothing wrong with a little proactive conservation. You never know when today's oyster toad fish will become tomorrow's "monkfish" or "chilean seabass."

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by reason162

Nothing wrong with a little proactive conservation. You never know when today's oyster toad fish will become tomorrow's "monkfish" or "chilean seabass."

I have no problem with proactive conservation.. I just don't understand how an abundant species like toadfish needs to be "protected", when there is no recreational or commercial pressure at all,[that I am aware of], and its near shore habitat is in good shape.. If stripers, blues, fluke,sea robins, flounder, and crabs by the millions can live in the bays and tidal rivers these days, I am sure oyster toads can as well, and no one anywhere fishes for them, or eats them.. bob

[reason162]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

I have no problem with proactive conservation.. I just don't understand...

Well, it seems to me that if you understood the concept of proactive/prophylactic conservation, you would have a problem with it. Just based on what you wrote.

and its near shore habitat is in good shape.. If stripers, blues, fluke,sea robins, flounder, and crabs by the millions can live in the bays and tidal rivers these days, I am sure oyster toads can as well, and no one anywhere fishes for them, or eats them.. bob

You might be right, but I wouldn't count on it. Usually science is not done in one's head, and what "stands to reason" is often wrong. I have no idea if oyster toadfish are under pressure, and it doesn't seem like you do either.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by reason162

Well, it seems to me that if you understood the concept of proactive/prophylactic conservation, you would have a problem with it. Just based on what you wrote.



You might be right, but I wouldn't count on it. Usually science is not done in one's head, and what "stands to reason" is often wrong. I have no idea if oyster toadfish are under pressure, and it doesn't seem like you do either.

ok, they deserve protection, you win.. Same as horn dogs and pout...

Science?.. You mean like the "debate is over" guys concerning GW??...
Sorry, I will trust in personal observation gleaned over a lifetime instead of computer models.... bob