back to Todd B...........as I said in the other thread on the same subject, that is correct. Rock bass are NOT sunfish (but actually largemouth bass and smallmouth bass ARE members of the sunfish family).
My argument is that there are three species of panfish, two of them sunfish (bluegills and pumpkinseeds), and the third being rock bass, whose populations are in need of control for the benefit of other gamefish, especially bass, which tend to inhabit the same waters.
Imposing a limit on these three species is counter-productive for the reasons I outlined above.
Doug
Catch Limits imposed on Sun Fish
Here's the MNR definition:
Scientifically speaking, crappie, LM bass and SM bass are also "sunfish". Personally, I think that the omission of rockbass from the "Sunfish" definition was an oversight by the MNR.Sunfish – For the purpose of this summary, sunfish includes
pumpkinseed, bluegill, green sunfish, warmouth, orange spotted
sunfish, longear sunfish and Lepomis hybrids.
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valley_boy
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I really don't see the problem in a 50 fish maximum. Does anyone here actually keep that many in a day anyway? As far as other panfish are concerned (especially crappie) I think the restrications could be tougher. I would personally never keep 30 -50 crappie in a day. Taking more than a meal is just gready. There was a very good article last year in the In-Fisherman Ice fishing special by Gorg Pyzer that was called "Whats legal is not always ethical" that touched on this. Unforunatley because the MNR is on such a low budget they cant afford to put in the time to test lakes to see what body off water can sustain what limit of agnling pressure, so it is more cost effective for them to change the limits for a entire zone.
Yes I surely have kept more than 50 sunfish in a day, and I will continue to do so, from lakes where there is an over-abundance of them.
I am also a very accomplished filleter, even if I do say so myself, so I do not waste any edible flesh. When I catch more than a meal's worth of fish, I freeze the extra fillets in water to enjoy later. Often, many MONTHS later since I rarely wet a line from about mid September to 31 December, as I do a lot of hunting. (As a side note, I practically abandoned fall steelheading once I became a diehard bow hunter.......
)
I believe in catch and release where there is a biological reason to do so, and have been something of a heretic locally for insisting that people put the BIG bass back into the water and keep smaller bass for a meal. But there is no good reason of which I am aware to limit catch or possession of bluegills, pumpkinseeds, and rock bass in this part of the province, in any body of water in which those species are present.
At the risk of repeating myself, we are doing the REAL gamefish a favour when we remove these three species from water bodies where they co-exist.
Doug
I am also a very accomplished filleter, even if I do say so myself, so I do not waste any edible flesh. When I catch more than a meal's worth of fish, I freeze the extra fillets in water to enjoy later. Often, many MONTHS later since I rarely wet a line from about mid September to 31 December, as I do a lot of hunting. (As a side note, I practically abandoned fall steelheading once I became a diehard bow hunter.......
)I believe in catch and release where there is a biological reason to do so, and have been something of a heretic locally for insisting that people put the BIG bass back into the water and keep smaller bass for a meal. But there is no good reason of which I am aware to limit catch or possession of bluegills, pumpkinseeds, and rock bass in this part of the province, in any body of water in which those species are present.
At the risk of repeating myself, we are doing the REAL gamefish a favour when we remove these three species from water bodies where they co-exist.
Doug
Doug,Doug wrote:back to Todd B...........as I said in the other thread on the same subject, that is correct. Rock bass are NOT sunfish (but actually largemouth bass and smallmouth bass ARE members of the sunfish family).
My argument is that there are three species of panfish, two of them sunfish (bluegills and pumpkinseeds), and the third being rock bass, whose populations are in need of control for the benefit of other gamefish, especially bass, which tend to inhabit the same waters.
Imposing a limit on these three species is counter-productive for the reasons I outlined above.
Doug
With respect to Rock Bass, they are a member of the sunfish family (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_bass, however by the MNR's definition, they are not considered as sunfish in terms of sunfish catch/posession limits.
There is a lot of confusion when people use the term "panfish", given that it is a generic description simply relating fish of a particular size. Most anglers would consider crappie to be a panfish. Carp used to be listed in the regs as a no limit catch but it has subsequently been deleted from the regs. Clearly in their attempt to simplify the regs, they've opened up a few loopholes that will need to be readdressed.
With respect to the limits, etc, I myself I am not opposed to coordinated culling when it's in the best interest for the local enviroment (i.e. cormorant population explosions, etc.) What I do aggree with is putting a limit on the so call "White Bucket Brigade" in those areas where it is warranted.
back to Jamsers.....
I think that most folks would pan-fry or deep-fry most panfish, and these traditional ways to eat them are very good indeed.
I usually separate the panfish I keep into baggies for meals (bigger fillets/fry them) or chowder (smaller fillets). Maybe I should post a fish chowder recipe in the recipes forum. A really big pot of chowder would easily take fifty to sixty (or more) panfish fillets. Chowder is delicious, and far less fatty than fried fish.
Another great way to cook panfish is to take breadcrumbs (make them yourself from dry bread crusts, or buy them), add about a tablespoon of vegetable oil, about a teaspoon of dill seed, some seasoning salt, and a dash of garlic powder, mix the ingredients and put them on a plate. Press the fillets one at a time into the crumbs (both sides), shake off the excess crumbs, place on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 400 F for about eight minutes. (TIME VARIES WITH FILLET THICKNESS!) That last note is important, that's why I used full caps..........They are done when they are golden brown and the flesh flakes easily with a fork.
BTW that last recipe is a killer for cold panfish sandwiches - take some nice fresh bread or a bun, spread mayonnaise on at least one side, pile on some fillets, garnish with fersh lettuce, and enjoy!
Geez, I just had lunch and I am getting hungry...........
Doug
I think that most folks would pan-fry or deep-fry most panfish, and these traditional ways to eat them are very good indeed.
I usually separate the panfish I keep into baggies for meals (bigger fillets/fry them) or chowder (smaller fillets). Maybe I should post a fish chowder recipe in the recipes forum. A really big pot of chowder would easily take fifty to sixty (or more) panfish fillets. Chowder is delicious, and far less fatty than fried fish.
Another great way to cook panfish is to take breadcrumbs (make them yourself from dry bread crusts, or buy them), add about a tablespoon of vegetable oil, about a teaspoon of dill seed, some seasoning salt, and a dash of garlic powder, mix the ingredients and put them on a plate. Press the fillets one at a time into the crumbs (both sides), shake off the excess crumbs, place on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 400 F for about eight minutes. (TIME VARIES WITH FILLET THICKNESS!) That last note is important, that's why I used full caps..........They are done when they are golden brown and the flesh flakes easily with a fork.
BTW that last recipe is a killer for cold panfish sandwiches - take some nice fresh bread or a bun, spread mayonnaise on at least one side, pile on some fillets, garnish with fersh lettuce, and enjoy!
Geez, I just had lunch and I am getting hungry...........
Doug
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slop
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I think your referring to 'Zone 16'. Zone 17 is essentially the Kawarthas and is almost exclusively closed to ice fishing with the exception of Lake Scugog.Todd B. wrote:For better or worse, rock bass are not considered to be "Sunfish" by the MNR.
And with respect to the Crappie limit, there is no limit in Zone 17 (i.e. Simcoe's ice fishing mecca).
Crappie fishing through the ice on Lake Simcoe is alot more difficult than many people would think....trust me.
Oh and there is a limit of 30 Crappie on Lake Simcoe.
Last edited by slop on Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Todd, you are correct, I have not been to PA for steelhead. But I have been down there a couple times for whitetails! 
I used to spend most of the fall in the Bighead, Beaver, Nottawasaga, Sydenham, Saugeen, and a few other rivers and streams, up to my nasty bits in waders with a noodle rod and vest. I only really quit open water fishing each year once the waters were closed for the season or with ice. So I was bit hard by the steelhead bug. Then I got bit hard by the bow-hunting bug. Who knows, some year I might have some kind of epiphany and discover GOLF!
Not that there is anything wrong with persons who have different (shall we say) ORIENTATIONS!!!!!!! Hey, for every person out on a golf course that is one less person on the stream or in the woods, right!
Doug
I used to spend most of the fall in the Bighead, Beaver, Nottawasaga, Sydenham, Saugeen, and a few other rivers and streams, up to my nasty bits in waders with a noodle rod and vest. I only really quit open water fishing each year once the waters were closed for the season or with ice. So I was bit hard by the steelhead bug. Then I got bit hard by the bow-hunting bug. Who knows, some year I might have some kind of epiphany and discover GOLF!
Not that there is anything wrong with persons who have different (shall we say) ORIENTATIONS!!!!!!!
Hey, for every person out on a golf course that is one less person on the stream or in the woods, right!Doug
What an extremely INTERESTING thread!
I am an old fart, but always have lots to learn, and freely admit it.
It would appear that "warmouth" is the correct term for rock bass, and that therefore rock bass is a sunfish according to the MNR. I am willing to bet a tidy sum of money that our local COs did not know that.........
So anyways, once I read the post a few back in this thread by Todd B. I said to myself, "What on earth is a warmouth?" And although it is not 100% clear in all of the references, it does look like the fish that I have called a rock bass for a VERY long time would be called a warmouth in some parts of the world. Including, perhaps, the Ontario Fishing Regulations!
Doug
I am an old fart, but always have lots to learn, and freely admit it.
It would appear that "warmouth" is the correct term for rock bass, and that therefore rock bass is a sunfish according to the MNR. I am willing to bet a tidy sum of money that our local COs did not know that.........
So anyways, once I read the post a few back in this thread by Todd B. I said to myself, "What on earth is a warmouth?" And although it is not 100% clear in all of the references, it does look like the fish that I have called a rock bass for a VERY long time would be called a warmouth in some parts of the world. Including, perhaps, the Ontario Fishing Regulations!
Doug
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hook&shoot
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