"luv2bafield" wrote in message
ink.net...
I have seen numerous references to bass season opening here and there at
various times. What exactly is a bass season? Is the season the period
during the year you can actually fish for bass, or is it the period during
which you can keep them?

We don't have a bass season in Florida...sheesh, I hope not! It would be
a
little late to find out now! We do have seasons on other fish, such as
snook, trout and redfish, but the season is the time you can keep them
within certain size ranges. You can fish for them all year, but you must
release them when the season is closed.

So, what's the deal with bass seasons in other parts of the country?
Thanks
in advance for the clarification.

Keith

Like RichZ says, different states have different rules.

Here in Northern Wisconsin, from the middle of March, until the first
Saturday in May, you cannot target bass, or any other gamefish for that
matter. Any that are caught while panfishing (the only legal game in a most
lakes and rivers), must be returned immediately. From 12:01 a.m. on the
first Saturday in May on, you can fish for bass, walleye and other game
fish. However, you cannot keep any bass until the middle of June, which
isn't a problem for me, 99.999% of the bass I catch are released anyway.

There is a big controversy, many think that the bass season should be kept
closed until after the spring spawn, to protect the fishery. Others think
that the bass season should be opened with the regular fishing season. The
Wisconsin DNR arrived at this compromise which is fine with me.

To further complicate matters, the southern portion of the state has
differing rules for gamefish. AND certain rivers are open year round for all
gamefish (with the exception of bass and muskies). The season still opens
on the first Saturday in May, but catch and keep for all fish opens then (if
I remember correctly, it's been a while since I fished the southern part of
the state).

Then too, different lakes and stretches of river have different size/bag
limits for different species of fish. Some days, you have to be a
Philadelphia Lawyer to figure out the rules....
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com