Regulations are in place to protect fish, add enjoyment for anglers

It's your first fishing trip of the year and you pull into the parking lot at your favorite lake. Then you glance at the regulations on the bulletin board.

Wait a minute!

They're not the same as last year. And they're different from some other lakes you fish.

What's going on? Are these regulations really necessary? Why the differences between lakes? Those are good questions -- ones that many anglers ask. While it may appear that the sole purpose of fishing regulations is to confuse you, nothing could be further from the truth. Regulations are intended to make fishing better while protecting the resource.

There are more than a million anglers in Missouri. Although we are blessed with an abundance of fishing waters, that still translates to incredible pressure on our fisheries. Fortunately, fish and wildlife are renewable resources. With proper management and regulation, a surplus can be harvested year after year without harming the species as a whole. That's one reason you will find daily limits, and often minimum length limits, on many species of fish -- to protect them from too much harvest. We don't want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

Another reason for regulations is a matter of fair play. Daily limits help to distribute the catch among as many anglers as possible. This prevents folks from filling their boat with fish on the days when they are really biting, leaving little for those who come to fish later. At Lake Girardeau, for example, you can keep up to four catfish or 20 bluegills per day.

Minimum length limits may protect a species by allowing the fish to grow to maturity and spawn before they reach the legal size for harvest. Length limits can also tap the potential of certain waters to grow larger fish. Who doesn't like catching a big one? Each body of water has its own unique combination of fertility, habitat, types of fish and angler interest. Because of these differences, a one-size-fits-all approach would not produce the best fishing everywhere and might even prove harmful in some locations.

For example, Boutin Lake in Trails of Tears State Park has an over-abundance of small largemouth bass, so the rules there allow anglers to harvest up to six bass under 12 inches. On the other hand, Robert DeLaney Lake in Charleston, Mo., has few bass, so they are protected by an 18-inch minimum length limit and a daily limit of two.

Be sure to pick up a fishing regulation booklet when you purchase your fishing license and always check the posted regulations when you arrive at your next fishing spot. Remember that by following the rules, you help to make fishing better for everyone.

Mark Haas is the fisheries regional supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. He works at the MDC campus in Cape Girardeau and can be reached at 290-5730, ext. 241.