Bucket Fishing

[NCYankee]

I've seen something in North Carolina that I have not seen in Ohio (my previous home state). It is what I call bucket fishing. Basically, you take a five gallon bucket to the nearest fishing hole. Use whatever bait you have. Catch whatever fish you can regardless of species and size. Throw said fish in bucket. Take said fish home and eat them.

There is a group of guys who regularly fish the lake in my neighborhood. None of them have jobs. Surprisingly, they are all on some sort of disability, workers comp, etc. The poor things can't work.

These guys take anything and everything they pull out of the water. To make things worse, I believe they do not even live in the neighborhood. Our home owners fees keep up the neighborhood including the lake. The lake is supposed to be for residents only.

They joked one day about taking fish that were under the size limit. It is a private lake, so I don't believe there are actually limits. Never the less, these guys really get under my skin. I think the police might be making a special trip to the lake the next time a see these guys.

Sorry. Just wanted to vent. These guys are nothing but a drain on society. Do you have bucket fishing in your area?

[KenDammit]

I think most everywhere that isn't well policed has "bucket fishermen". If one isn't careful, they can also find people doing this to their private ponds. I've seen even sweet ole' ladies in their 70's do this. Maybe its just the way they were raised, but if you're worried about protecting your water...and if its for residents only I would be..then call fish and wildlife.

[betursweetbass]

Agree with Kendamit I do (said in my best yoda voice), anywhere there is a lack of supervision there will be bucket or cooler fishermen. Nothing you can do about it, but use your rights as a resident to report them. In this day and age, it is unwise to approach someone without caution and or diplomacy. Get a license number and description of the individual too if you can. With a few calls you can get someone's attention, and that may get the results you desire. If your lake has no posted signs about residents only or their invited guests, you should make it known to the HOA to do so. Good Luck

[bassnman30]

On a different note, We have "people " around here who leave trash in the area. Stuff that they have no more use for. i.e worm containers, drink cans etc. The worst are those who leave fishing line.

[lizardsrule]

Take pics, and turn em in.

Lizards

[flfireman]

Doesn't matter if it's a private/public lake state size limits are still limits.

[bassintom]

those "bucket fisherman"are here in jersey also.i know of 2 ponds that have NO fish in them anymore.one was a nice little bass pond.those are the same people that leave their garbage laying around.i have seen it and cleaned up after them of more than one occasion.
how do you cook 2 1/2" bluegill?and how many do you need for a sunny salad?....with tartar sauce of course...lmao

[KenDammit]

you could probably get a fillet about as thick as a sheet of paper off a 2 1/2" bluegill, lol.

And private waters do not have "size limits" per se. They can be set by the person or people who own the pond, but state regulations do not apply, at least not here in Kentucky..and I'd think any other privately owned water would be the same way.

[Wishing2BFishing]

Bucket fisherman piss me off. When I lived in Lancaster, there were always a bunch of bucket fisherman taking everything that came out of the Conestoga River. Rock Bass, Smallies, Walleye, Sunnys, and anything else that swims. You can always pick out that bucket fisherman. Here is my list of sure ways to identify the bucket fisher:

1) they always fish with bait
2) they rarely have a fishing license
3) they carry a bucket
4) they often can't speak English very well
5) thier rod is often two times bigger than what they need
6) they always use a giant bobber with their giant rod
7) sometimes they have giant deep sea hooks on their giant rod with their giant bobber
8) they don't seem to have jobs (always fishing in the same spot, day after day, after day, . . . )
9) they always keep fish that are smaller than the minimum size
10) they have never heard the words "creel limit"

[NCYankee]

That explains most of them W2BF. In my area, it is mostly poor uneducated people who bucket fish. I guess if you choose not to have a job, you get food wherever you can (gov assistance, other peoples lakes, and so on). Their equipment is always mismatched. I saw one of the bucket fishermen using a three foot long pole and a rod that looked more like surf rod.

[Wishing2BFishing]

NC Yankee, yeah, your hit the nail on the head, especially with your mention of the surf rod.

[bass kicker]

all the chinese people do that here they sit on the peers or rock walls of marianas and use 12 foot rods and keep every fish they catch

[JB]

taking all sizes really stunts the population..at our near by richmond res. they locals in the city all take 5-6 inch crappie out of there by the buckets, and there cant even be a potatoe chips width of meat on those fillets....
The res. used to have huge crappies at one time but not now.
I've also have seen ponds get the hurt put to them by anglers living off the meat they catch...it doesn't take long.