Catch and release native fish?

Contact your local Department of Natural Resources or Conservation Department and see what they say. It's either legal or it's not.

Jim

I wouldn't do it simply because a lake or stream is an open environment and the tank, regardless of your upkeep and such is a closed environment. I believe that's what the first caution is about.....

I would think there is a definate danger of passing on contagious diseases if you get a fish from the wild, throw him in with your tropicals and then re-release him, but it doesn't have to be that way. I would make sure you bleach treat everything that is going into the tank. Do not use any plants or animals from lfs and don't use any of the same tools you would use for other aquariums. Dangerdoll is right in the fact that the tank is a closed system, if you take precautions then the only diseases in there will be the ones the wild fish brings with it.

As for the individual losing it's natural instincs while in the tank, and becoming a disruption once re-released... The few fish you would be re-releasing are the tiniest drop in a bucket when it comes to the ecology of that stream as a whole. Consider the impact that hundreds of baitfish that are relseased into lakes after a day of fishing have (nobody worries about that). Those fish are artificially raised and sometimes not even close to being endemic species. You would be releasing fish into a waterway that they lived in a few months ago. I don't see the problem there. The worst that could happen is that they get eaten and help perpetuate the next species up on the food chain. Such is life.

Check to make sure you're not breaking the law when you re-release them (discouraged and illegal are two different things)and buy a fishing license so you don't get pinched when you're collecting (the license should make it legal to collect bait fish).

Great question, I can't wait to see the responses it generates.

I've done it.

If it's legal,

Just release the fish back where you caught them.

Just make sure you don't collect anything endangered. There are usually some endangered darters and things in most parts of the country. You most likely won't catch them (they're rare) but make sure you can identify them just to be sure. Johnny Darters and Rainbow Darters are cool (breeding males are very colorful). They look and act a little like gobies. Get some glassjawed minnows and some kind of dace for the upper regions...very cool tank. Might have to put it in the basement to keep it cool though.

Probably get flamed for this, but another option would be to catch some small sunfish, feed the heck out of them, and have a fish fry at the end of the summer. If you feel bad, just keep telling yourself it's aquaculture, not fishkeeping. Those guys are pretty tasty, way better than bass or trout. :Angel:

Good luck and post or pm me and tell me how it works out. I've been kicking around the same idea for awhile now. BTW where do you live?

It is critical to make sure it's legal. State regulations vary widely--in Wyoming, transporting a live fish away from the site of capture without authorization is most definitely illegal, punishable by fines and loss of fishing privileges.

my old hort teacher always kept local fish in his class he had a huge tank that he had a 8in trout and a crayfish in and another tank that he would rais salmon fry in. and when they all got to big he releasd them. every thing that was in the tanks he got from local streams. for substrate it was a ton of dirt gravel rocks and sand. then he also hade huge chunks of wood he gout out of the stream. it was realy cool. he also had a water chiller to keep it the perfect temp and only fed the fish what they eat in the wild, like local bugs and worms.