Crappie limit should be lowered

Sooner or later the fishery is going to crash at Clear Lake

Clear Lake is known worldwide for its outstanding bass fishing. However, there is another fish that draws the attention of anglers and it is the crappie. Just about all the bank fishermen around the lake are going for crappie, not bass. The big question is are too many crappie being removed from the lake by unscrupulous fishermen?

Dozens of fishermen who line the shore around Clear Lake are keeping every crappie they catch, regardless of size. If you don't believe it, just check out Library Park or Lakeside County Park.

There is a concern that removing so many crappie from the lake will impact the fishery. The daily limit for crappie is 25. This is also the possession limit. What is happening is that entire families, which often include the husband, wife and several youngsters, are all catching and keeping crappie. For example, a family of five can legally retain 125 crappie a day. According to authorities, many of these crappie are being sold to restaurants in the Bay Area. A few years ago a fisherman was arrested with more than 700 crappie in his possession.

At one time it was the crappie that was the king at Clear Lake. Bass hold that title today, mainly because of numerous tournaments. At one time tourists from throughout the state and the West visited Clear Lake to catch crappie, and not because the fish put up a fight such as a bass but because the fish is delicious to eat. In fact, many of the old resorts located around the lake were built to accommodate crappie fishermen. The fish became so popular that most resorts had crappie cleaning machines, which resembled large clothes dryers. You put a quarter in the slot and the machine would scale the fish. In those days there were plenty of bass in the lake but most of the fishermen were after the tasty crappie.

Clear Lake holds two different species of crappie. Both species of crappie are nearly identical. However, counting the spiny rays on the dorsal fin can identify them. A black crappie has seven or eight spines and a white crappie has six spines. As the name implies, the black crappie is normally darker overall. The white crappie usually has markings arranged in vertical bars. They spawn during the months of May and June. Like all members of the sunfish family, the male guards the nest and young fry. The young feed on zooplankton for their first two years. They mature in two to four years and their life expectancy is eight to 10 years although most don't live past four years.

Crappie aren't native to Clear Lake or even the West. Actually, Clear Lake was the first lake in California to be stocked with crappie. It was back in

1908 when crappie were brought to the lake from Illinois. These were black crappie and Clear Lake offered ideal habitat.

The fish flourished. In

1951, white crappie were planted in the lake. There are now several crappie fishing tournaments held every year and they are becoming more popular.

Crappie, both black and white, can grow to large sizes. The world record for black crappie is 6 pounds. For white crappie, the world record is 5 pounds, 3 ounces. Clear Lake holds the state record for white crappie with a 4-pound, 8-ounce fish caught in 1971. It also holds the record for black crappie, a 4.33-pounder caught two years ago.

Two-pounders are common and an occasional 3-pounder is caught. Several crappie weighing more than 3 pounds have been caught this year.

Crappie are nearly always found in schools and some of the schools can be huge, holding up to 500 fish. Crappie seek out docks to hide beneath and that's where most of the fishermen concentrate their efforts.

The downfall of crappie is their table quality. Few fish can match a crappie for eating and that's one reason most of the fishermen catch and keep the 25 fish-per-day limit. Biologists say that in most cases catching and keeping a limit of crappie probably has little effect on their population. However, with the number of crappie being caught every year it could have an overall impact on the fishery.

The Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee has asked the Fish and Game Commission to lower the crappie limit to 10 daily but the Commission hasn't responded. Ten years ago the Board of Supervisors sent a letter to the Commission asking for a daily limit of 15 crappie but the Commission turned down that request.

There is no question the crappie daily limit should be reduced to 10 fish. The fishery is under tremendous pressure and sooner or later it will crash. It's only a matter of time.