channel bass ?

[Fenner]

puppy drum, yearling, old drum. How old is a puppy and how long is a yearling? can a channel bass grow that big in one year:confused: thanks

[Digger]

Yea the sizes and names can be confusing. Red Drum are slow growing fish. So a yearling is much older than the name indicates, 30 or so inches is the size. Most people call Puppy Drum the sub 26 inch fish. Now the name Channnel Bass I always used for those in the 40+ range, but that name is falling out of favor. Now the names and sizes can vary with locality as well. Clear as mud.

[Redhorse]

Every time I come down there fishing...I leave more confused about what I'm fishing for/catching...:rolleyes:

[Clyde]

Puppy drum is less than 30". 1.5 years old.

Yearling is 30-40 inches. 2-10 years old usually.

Old drum is over 40 inches. Most 40 inchers are over 10 years old, but some grow faster & slower as in anything.

[Fenner]

yes thats what confuses me. i read at cape point they call yearlings under 30 inches but they are actually older than a year:confused: yes clear as mud:D

[chris storrs]

yearling= under 40"

[Fishbreath]

yearling= under 40"

and over 30"...

[JAM]

Juvinell = 0-17 inches

Puppy Drum 18-27

Yearling 28-39

Drum 40 +

These names came from the Tagging Program a lot of us participate in.. Most folks will call it a Yearling if it is a usless fish(Fun but usless).. Over the slot and under paperwork..

For Citation paperwork and how the MAN measures this fish it Total Length.. For the NC Tagging program it is a Fork Length measurement.. Hope this helps.. JAM

[Drumdum]

34" and below a pup
35"-40 is a yearling
40"-49 is a drum full grown
50" and above is an "Ole warrior"
All the above are measured fork length. Many measure total length for citations.. I have fished the planks for 30plus yrs and we always measured fork length.. That is also the way you measure to tag... In the case of a slot fish it should be measured total length...

Slot 18"-24

Oldest fish I've heard of was close to 60 yrs of age..
That being said,they CAN reach,but not always 40" in as little as 5yrs
A female CAN spawn in as little as 3..

First yr they can grow as much as 16" plus..

As was said "it's all clear as mud now".... :D

[Digger]

When you concider the fish once ranged from NJ to Texas. There is no wonder there are so many different descriptions. heck I have caught them from Florida Bay to the York River and many places in between. The name changes frequently with location not to mention the sizes associated with the fish. I also suspect that the growth rate changes with the region.

[Drumdum]

When you concider the fish once ranged from NJ to Texas. There is no wonder there are so many different descriptions. heck I have caught them from Florida Bay to the York River and many places in between. The name changes frequently with location not to mention the sizes associated with the fish. I also suspect that the growth rate changes with the region.

Some of the ones in Texas were "imports"... They were caught and transported from here in Hatteras to Texas.. Ought to be interesting,they could possibly have a new world record come from there,with those genes in the mix...
Read a book from the 30's the author of one of the storys in there talked in length about the big ones that used to be in New Jersey..

On the slot,I posted up top it's 27 not 24..:rolleyes: :redface:

[Mark G]

curious about the fork length vs total length.

I'm wondering if you have a general idea of the difference this makes. In other words what do you think a fish that goes 40" total length would measure out to in fork length. (just looking for a general estimate.

I can see where as far as the slot limit goes total length should help keep one on the short side, but hurt ya (as far as keepin) on the high side of the scale.

[WILSON]

got a 46" fork length with a 48 1/2" total length couple weeks back. Was curious about that myself. Hope that helps

[Cdog]

curious about the fork length vs total length.

I'm wondering if you have a general idea of the difference this makes. In other words what do you think a fish that goes 40" total length would measure out to in fork length. (just looking for a general estimate.

I can see where as far as the slot limit goes total length should help keep one on the short side, but hurt ya (as far as keepin) on the high side of the scale.

It can vary greatly. Last fall I got a 41"FL that was 44" total. Then got a 47"FL that was 48"TL

[NTKG]

It can vary greatly. Last fall I got a 41"FL that was 44" total. Then got a 47"FL that was 48"TL


da Dog is absolutely correct. seen them with as little difference as 1.5 to 4 myself. im sure the range varies greatly.