The Texas Senate, facing an enormous budget battle this year, took time out this week to pass a bill legalizing "noodling," or the sport of hand-fishing for catfish, the Texas Tribune report
"Noodling" involves dipping a hand into fresh water and waiting for a catfish to clamp down it. The sport is illegal in Texas, punishable by a $500 fine.
Under the bill, noodlers can only go after catfish and must first get a fishing license and fishing stamp.
"I personally don't noodle, but I would defend to the death your right to do so," says Republican state Sen. Bob Deuell, author of the bill, the Tribune reports.
Republican state Sen. Robert Nichols says noodling is common in his district, but he didn't realize it was illegal.
"People really do noodle, but sometimes they find things other than catfish," he says. "It's actually a quite dangerous hobby out there."
By: Douglas Stanglin,
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