Yes, we really do have seasons in some states for some, not all, species. Mainly these seasons protect spawning fish from the meat fishermen who think fish appear in the rivers my magic, and that every fish should be kept regardless if it's full of eggs or not, or if it's 6" long or 27" long. That may sound like I'm stereotyping some people, and you would be absolutely correct. Without seasons and slot lengths, fish in some waters would be fished to where there would be none left to reproduce. Even with seasons and slot limits, we are still plagued with poachers.