Noodling, or catching fish with your bare hands, is presently illegal in Texas (not in Georgia). I link this specifically because of this extremely stupid bit:

They say noodling is unfair to the fish, since they’re grabbed in their burrows without a chance to swim away.

It’s more sporting, antinoodlers argue, to dangle a hook and give the critters the option of biting or not.

What? It’s more SPORTING than CATCHING A FISH WITH YOUR BARE HANDS to tempt them with food and let them chomp on a hidden hook? More sporting to spend several grand on a fishing boat, expensive rod and reel, hundred dollar tackle box, trolling motor, nets, depth finder crap, etc? Really? That’s more sporting?

Long Arm of the Law Penalizes Texans Who Nab Catfish by Hand