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Michigan => Ice Fishing Michigan => Topic started by: dalhnt on Mar 09, 2015, 07:29 AM
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My buddy says I have t stop fishing after I catch my limit, I say I can keep fishing but just cant keep anymore! who is right?
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As long as you target a different species after you've reached your limit on the first one you can still fish
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If you are releasing the fish that you have your limit on and not giving them to someone else then I don't see you breaking any laws. I would still either call the DNR or send them an email and ask them this question to be safe. I don't think telling a CO "Well someone on the internet said it was legal" will get you out of a ticket if doing something illegal.
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Wouldn't be doing it they will ticket you,stop one short and release.
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DNR officer told me that as long as the fish are going back alive you are in no violation. You can keep the first whatever the limit is you catch and fish the rest of the day without issue. We asked about walleye fishing in particular, but it pertains to any species.
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what tazdevil300 said ^^^
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No No NO, this is why you should ask a DNR officer. I asked about Lake trout since East/West bay have a slot limit and limit of three fish. If you have caught your limit, you allowed to continue fishing....as long as you aren't specifically "targeting that fish".
So for example, if I catch my three keeper lake trout, then I can continue fishing my hole for white fish, bourbot or perch....if I catch a lake trout then you have to simply take the hook out of it's mouth and watch it swim back down the hole.
You are NOT allowed to put a previously caught fish, back down the hole simply because one you caught later in the day was "better".
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just bring your kids and have them carry the extra fish of the ice ;D ;D ;D
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What Taz said. If you ask 10 DNR, you will probably get 10 different answers.
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its called "culling" when you return one for a better one, alive.
it is up to the CO if you have a fish in your possession or not. hooking one and releasing it immediately is not considered in your possession.
if you "target" fish you are not supposed to catch, then you are in violation. so if the man asks you questions like what are you fishing, you better not say bass right now for example.
so if you have 25 pans and keep fishing you would have to be able to say you are fishing for some other than pans. if you are with some one else, you can say the 25 fish on the ice are both of yours and both keep fishing. 25 pans per license and 3 days keep in your possession (freezer/fridge/cleaning/bagged) maximum or any species. being bass is out, not sure what you could say you are fishing for if fishing alone. its 25 pans per day limit. i read its 500$ for first fish over the limit and 50$ per fish after. just thought of one, say "carp" is your target.
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when I catch my limit early.i still fish all day and release all others.i can fish for panfish all day but can only keep 25.ive met dnr officers with my limit on the boat at miner lake and they watched me throw back many other bluegills without a question.
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I got 25 pans I'm fishing for perch now........
I got 50 perch time to go!!
I got 5 eyes (I don't have that problem!)
I got 3 steel I'm trying for browns
I got 5 salmon I'm trying for lakers and steel
And so on....
I don't fish for bass....
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My buddy says I have t stop fishing after I catch my limit, I say I can keep fishing but just cant keep anymore! who is right?
Guys can put all the frosting on this they want, but it still is not a cake. You can and will get a ticket much of the time if you "Attempt" to take additional target fish after your limit is retained. Good luck trying the "I am now trying for Browns and Lakers" routine. Just be an honest sportsman that exercises proper judgement. Why even risk a ticket or incident that makes us all look bad?
If you want to continue fishing, be a good sportsman, do not keep the last fish of your limit till your ready to leave for home. So easy a Caveman could do it. And legal.
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Guys can put all the frosting on this they want, but it still is not a cake. You can and will get a ticket much of the time if you "Attempt" to take additional target fish after your limit is retained. Good luck trying the "I am now trying for Browns and Lakers" routine. Just be an honest sportsman that exercises proper judgement. Why even risk a ticket or incident that makes us all look bad?
If you want to continue fishing, be a good sportsman, do not keep the last fish of your limit till your ready to leave for home. So easy a Caveman could do it. And legal.
I 100% disagree with you. Because this example is very good for winter and specifically the fish we are discussing...as "Joe in TC" can relate. When we fish in east or west bay in the winter time, I use one particular lure type for Lake trout, Whitefish, Cisco, and if I am lucky Bourbot. So if I limit out on lake trout, than you just unhook them and throw them back in the water. The same goes for summer time, if you are limited out on a species and want to "Target" another then that is allowed. As I said, we asked the DNR on this, and yes they are known for their goofy answers...but I abide by the rules. And if I limit out on lake trout...then I am totally in my rights to continue fishing for white fish or cisco. You just aren't allowed to "Cull".
So if a DNR officer wants to give me a ticket for fishing legally, I will gladly take it to the local District Court. And thats all coming from myself, a guy who works in law enforcement
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Wouldn't be doing it they will ticket you,stop one short and release.
X2
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I think zmantc54 is right on point.
I have had three Lakers on the ice more than once and kept fishing and ended up taking a Burbot or Whitefish home with the lake trout.
In the summer trolling if I pick up three Lakers and continue fishing, I can end up with a salmon or brown to go along with them.
RL Wagner, I think the guy was just asking a question, making judgments on sportsmanship, honesty and intellect may be a bit harsh.
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its tempting fate? conservation officers here say if you have your limit and keep fishin and target another species and incidently catch a gut hooked fish you already have a limit of, he said ill fine you?why take the chance.
GOD BLESS
mo
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Myself and 2 friends had our limit of walleyes on the ice at the Bay of Quinte and we were told by the dnr to reel up. When we asked if we could give a fish to another nearby angler we were told we would have to give away 3 fish if we all wanted to continue fishing. Catch and release was not allowed, nor was a combined limit. When perch fishing I normally stay one shy until it's time to leave.
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If a DNR officer "thinks" you are still targeting a species after you have you limit he can (and usually will) ticket you. Oh, the judge will always side with the DNR.
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Guys can put all the frosting on this they want, but it still is not a cake. You can and will get a ticket much of the time if you "Attempt" to take additional target fish after your limit is retained. Good luck trying the "I am now trying for Browns and Lakers" routine. Just be an honest sportsman that exercises proper judgement. Why even risk a ticket or incident that makes us all look bad?
If you want to continue fishing, be a good sportsman, do not keep the last fish of your limit till your ready to leave for home. So easy a Caveman could do it. And legal.
Spot on. Why are some people so greedy about getting a limit. Who cares if you let the one go before your limit and never get one to replace it. Lots of times I catch a 100 panfish a day and only bring home enough for a meal, and sometimes none. Why does a limit mean everything to so many people? Why do you need to go around tooting your own horn how great you did. Personally I believe most of these greedy people are new- Be's or inexperienced anglers.
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For what it's worth this same question came up on another forum a few weeks ago with the same back and forth. The general response was that that actual rule in Michigan was ambiguous, so one guy emailed the DNR and got a response, and then posted it. The response read:
"Thank you for your question. It is legal to fish catch and release fishing once your daily possession limit has been filled. However, you need to immediately release the fish above your possession limit or you could be ticketed."
If you search "Limit and done..or limit and fun" on MS you can find the post, it includes a screen shot of the email.
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Spot on. Why are some people so greedy about getting a limit. Who cares if you let the one go before your limit and never get one to replace it. Lots of times I catch a 100 panfish a day and only bring home enough for a meal, and sometimes none. Why does a limit mean everything to so many people? Why do you need to go around tooting your own horn how great you did. Personally I believe most of these greedy people are new- Be's or inexperienced anglers.
Sir, it's not about tooting your own horn or being selfish. You make the answer sound simple when you are referring to most pan fish when you keep dozens. The issue is when you can only keep 3 or 5 fish...You can literally do that in 5 minutes or an hour. The point is you don't have to stop fishing after 5 minutes of fishing because you "limited out on a specific species."
I also take your point of fishermen being greedy very personally....hunting and fishing at it's roots is to support eating habits and manage population. I don't myself, but am aware of families that count on a significant amount of their food to come from hunting or fishing. So with all do respect, how dare you.
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For what it's worth this same question came up on another forum a few weeks ago with the same back and forth. The general response was that that actual rule in Michigan was ambiguous, so one guy emailed the DNR and got a response, and then posted it. The response read:
"Thank you for your question. It is legal to fish catch and release fishing once your daily possession limit has been filled. However, you need to immediately release the fish above your possession limit or you could be ticketed."
If you search "Limit and done..or limit and fun" on MS you can find the post, it includes a screen shot of the email.
Great information! I also am one of those individuals that is really concerned with the ambiguity of our conservation laws. Unfortunately most of the time it is "ticket first" and figure it out later. I just think the laws are too complicated and it puts those officers in tough situations.
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Wow, I thought I was asking a simple question! but as far as my sportsmanship, greed or experience goes... I think asking the question shows what kind of a sportsman I am... a "legal" one, and as far as greed goes, I don't fish for panfish where a couple fish doesn't make a difference. But when I drive 5 hours to fish, pay for a nonresident license, yes I want to take home my limit when it is only 5, and for experience... I am 53 yrs old and been hunting and fishing most of my life, probably longer than some of you responders to this post have been alive! Oh and by the way I was born and raised in Saginaw, so I'm not some flatlander coming up there to abuse Michigans fine resources. I plan on returning when I retire! ;-)
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I think the DNR officer's mood will effect how they interpret the law and situation as much if not more than the fisherman's mood. If you give them any opportunity to nail you with a fine they are going to. That is their purpose. Good luck in court ::)
I agree with the folks who are saying stop short of the limit then catch and release until you're done fishing.
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For what it's worth this same question came up on another forum a few weeks ago with the same back and forth. The general response was that that actual rule in Michigan was ambiguous, so one guy emailed the DNR and got a response, and then posted it. The response read:
"Thank you for your question. It is legal to fish catch and release fishing once your daily possession limit has been filled. However, you need to immediately release the fish above your possession limit or you could be ticketed."
If you search "Limit and done..or limit and fun" on MS you can find the post, it includes a screen shot of the email.
i
FYI, this advice WILL get you a ticket if your riverside with three steelhead, and continue to try and catch and release. I witness it year in and year out on Michigan rivers.
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Here is a good question: Why is it illegal for a cop to pull you over just to see if you have a drivers license but it is legal for a DNR to stop by numerous times a day just to see if you have a fishing license?
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Keep 24 panfish. Then fish forever, tossing all but the last fish you catch back.
Keep 4 walleye, then fish until you find the 15 pounder - keep that one and leave.
No culling.
No CO will ever beat you up.
Dave
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Why are so many saying you would get a ticket when it is allowed in 100% of bass tournaments in the state? You don't have to stop fishing when you get your 5 bass, so why if your panfish are alive, why can't you keep fishing and cull if you want? Where is the rule that says it is illegal to cull panfish if they are alive? If your 25 are fishcicles, then I can see the problem, but not if they are kept alive and capable of release.
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that 26th bluegill or 51st perch might die from reeling it up too fast or swallowing the hook, then its not gonna swim back down the hole and you could possibly get in trouble for being over the limit. Anytime you catch a fish, there is a chance that fish might not make it and die after you release it, so the best thing to do is stay one short as others have mentioned or pay the price if you get unlucky and the fish dies in front of a C.O.
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Michigan has season for catch and release only on bass.
There are also catch and release only stretches of rivers as well as catch and release only on some lakes.
Sport Fishing shows almost exclusively show catch and release.
There is a chance any one of these fish can be injured, but almost all of them survive no worse for ware.
The limit on a catch and release only fish is zero. Are you going to give someone a ticket because the fish is accidentally injured?
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Yes they will. As they should IMHO
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Guys have been ticketed for fishing when they had their limit so why take that chance when you can stop one short.I don't know how that one fish could be that important.
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you guys should be thankful this is what you're discussing...in NJ our biggest problem are the hundreds and hundreds of guys, some with some without fishing licenses, that hide in trees and bushes in the shoreline and fill garbage bags with anything and everything they catch and do, god knows what with it...giant cauldron of fish soup?
call the hotline to report it, i've done so many times, no officer ever comes. say something to them and they yell at you in pollish or russian and keep on filling that bag.
be glad you have great fisheries with officials that protect it because trust me it's a privilege that we don't have in NJ
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Michigan has season for catch and release only on bass.
There are also catch and release only stretches of rivers as well as catch and release only on some lakes.
Sport Fishing shows almost exclusively show catch and release.
There is a chance any one of these fish can be injured, but almost all of them survive no worse for ware.
The limit on a catch and release only fish is zero. Are you going to give someone a ticket because the fish is accidentally injured?
Joe, Dun fergit the Catch and Release season on Trout......... Prior to the official opener.... Might be what you meant about the river stretches?
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I guess I don't have a problem with people TRULY targeting other species, however, if you catch 25 pannies out of a hole, and nothing else, and don't change your setup etc, then you aren't changing, you are making an excuse. Keep 24 and throw back then next 50.....no problem, its pretty easy to see targeting when it is occurring. And circumventing the laws, no matter how you interpret them, just shows character of said person, same with taking kids out and unless they are catching them, its individual limit, not a group effort. People wonder why groups keep asking for more conservation reform, and this kind of topic is exactly why it will one day likely change.
It is just like traffic laws.......speed limit use to be 55 on the freeways, people do 65....they change it to 70 and people do 80. There are going to be violators no matter what the law is, try and catch the biggest violators and hope it deters some others. Some people will never be happy............
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Good to see ya hollywood!
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Yo Wood ;)
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Lesage, Christian (DNR) ([email protected])
Add to contacts
11:01 AM
To: [email protected] Cc: DNR-Fisheries
[email protected]
Dale,
Thank you for your question. Yes, you may continue to fish once you have reached your limit. However, I recommend you immediately release your hooked fish so you do not appear to be keeping more than the possession limit allows.
Good luck fishing.
Christian LeSage
MiDNR Fish Biologist
ASRA Unit
(517) 284-5822
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The above is the reply I got from the dnr when I emailed them.
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I knew it.. like I said ive had my limit of bluegills the dnr checked me and I kept fishing and releasing big gills with the dnr right at the side of my boat at miner lake.thanks for the solid answer dalhnt.instead of everybodys different opinions on the law you went straight to the source.
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Looks like that was a biologist, might double check with an actual c/o.
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My buddy says I have t stop fishing after I catch my limit, I say I can keep fishing but just cant keep anymore! who is right?
technically yes, you are done fishing for that species the second the limit is reached. If you make a noticeable switch in gear or lures to target another species you would be fine. CO's wont believe ya much if you have 5 eyes on the ice, and now claim to be targeting perch with the same lures and no perch to show for it though. If you had switched over to teardrops, it'd be much more believable. Lots is left to the discretion of the officers.
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technically yes, you are done fishing for that species the second the limit is reached. If you make a noticeable switch in gear or lures to target another species you would be fine. CO's wont believe ya much if you have 5 eyes on the ice, and now claim to be targeting perch with the same lures and no perch to show for it though. If you had switched over to teardrops, it'd be much more believable. Lots is left to the discretion of the officers.
Good point and like most said why push it just quit one short thats what I do.
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.... just sayin
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It's a fishing license. Nothing illegal with catch and release. Add long as fish are alive you can upgrade fish. It's when your possession goes over the possession limit that you get into trouble. Simply catch and release after teaching your limit.
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It's a fishing license. Nothing illegal with catch and release. Add long as fish are alive you can upgrade fish. It's when your possession goes over the possession limit that you get into trouble. Simply catch and release after teaching your limit.
Broken,
You must have missed the rest of the thread? Your advice, as logic as it sounds, WILL result in our fellow sportsmen getting tickets. :o
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We cull fish with the limit in the boat every week in Bass and Walleye tournaments......Just as has been pointed out a few times as long as you immediately release the over fish you are good....
The DNR works closely with Tournament organizations so it is a pretty well known that anglers are culling fish with limits in their boats.......It's common sense....
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Broken,
You must have missed the rest of the thread? Your advice, as logic as it sounds, WILL result in our fellow sportsmen getting tickets. :o
There are postings with represenatatives from the DNR saying just the opposite on this thread.......and from my experience you can catch and immediately release with a limit in your posession......We do it every weekend.....I would be willing to bet most of the charters out there do the same thing once their clients have boated their limits...
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There are postings with represenatatives from the DNR saying just the opposite on this thread.......and from my experience you can catch and immediately release with a limit in your posession......We do it every weekend.....I would be willing to bet most of the charters out there do the same thing once their clients have boated their limits...
Yes, tournaments get a free ride on this one. But every year stream side fellow sportsmen are issued tickets for the same. I suspect most of the fellas here that witness the ticketing each year, are just trying to help their fellow sportsmen and women avoid getting undue citations. The ticketing is not debatable, as it is the norm year after year. Would just hate to see some unsuspecting peeps follow your advice, and end up with a ticket, rather than erring on the side of caution.
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It seems like the way you keep the fish that have already been caught, for example in a live well or on a stringer, has alot to do with whether a fisherman is acting in good faith in their attempt to cull fish. I read in another thread, that in Ohio walleye must be on chain style clip stringer iif one culling fish, and that keeping the fish on a rope would not qualify once a fisherman has reached a limit.
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the smart spell correction on this site is annoying as hell by the way.
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that response from the DNR was sent from a Biologist, not enforcement unit, which will be the ones writing said ticket and make the determination on how the law reads.
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We cull fish with the limit in the boat every week in Bass and Walleye tournaments......Just as has been pointed out a few times as long as you immediately release the over fish you are good....
The DNR works closely with Tournament organizations so it is a pretty well known that anglers are culling fish with limits in their boats.......It's common sense....
do you put your ice fishing catch in a livewell or a stringer in the water? If not, then you are potentially throwing back dead or frozen fish.
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This is on page 8 of the 2016-17 Michigan fishing guide:
"Catch-and-Immediate-Release (CIR): The act of
returning fish immediately to the water without
injury and without holding in a livewell or similar
device. Anglers may continue to fish CIR given
that they have reached their daily possession limit
for a given species."
good luck all :tipup:
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(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/imnrcher/200_zpszs2p73qo.gif) (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/imnrcher/media/200_zpszs2p73qo.gif.html)
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Sounds like in MI you're OK. In WI if you have your daily bag you're done. DNR tickets lots of folks fishing after their daily bag has been met or catching them "double dipping" by leaving the water with their limit and returning the same day to pound some more.... In WI if we want to keep fishing we have to leave our daily bag "1 short".
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I'll catch perch , eye's , gator's and crappie all on the same set up , I stick to my limit or what I can eat , let more go then I keep but if the fish cop wants to argue (never have had that happen encounters have been more then pleasant) we could be there for awhile ;D
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Sounds like in MI you're OK. In WI if you have your daily bag you're done. DNR tickets lots of folks fishing after their daily bag has been met or catching them "double dipping" by leaving the water with their limit and returning the same day to pound some more.... In WI if we want to keep fishing we have to leave our daily bag "1 short".
Tickets are issued every year on the steelhead runs to guys that continue to catch after three in the bush. Guess they need to go to court and fight it with a copy of the regs that are very clear.
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that response from the DNR was sent from a Biologist, not enforcement unit, which will be the ones writing said ticket and make the determination on how the law reads.
. Good point, irregardless of "the law" it's how each individual officer enforces it. Go ahead and get a lawyer and fight if u want, I'm going fishing!!
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. Good point, irregardless of "the law" it's how each individual officer enforces it. Go ahead and get a lawyer and fight if u want, I'm going fishing!!
Not an issue for this guy. I take my three and move on to shrooms, turkey and other endeavors in the great outdoors. No use rolling the dice on it.
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its tempting fate? conservation officers here say if you have your limit and keep fishin and target another species and incidently catch a gut hooked fish you already have a limit of, he said ill fine you?why take the chance.
GOD BLESS
mo
That's my thing, if the fish is damaged and you are at your limit its now just a dead fish. Also you can say you are targeting some other species, but you can catch many species on the same baits..."go ahead and reel that up" says, the CO as you get a hit and pull in what you have a limit of. I have seen CO's ticket people river fishing for salmon, having them reel up and their bait is gone, they ticket that as snagging.