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I know of a guy last yr who got a ticket for giving a guy 3 fish when he had his limit.they came off with 25 each but co watched with binoculars and watched guy 1 give 3 fish to guy 2 then they walked off.
If you ever fished Erie much you learn there is no such thing as a boat limit. Same thing goes on the ice. Trick the C O's use is ask how many fish each person caught. Two guys in the boat with ten walleye, on says he caught 4, the other said he caught 6. The guy who caught 6 gets a ticket! Same thing on the ice. You won't get it ticket at the limited six and I do think the limit on Lake Erie is 6
It's not what you catch but what you keep, even if it's given to someone else.
As far as I am concerned this is BS rule that looks negatively on sportsman and promotes not sharing and helping others out. Some days, especially on the open water, say I was te only one to catch my limit of lake trout and my buddy can't buy a bite, I'm going to share those fish and regardless and we will both hopefully end up with a limit. I can't believe we actually have COs enforcing that crap. Thankfully I've only ever had very positive accounts with them in NW lower Michigan, if i had them ever give me a hard time about that, I don't think I would take It too well. We have way too many more serious violations occurring on a regular basic to have them spending their time girlything footing around and harassing average joes helping each other out.
I don't think a CO would care "how well you took it." You'd be paying a fine for over-limit and restitution fees all the same. LOL!Love it when guys try the tough-guy persona with COs. It makes their day.
I've seen alot of people catch fish for their less skilled fishing companions, so they can limit out too. Do you shoot extra deer for your good friends too, whats the difference. If you like getting fines and tickets, then have at it, but there ain't no we and there ain't no us.
A few years ago, I saw a situation played out on a very popular bluegill destination in West MI. There was a group of 3 guys fishing throwing their fish in a pile. CO, who was very friendly, asked them how many fish they have. Basically the guys couldn't answer him and tried to assure him that they did not have their limit. He mentioned to them it was their responsibility to know how many fish they have in possession and to keep the fish by each person in order not to mix up the possession. The guys were arguing with him saying its no different than having the fish in a livewell where they are all mix together and the CO wouldn't change his position so the guy finally said " go ahead and count them" in which then the officer told them to reel up their lines and stop fishing. Luckily for them they only had 72 fish on the ice meaning no one had reached their limit and could still fish and said that he could of written one of the guys up (probably the guy giving him the most grief) if there was 73 for continuing fishing while having a limit.
Wow!! I am sorry I asked. I did not mean for this to turn ugly, I was just curious. I live near the DNR office and will get an answer from them and report back. I really only ask because when we have a good day it makes a pretty cool picture to see a nice bunch of fish even if its not limits.
Unless the CO has been watching you all day long I'd tell him to prove it. As long as we're not over the limit as a group I'm still going to catch fish if my buddies want me to keep some for them. There are times when fish are only biting one specific color and one person out-fishes the others 5:1. If he can prove I caught 26 gills and my buddy only caught 24 of the 50, fine give me a ticket you deserve to for that kind of persistence.If you're bringing out your kids and wife who don't even like to fish for very long just so you can catch a multi person limit, that's a little more shady though.
I fully support the COs and the rules and regulations but this is a weak way to enforce the limit regulations..... ...I can guarantee you that Charter captains of all species do not mark their fish for their clients as they go into the live well..... If a CO ran up to a Charter Captain and asked him who had caught what fish the Charter captain would be SOL,,,,Especially a perch charter...