Question about Limits..

[DoubleB]

Ok, So I love me some fried sunfish... (Wish I could come to the Picnic!!!)

So this time of year, I spend a lot of time on the lake in bluegill beds, Shell crackers, ect...A lot of times Dad and I will get on 'em good and will want to stay out late, but not stay up til 4 in the morning cleaning them, so we start cleaning them right there on the lake. I like this method as well cause I can just throw the leftovers back out and not deal t=with them @ home while returning some nutrients back to the lake. Now to the question...

Say I've cleaned 50 bluegill, in my live well there are some Shellcrackes as well, Lets say 18 since it is me and Dad. I also have the 100 filets in my cooler, I cannot prove that the filets are Bluegill, but a TWRA cannot prove that they aren't. Can I be cited for something in this situation? I would never knowingly break a creel limit, but a TWRA Officer is not going to know my intentions. Any one know?

 

[flip1up]

There is something in the regulation about not altering the fish, so they can be evaluated. I recon your not suppose to clean them on the water. RSimms can probably clear this one up for us.

 

[koda4u]

As found on page 2 of the Tennessee Fishing Guide, You can clean and dress your fish while afield except you cannot alter fish to the extent that species and/or total body length cannot be determined if species requires.

 

[MadBomber]

flip1up - 5/25/2007 8:40 AM There is something in the regulation about not altering the fish, so they can be evaluated. I recon your not suppose to clean them on the water. RSimms can probably clear this one up for us.

</p>

yes, you are not allowed to do anything to the fish that would prevent getting an accurate length measurment and species I.D. </p>

 

[rsimms]

Yes, what flip said... regulations (Page 5 TN Fishing Guide) read as follows: It is unlawful to have, while afield, any fish which has been altered so that its species and/or total body length cannot be determined.

 

[koda4u]

Yes, what flip said... regulations (Page 5 TN Fishing Guide) read as follows: It is unlawful to have, while afield, any fish which has been altered so that its species and/or total body length cannot be determined.[/QUOTE]

 

[koda4u]

At least you know... Thanks

 

[DoubleB]

Think I just saved myself a looooot of trouble... Thanks Guys!

 

[foodsaver]

so you could fillet them and leave on a little bit of skin so they could identify the type of fish because there isnt a length requirement right?

 

[rsimms]

foodsaver - 5/25/2007 11:54 AM

so you could fillet them and leave on a little bit of skin so they could identify the type of fish because there isnt a length requirement right?

Perhaps... but still questionable given new creel limit on shellcrackers. Under some circumstances it might be difficult to distinguish "shellcracker" skin from "bluegill" skin (especially when dead). The bottomline is to be smart... don't put a wildlife officer in a difficult position or chances are he'll have no choice but to let you "tell it to the judge."

 

[koda4u]

rsimms - 5/25/2007 12:07 PM

foodsaver - 5/25/2007 11:54 AM

so you could fillet them and leave on a little bit of skin so they could identify the type of fish because there isnt a length requirement right?

Perhaps... but still questionable given new creel limit on shellcrackers. Under some circumstances it might be difficult to distinguish "shellcracker" skin from "bluegill" skin (especially when dead). The bottomline is to be smart... don't put a wildlife officer in a difficult position or chances are he'll have no choice but to let you "tell it to the judge."

EXACTLY!!!! Well said>>>))):

 

[TennesseeTalker]

What if you got a container that you put the throw away parts in until you quit fishing? The warden can look in the gut bag and see what you have been catching and cleaning? I guess that still might not work because you could have also cheated and only kept the not tracked species trash.

Hmmm ... heck just take them home after a late night of fishing and freeze them whole. Clean them when you eat 'em.

emoSmile

TT

 

[fisherpal2k]

 Hey DoubleB, I wouldn't push it too far. I found out in Alabama this year that if you catch fish and plan to transport them across the state line that you can only gut and scale the fish. You can not remove the gills as this "alters" the true length. You can not fillet them as they can't be identified and you can't clean them on the water. </p>

 Just don't ask how easily I found out..

</p>

 

[DoubleB]

YEa.. Dad and I were catching some big Green Sunfish a few weeks ago. We were about to start fileting them when I thought about it and we decided to wait...

 

[polo-dog]

Good info guys and great decision DoubleB, both with the filleting and the smoking. You'll live longer and better because of those two decisions.