Is there a possession limit on the number of walleyes you can take home? We are coming out for a week in April and I was wondering what possession limits are? We will be staying on one of the islands...
thanks
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Is there a possession limit on the number of walleyes you can take home? We are coming out for a week in April and I was wondering what possession limits are? We will be staying on one of the islands...
thanks
2 limits, thats it. Yes that sucks when you are going to be their for a week.
I stayed on South bass 2 years ago and a C.O. told me there is an exception to how many fish you can take home if you ride ferry over. You can take home all your daily limits. Otherwise you are only allowed one days limit possession.
2 limits in possession. That sucks when you are going to be their a week. I think they need to change that because it wold be nice to bring home alot of walleye to have in your freezer.
Is this a change in 2009? At that time of year, it has always been 4 fish per day multiplied the number of days you fished. So, if you were there for 5 days, you could bring home 20 walleyes. A couple guys in our party got checked, very diligently, two years ago and were legal, so I know this WAS the limit.
Update- Just checked- Per the Ohio regulations- the four is still accurate and I can not find any info on a two day possession limit. Perhaps the individual who put that on here can provide some help on where he found that? Here is the link to the regs. In fact, there is no mention of possession which in the past meant there is none except your daily limit and the days you fished.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/pub084.pdf
I recently had this same question and contacted my partner in our charter business who is a indiana co. He contacted a good friend who is a co in ohio . He told us there was no possession limit, you must clean, bag and date your catch and then you will have no issues with any of the conservation officers. So fis away and good luck :)
I contacted the ODNR and here is the response...
"There is no possession limit, but a daily limit.
In order to keep fish caught, every days catch should be bagged, dated,
and with a skin patch on them. If you stay in a hotel or a campground,
you should have a hotel receipt or receipt from the campground to show
the dates that you were there as further proof. If they are at your
house, then you can return the next day if the fish are left there.
It is advised that the entire skin is left on the fillet if possible for
identification, but not necessary if it is easy to identify. Make sure
that the fish that is bagged, dated and with the skin from the previous
day's catch is left at the hotel or camp site or house. You cannot
clean fish or possess fillets while on or at any body of water. They
cannot be in a vehicle either that is on or at any body of water."
FISH ON!!!
I was just going by what the C.O. told me. You can take home all your daily limits (4 days fishing, 4 limits) IF you take ferry out to island. Otherwise 1 days limit was all you could take home. I also looked online to try to find possession limits before I went and couldn't find anything on it so I called Ohio DNR and they told me 1 day limit possession. They didn't mention anything about exception for ferry to island. I may have been told wrong but thats what I was going by. Figured the C.O. that checked my fish would know. Be nice if they actually posted possession limit rules on their website.
I talked to a co at the Maumee river. They even checked my truck coming out of the parks. I emailed the DNR that question when he emails me back I will post his answer. There is nothing on their web page about this like their is on the Michigans DNR. I was told if you are camping you can eat your limit of walleye at the camp but you better not have on you more then 2 limits. That was what i was told by the CO. Just use your head and find a CO when you get their and ask him because he will probley be the one checking you when you get back.
I am going to weigh in on this "limit" issue. Some may get offended, however it is not my intention.
The law is written as Daily limit not possession limit. I have always understood an inividuals daily limit is what they have in their freezer, cooler, boat, hotel or any other storage facility, all combined together on any given day. Ie., if you have a daily limit in your home freezer and another daily limit in your cooler, you have 2x your daily limit on the same day and can be cited. I do not believe there is any exemption for providing reciepts for hotels, charter trips, or multiple day excursions. We are allowed 1x our daily limit period. Fishermen have manipulated this and started the possession rule by mouth, stating they are allowed 1 limit in their freezer and another for that day so they may go fishing. My interpretation is we are allowed 1 limit period regardless of where we have it or how many days we fished. I would encourage anyone with a opposing belief in the law to get in in writing from the ODNR. Just remember if we were told wrong by an official, we are still held responsible, not the officer.
Fishermen Ethics-I spoke on this last year. My thoughts are to take ONLY what you will eat and leave the rest. I used to get wrapped up in trying to balance the cost of fishing with the retail value of what I catch and no matter how hard I fished, I always came up short on the $$$ end of it. I learned to relax and enjoy fishing. I take pictures of trophies and release them and that feels way better than killing and eating or mounting a trophy.
Don't get me wrong. I love to eat fish. I am just far more conservative than I once was. I have 6 licensed members of my family, in my home, and I didn't freeze a single fish last year. If I wanted "cheap" fish, I would save a ton of money and buy it at the grocery store.........FYI keep your receipt as it can count against your daily limit.
Bottom line- There is far too much overfishing. Commercial fishing north of the border on Erie is rediculous. I can't take issue with them if I am guilty of it too. I love the catch and consume rule of thumb. I understand freezing fish too so we can stretch out our feed throughout the winter. I find tremendous fault with anyone bagging and freezing multiple day limits. That is just greed and killing the fishery. Don't whine to me when the bag limit drops or seasons close or worse yet end. That is the direction things are going all over the world. Our planet is overfished/overharvested. Yes- even the Great Lakes. Throw some back men. For our futuer.
I think that is correct. If an officer wanted to be a prick, I think he could site a person for consumption fish, even if it is cooked. I have heard it both ways. Processed (cooked) fish does/doesn't count against you. I have been checked at a camp for all fish, freezer, cooler, boat and the cooked fish in the kitchen. Fortunately we only had some cooked and a couple in the fridge to cook later. The camp beside us wasn't so fortunate. They had licenses taken and fish taken and were cited.Quote:
Originally Posted by walleyefever12#
That leaves me to believe it's all about interpretation. Everyone has their opinion on limits and possession limits, etc, etc. I personally believe it should be designated specifically to each lake. And all species of fish for that matter. However, that would be a lot to remember for simple folks such as myself. Honestly, I think it should be spelled out a bit better and in black and white. I definitely follow and respect the laws, but when the law is left for debate how is one to know if your following it or not. I'm sure there will be more debate on this topic and maybe a CO from Ohio can weigh in on this as well. I'm driving 15 hours regardless if the possession limit is 4 or 2004. Coming that far I'd like to know what I can expect. I'm not going there to try and take home 28 fish in 7 days, I'm looking to relax, fish, and if I could possibly take home 6-8 fish to share with family, then that's a bonus.
Looking forward to more opinions on the topic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jax7725
Good for you. Sounds like you have the right mindset to have a great time. I don't think we will ever see a CO weigh in on a public forum. I also think there are by-laws that cover everything you are speaking of. They are just not practical to print as they are lengthy. The way I read the law is 1 day limit at any time. If you transport fish from an area you legally caught the fish, that is the limit that applies. Many Ohio lakes are 10 walleye and Erie is 6 depending on time of year. The limit where you caught the fish is what applies. I would advise you contact the ODNR and ask legal codes etc...........Good luck
Food for thought- The limit of walleye is reduced just before, during and just after the spawn. This is an attempt to keep spawning fish in the lake. If anglers catch and keep multiple day limits or go out multiple times a day and keep multiple limits, this defeats the purpose of reducing bag limits. Another thing to think about. ODNR is now making poachers pay restitution on poached wildlife. If you keep a 34" walleye and are over limit, you could pay thousands in restitution. The court sets the value.
It is not the fishermen, it is the power plants that kills millions of walleye a year and they dont do a dam thing about it. Some time read the Maumee tackel web page about it, it will make you sick. You are right. I live in Michigan and our book has possession in it. Your book dont. Ours is 2 limit of possession they dont care how long you have been their so if you have over 2 limits on you in your truck or any where you are going to get a ticket.
I agree with you, spoontang, that you should never take more than you will eat. My family eats a LOT of fish. Mostly crappies from lake in my home town. I freeze fish all the time but always keep an eye on what I have and never let any go to waste. I live 6 hours away from Erie and have only fished it twice. I just want to know rules so I can bring a few home and maybe have a fish dinner while I'm there.
I will take a different approach and really, no intent to cause hard feelings, but here goes. I (and my group) will travel 8+ hours, spend $1,500 on a cabin for a week, launch my boat and pay a marina fee each day, buy all my food, gas, bait and tackle and (can I say beer!?) in Ohio for a week. I will eat at restaurants', buy tackle, etc. there as well. I will be polite and courteous and you will not even know I am there. But, if I am there for 5 days and can take home 20 walleyes to eat for my family- I will do it. I will only keep males and I will only keep my limit, which I will eat the heck out of- but I will do it. If it is too much, reduce the limit, if it is not, then as long as you do not waste it, go for it. No one should be chastised for taking home what is legally theirs if they do not waste it. I guarantee you the businesses in the area love the business and that makes it better for everyone. What drives that fishery is the money coming from people using the fishery. If that money dries up, so do support businesses profits and eventually, so does the fishery. I have seen it in northern Wi, we have our own issues with reduced bag limits for different reasons and it has had a dramatic impact on the related businesses up there- all because it is not worth the effort to drive the distance to catch 3 14" walleyes. So, a little different view and hopefully I did not offend anyone with my input- if so, I apologize.
Well put Krayfish.
I also contacted Ohio DNR and there is no possession limit. Just need to take the time to properly package/label/store each day's catch.
Right on Krayfish I am so sick of people saying only keep a limit or 2 and let the rest back. we you are going to be their for a week. They are only saying that so they can leave with their limits everyday. Alot of them live right their and have a chance to go everyday unlike us that have to drive 1 to 3 hrs or more. I always tell them I paid the same amount for my license as you did and have the same rights if you want to let them go thanks but dont push it on me when these things are so great tasting. You are doing nothing wrong by keeping them and good luck.
Here we go again. I just ended a phone call with the department of fishing (ODNR) 419-625-8062 and spoke with an individual regarding limit. I am going to stand corrected. There is no possession limit. If an individual fishes 10 days, then you may have 10 days limit, but never with you when you are actively fishing. 1 limit per day. I was advised that the ODNR is watching closely for anglers that double dip. Multiple limits/trips per day.
I assure everyone that none of this hurts my feelings or offends me. It is true that the money spent supports the fishery, however, anyone that spends $1500 in Ohio once a year does not equate to the money I am taxed on daily for EVERYTHING in Ohio and that is what drives Ohio wildlife. Ohio tax dollars with license, tackle etc.
If you think you will catch and keep $1500 worth in fish in a week, you might want to rethink your numbers or save some money and buy fish from the market. This arguement comes up every year and people have mixed feelings. I could care less if you come to Ohio and spend your money. Just like the people of Florida could care less that I am traveling there tomorrow to spend alot of money to vacation and fish. The locals are always sensative to outsiders. I could also care less if you keep all of your legal limits. It is your legal right. All I ask is that we/you all are responsible with what we catch and kill. I have known too many people in that past that bag way too much and throw fish out in the spring. That should be a crime.
I commend those who keep just males. That is a conservation effort and acknowledging a need to conserve.
I agree that pollution is a problem as is commercial fishing however we can only control ourselves and what we do and it does make a difference. Let your conscience be your guide.
I used to try to balance $$$$$$$ Fish .......Gas.........Hotel......bait......Lures..... ...Equipment and what I found was that I was no longer recreational fishing. I was commercial fishing on a small scale. It took the fun out of it for me. Now I relax, keep a few fish, and really enjoy myself alot more. It is hard to be let down when my only expectation is to relax and have fun.
I like to fish for fun.
Spoontag, I think, no, I know, you missed the point. In any case, have a good and safe trip to Florida.
Thanks for the good wish. I respect all feelings within the boundries of the law. You are clearly within all parameters of the law. I also know it takes a balance of all oppinions and belief to make a system work. My frustration lies with those (you know who you are) that clearly poach and overfish. I am passionate about it. 1 billion Chinamen will completely drain the world of fish if they are allowed to. I watch programs on National Geographic often that mention the over fishing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Krayfish
Your point is very clear and understood. Have a safe and enjoyable trip. I plan on posting some video of my Florida trip when I get back.