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**Tightline** · 03-30-2009, 11:45 PM

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.

**spoontang** · 03-31-2009, 10:26 AM

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.

walleyefever12# · 03-31-2009, 10:45 PM

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.

**spoontang** · 04-02-2009, 11:46 AM

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.

Krayfish · 04-02-2009, 02:52 PM

Spoontag, I think, no, I know, you missed the point. In any case, have a good and safe trip to Florida.

**spoontang** · 04-02-2009, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by Krayfish

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.

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.