Fishing Regualtions

[Bggeary]

I think when you're on the lake or at the dock it is a matter of your limit. Once you are "away" from the lake it becomes a matter of what you are allowed to possess. They can't check your freezer to see if you are over your limit. I have taken many limits to the cleaners for people on my boat and never had any problem what so ever.

Oh yes they can check your freezer. Game warden doesn't even need a warrant. Be carful

[airshot]

You are absolutely correct there.....according to the law you are required to date and maintain the license for the year those fish are caught until that years catch is depleted from your possession. Now are they going to come in your house and enforce that? Probably not.. but that is the law. According to Ohio game wardens it is also unlawfull to cath fish beyond your limit and put them into someone elses cooler! Once you have caught your limit you can only catch and release by law. Sharing fish with others is "technically" illegal according to the law but enforcing it is another thing. Getting back to the posters original question... if your taking more than one days catch in to the cleaners simply use another name just in case. But....if they should decide to check you while traveling home from the cleaners and you have more than your licenses allow then you are over limit and it gets expensive. According to a dnr friend...take along two coolers and make them believe you are picking up a batch for your neighbor or brother or somebody and you shouldn't have any problem. Game wardens are not out for blood unless they know your hiding something serious....then lookout!

[Bggeary]

They can be tough

You are absolutely correct there.....according to the law you are required to date and maintain the license for the year those fish are caught until that years catch is depleted from your possession. Now are they going to come in your house and enforce that? Probably not.. but that is the law. According to Ohio game wardens it is also unlawfull to cath fish beyond your limit and put them into someone elses cooler! Once you have caught your limit you can only catch and release by law. Sharing fish with others is "technically" illegal according to the law but enforcing it is another thing. Getting back to the posters original question... if your taking more than one days catch in to the cleaners simply use another name just in case. But....if they should decide to check you while traveling home from the cleaners and you have more than your licenses allow then you are over limit and it gets expensive. According to a dnr friend...take along two coolers and make them believe you are picking up a batch for your neighbor or brother or somebody and you shouldn't have any problem. Game wardens are not out for blood unless they know your hiding something serious....then lookout!

[Eyezcrazy]

Oh yes they can check your freezer. Game warden doesn't even need a warrant. Be carful

What I said was they can't check your freezer for your limit. It becomes possession at that point. You can possess more than your limit.

[troy1976]

bays edge asks for name city and state

[sherman51]

I would say you are legal as long as you have proof you were there yesterday. I was going up to erie for 2 weeks on our fishing trip. we stayed at Geneva state park camp grounds. I was told to put the date fish were caught on the bags they are stored in. and that we could have a days limit for each day that we could prove we were there.

[Eyezcrazy]

I was checked at the dock by ODNR and asked him what I should do with my fish if I stayed to fish a second day. He said as long as I could show proof I was there the day before it wouldn't be a problem. He said a gas receipt, hotel receipt, bait store etc. now that being said, I'm sure it would come down to the individual officer who checked me and another one might not feel the same. I believe the burden of proof would be on them. Like I said in an earlier post, possession is not the same as a daily limit.

I was once ticketed for having a fish that was 1/4 inch short in my cooler. The ODNR asked me who was going to claim it. I said well since it's my boat I guess I will. The fact is, we don't know who caught and kept the fish that was short so I wonder how that would play out if know one stepped up to claim it. Sort of difficult to prove who to ticket. From now on I make sure to personally check every fish.

[pimplepounder]

I was checked at the dock by ODNR and asked him what I should do with my fish if I stayed to fish a second day. He said as long as I could show proof I was there the day before it wouldn't be a problem. He said a gas receipt, hotel receipt, bait store etc. now that being said, I'm sure it would come down to the individual officer who checked me and another one might not feel the same. I believe the burden of proof would be on them. Like I said in an earlier post, possession is not the same as a daily limit.

I was once ticketed for having a fish that was 1/4 inch short in my cooler. The ODNR asked me who was going to claim it. I said well since it's my boat I guess I will. The fact is, we don't know who caught and kept the fish that was short so I wonder how that would play out if know one stepped up to claim it. Sort of difficult to prove who to ticket. From now on I make sure to personally check every fish.

I bet if you wouldn't have stepped up, the warden would have written a ticket to everyone, and let the judge sort it out. I think your double checking policy is a good idea.

[M.A.D. Eyes]

Correct! Bombas is out of business. Been past their cleaning house on way to Mazuriks several times this season. Has for sale on side of building.

[rscotfish]

just to be safe i only put 42 walleye in my freezer me wife and 5 kids all living in the same house and 210 perch. now guess what my 20 year old moved out to her own apartment now what do i do. i have to eat 6 eyes and 30 perch better get me a 12 pack a cigar and start the oil