I agree with your observations and have written articles supporting "boat limits" but I was just pointing out that the law doesn't presently allow it. However, having a wife on board reading or tanning just to allow those who are fishing to be able to keep an additional limit of fish not only breaks the letter of the law, but also the intent of daily bag limits (and ethical sportsmanship), namely fair distribution among the "fishing participants."

It is impractical, if not nearly impossible to keep track of who kept how many perch when a single cooler is often the norm on most boats. Even an accurate walleye count is tough to assign to specific anglers when undersize fish and non-target species are being thrown back, hence my support of boat limits to keep anglers from being cited like a common poacher when they are attempting to behave by observing a boat limit.