Catch & Release

[Madd Matt]

The first thing that I would like to clarify is that the first part of this post is only my opinion!

I do not target the post spawn nor the prespawn females during the jig bite. I just go out and jig for walleyes and what ever I catch that is of legal size goes into the cooler as part of my legal creel limit for that particular day. It makes no difference if it is a jack or very large egg laden female which almost never happens........................?

Great post Wakina. I think I agree with everything you said. I would also reiterate your point about over-bagging. It's illegal to keep more than your daily limit, period.

I don't normally "fun-fish" after limiting. In fact the only times I have done this over 30 years is less than 5 times probably and it has always been on the jig bite. When we drive 5 hours to fish and we limit out on the reefs in 45 minutes jigging... It's tough not to stay out on such a fun bite and fun-fish for a while... Throwing back everything over our limit immediately regardless of size! I don't cull fish, especially walleye!

However, even though I do not AND WILL NOT cull walleye, I have heard from 3 different captains that in the charter captains classes that they are taught that it is perfectly legal to do so. One captain told me that it was a major discussion with many long time fisherman disagreeing with the instructor and that they finally had to concede because it is not a prohibited act. What I found amazing was that even if they are throwing back dead fish it is legal (supposedly). Again, this is what I have been told by captains as to what they are taught in their license classes. I have asked several about it after the first one told me this and they have all confirmed that while they don't practice it, it is legal.

I am not one to make stink about someone choosing to do something different than I would, as long as what they are doing is legal. However, I would frown pretty heavy and lose a lot of respect for anyone that is culling fish and throwing back dead walleye! Legal or not!

-Matt

[mkalink]

Anyone who says that it is illegal to continue fishing once you have a limit of walleye in the cooler isn't thinking too clearly.

I think very clearly the DNR boys aren't stupid.

If you have a limit of walleye then you can't keep anymore. Now if you want to argue culling... that is another story.
Once you get your limit you have to stop fishing that is what limit means.


However, if the DNR checks me while I am out trolling and we have our limit of walleye... then obviously I am no longer fishing for walleye... I am fishing for white perch, sheephead, yellow perch, catfish and steelhead. Duh!

This won't work

If I am fishing for sheephead and I catch a walleye is that illegal? No. As long as I don't keep the walleye.

This won't work

There is no law that even remotely comes close to saying that once you catch your limit of one species then you are done fishing for ANY species the rest of the day.
Your right here too


There are MANY days where we have limited on Walleye, and then gone and anchored and perch fished.. While fishing for perch we caught a walleye. We threw it back. No laws where broken.
Your right no laws broken here.

If I catch my limit of walleye through the ice and continue to fish, then its pretty obvious that I'm hoping for yellow perch now.

It won't fly with them, if you are still jigging Raps or pimples.

See what happens when you have your limit of walleyes and you tell the ODNR your fishing for Sheephead. They are not morons. I have discussed this with ODNR personal, granted you most likely won't go to jail but you are done fishing for the day.

[Hoytman86]

It won't fly with them, if you are still jigging Raps or pimples.

See what happens when you have your limit of walleyes and you tell the ODNR your fishing for Sheephead. They are not morons. I have discussed this with ODNR personal, granted you most likely won't go to jail but you are done fishing for the day.

Whether they're morons or not, there is no law against catch and release fishing, regardless of whether or not you've caught your limit. There's not. Even so, whether they believe you or not, there's no way they can prove that you're still targeting a specific species. More importantly, if I catch my limit of walleye and continue to fish, I AM targeting sheepshead because they're more fun to catch than a walleye anyways!

[sherman51]

in shallow water like the western basin or shallow lakes I believe its ok to c/r fish but when you fish the central basin its another story. the fish brought in from 50' or 60' and there eyes bulging out just don't have a very good chance of making it.

as for stopping fishing once you get your limit of eyes its the law than you can target other fish. but its not very sportsman like to keep catching more eyes.

and in my opinion a fish put in the cooler should stay there. I just don't believe a fish that's half dead should be released just so you can keep a bigger fish. and nobody should catch fish for others in his group.

[Eye ripper]

Sherman, you must fish alone a lot...I can tell you for sure that trying to catch walleye through a 10" hole on a huge chunk of ice is not easy to do... Very hard to find those active wally's sometimes...

We travel a hour and a half to fish that frozen tundra in hopes of catching a limit of walleyes for our GROUP,, not just one individual... If that's illegal than I know a lot of violators fishing everyday out there.. I will tell you I have never taken more fish than the law allows in any species so I really don't get the harm.

It might not make it right but it's reality for a majority of group fisherman out there.
My buddy sitting 20' away from me would knock me right off my bucket if he seen me throw back a fish when I had my limit and he didn't..
AS for being sportsman like, been one my whole life.. love to fish and hunt with my friends and family.. We have a great time out there fishing with some success and sometimes not.. if the fishing is hot and heavy than we will cull fish if possible or just c/r.. When those walleye's on fire there is no better fishing in my opinion.. Hard to get great days out there all the time, absolutely no harm to those fish when you c/r..

[Jawbreaker]

Eye Ripper, I certainly wouldn't post on a public forum that I participate in catching group limits. It is illegal, and they will ticket you for it if your caught. May want to pay attention to who's around you now while your fishing.

[Huskymusky669]

"Fish for a group/boat limit" - I believe Charter captains do all the time. Is it ok for them because the clients are paying? Like it or not , you all know its true.

[MasterKraft]

Try doing down at the river once. Might cost ya a few bucks.

[wakina]

"Fish for a group/boat limit" - I believe Charter captains do all the time. Is it ok for them because the clients are paying? Like it or not , you all know its true.

You are possibly right. But the difference is they don't post that stuff on an open public forum. Whether or not they post it on an open forum does not change the fact that it is illegal to take a boat limit vs an individual limit. Fishermen's warf got busted because one of their guys posted that same type of info in pubic fishing forums and the ODNR read it and investigated it by placing undercover Wildlife Officers on their boats as paying customers. The point was that if you are doing it don't draw attention to yourself and/or your group by supplying the ODNR the info they need to investigate you. That's like trying to move quietly and remain unnoticed while blowing a bugle. If while on a trolling charter each angler does not catch his own 6 fish then it is his fault for not squawking about the rod hogs who are landing more than their fare share.