Where do we go from here

[Salty Gator]

I'm starting this thread to get real opinions on how we will now tournament fish. Obviously with the recent cheating allegations in mind, I ask the question. I will start by saying I don't fish many tourneys, usually 3 bigger ones and maybe a smaller one mixed in here and there per year, so I don't make a living out of it. So the question is how do we tourney fish now. We now understand that if you already have an over 20" trout in the well, you cannot catch another. So when said fish is in the live well and you hook up on a larger fish,what do you do? Do you reel the fish in and release it? Do you reel it in and put it in the box, and keep your mouth shut? Do you hand the rod to your buddy and let him reel it in? Once hooked up can you give your other fish to your buddy? It seems to me, with all of this, all of the fun has been sucked out of tournament fishing around here. What happened to taking you beating like a man and either making a formal complaint before the checks are handed out or keeping quiet and getting ready for the next one. With all of the confusion about the letter of the law vs the spirit of the law, this will almost certainly be my last year of tourney fishing except for the occasional charity tournament. I'm still not sure really how to fish them anymore. I think it might just be fishin for fun from here out. I really would appreciate to hear how y'all plan on doing it form here on out. Thank you

[charlie tuna]

Here's the problem as i see it. And this is critical to future tournaments. For what ever reason -- it was VERY obvious that there was a "mistake" concerning State Of Florida laws. Some people, for whatever reason, called attention to this "mistake". What happened next is the critical issue here. Many friends of the person making the "mistake", tried for days to justify the "mistake" by challenging the basic law! The law is not new, it has been around for a long time, and has nothing to do with boat limits, it IS a limit applied to EACH licensed fisherperson. I believe most sports fishing people understand why these laws exist, but then reading some of the posts concerning the "mistake", i wonder??? As i said, "if the sports fishing people openly support violations of laws that make our fishing better, our fishing industry is over"! This is a real bad advertisment for ALL fishing tournaments, not so much that there was a "mistake", but that so many tournament members supported violations of State Laws.

[Salty Gator]

The point of this thread wasn't to rehash the mr April thread. The question is How are you going to fish from here on out. If you honestly catch an over 20" fish and put your rod down, good for you. I've never fished that way in a tourney or not. I fished a tourney a few years back, they wanted fish for a fish fry afterwards. After catching a 24" trout for the weigh in I got a 20.5" that came in for the tournament fish fry. My partner didn't catch an over 20 so I guess I did the same thing, and in violation. At the time I didn't feel like any law was broken, but now understand the letter of the law( vs spirit). So please read the original post, and please let me know how yall plan on fishing from here on out. Again if you catch a slot red and a 21" trout, then put your rod down, good for you, I just don't think that is how people will do it. Please tell me I'm wrong. Thank you

[Jumptrout51]

No one around here fishes tournaments for a living.
The competition fishing is more fun to me than just fishing.
The past 3 years I routinely release over 20 trout when prefishing or fun fishing.
The recent in depth explanations of the regulations has been eye opening.
Eye opening to the point it does not pertain ONLY to over slot trout.
It pertains to any species with a quantity limit as well.
It has put a damper on ALL fishing,fun or tournaments when there is more than one licensed fisherman per boat.
The FWC could step up and make a favorable rule change for boat limits vs per person.

[Salty Gator]

Here's the problem as i see it. And this is critical to future tournaments. For what ever reason -- it was VERY obvious that there was a "mistake" concerning State Of Florida laws. Some people, for whatever reason, called attention to this "mistake". What happened next is the critical issue here. Many friends of the person making the "mistake", tried for days to justify the "mistake" by challenging the basic law! The law is not new, it has been around for a long time, and has nothing to do with boat limits, it IS a limit applied to EACH licensed fisherperson. I believe most sports fishing people understand why these laws exist, but then reading some of the posts concerning the "mistake", i wonder??? As i said, "if the sports fishing people openly support violations of laws that make our fishing better, our fishing industry is over"! This is a real bad advertisment for ALL fishing tournaments, not so much that there was a "mistake", but that so many tournament members supported violations of State Laws.

Charley, it wasn't obvious to me until it was pointed out. Honestly I didn't even think about it until it was pointed out. So back to the original question. And now I'm asking you directly Charleytuna, how do you fish? If you catch an over 20" trout and 2 reds, do yo pu your rod down for the day? Unless you do, I can't see any way not to posess a caugh fish unless you dehook them boat side( super fun and safe for a fish w trebles in its mouh). Is that what you do? I am SERIOUSLY looking for answers on how people work around the law that is so obvious so some, but not to others. AGAIN, the point of his thread isn't to rehash a previous thread, it is to see how people handle catching fish once their limit is in the boat. Thanks

[captkeyser]

Once you have your limit, you can still fish, you just can't keep/harvest. It's the same as it's always been. What am I missing?

[reelbad]

Amen Capt K. Just like when trout season was closed in Feb, you could still fish for them, just not keep them.

[Salty Gator]

Once you have your limit, you can still fish, you just can't keep/harvest. It's the same as it's always been. What am I missing?

If it is in the net in is possessed right? Do you dehook boat side?

[zload]

I don't tourney fish and I think the horse is well past dead but for what it is worth...

http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recr ... d-release/

[Salty Gator]

Thanks z load, that was helpful. I thought it was possessed once in the boat. Thanks for finding that.

[Gulf Coast]

S/G, I would have done and will do the same thing as the winning team did. I also go faster than the posted speed limit sometimes, it's that simple. Maybe you should start a poll on here.

[Salty Gator]

S/G, I would have done and will do the same thing as the winning team did. I also go faster than the posted speed limit sometimes, it's that simple. Maybe you should start a poll on here.

Thanks GC, you answered the question that was asked. I appreciate your honesty. I didn't start a poll, but was hoping folks would do what you did and answer how they plan on fishing from here on out, now that we know the letter of the law. Thanks again for answering the question that was asked.

[Harmsway]

The don't-ask-don't-tell policy seems to work pretty good for most tournaments. Well, until somebody slips up and let's the cat out of the bag.

The alternative is for tournament rules to be very specific about adhering to individual bag limits.

[charlie tuna]

Here's the problem as i see it. And this is critical to future tournaments. For what ever reason -- it was VERY obvious that there was a "mistake" concerning State Of Florida laws. Some people, for whatever reason, called attention to this "mistake". What happened next is the critical issue here. Many friends of the person making the "mistake", tried for days to justify the "mistake" by challenging the basic law! The law is not new, it has been around for a long time, and has nothing to do with boat limits, it IS a limit applied to EACH licensed fisherperson. I believe most sports fishing people understand why these laws exist, but then reading some of the posts concerning the "mistake", i wonder??? As i said, "if the sports fishing people openly support violations of laws that make our fishing better, our fishing industry is over"! This is a real bad advertisment for ALL fishing tournaments, not so much that there was a "mistake", but that so many tournament members supported violations of State Laws.

Charley, it wasn't obvious to me until it was pointed out. Honestly I didn't even think about it until it was pointed out. So back to the original question. And now I'm asking you directly Charleytuna, how do you fish? If you catch an over 20" trout and 2 reds, do yo pu your rod down for the day? Unless you do, I can't see any way not to posess a caugh fish unless you dehook them boat side( super fun and safe for a fish w trebles in its mouh). Is that what you do? I am SERIOUSLY looking for answers on how people work around the law that is so obvious so some, but not to others. AGAIN, the point of his thread isn't to rehash a previous thread, it is to see how people handle catching fish once their limit is in the boat. Thanks

As i said in the other post, i plan my fishing trips and target fish that i am interested in keeping. When, or if i catch those targeted fish, you will see me headed for the dock. I really respect fisherpersons who work, and try not to fish on Fridays and never on the weekend. I did fish today, but due to some doctors appointments i could not fish earlier in the week. How your "harvest" a fish is a common sense issue. All you have to do is consider what is the best way to release a fish that gives it the best chance for survival. Funny you mentioned about boatside landing of fish. Some guy was at the ramp, and insisted on helping me launch, "throw me the rope,throw me the rope" he yelled!! So i did, and went and parked my truck. Came back shook the guy's hand and thanked him twice!!! Nice guy!!! My first cast , went only halfway it's normal casting distance which is typical, it takes a few casts to loosen up the reel!! As i start winding the plug back to the boat, not even considering that a fish could hit it --- BAM --- 27 inch red nails it! As i am fighting the fish, i look down to get my net ready ---- NO NET !! The guy at the dock got me for a net!! I had put it on the boat, along with my rods just before launching!!! So yes, today i had to land my fish "boatside' with a towel!! But only three times , since i only caught another rat red(19 inch) and a 24 inch trout. Both were released unharmed.
I have no problem understanding the law, and in no way consider "working around the law", many comments posted lately were made to justify a violation. I am shocked, to find out sports fishermen seriously think THEY can interpret a state law, that is not new, bend it around to justify a friend's mistake?

[slowroller]

Im with GC. But I'll be sure not to post it on here for people to rip me apart for weeks.Jeez.