Keeping fish whole until landed ashore

[Mister Mullet]

Anyone got an opinion about having to keep fish whole until landed ashore...whatever that means? I've seen so many instances where people knowingly violate this rule for various reasons (cooler too small, no place to clean the fish on shore, staying at a motel, etc). I'm doing a column on this and waiting for FWC feedback. If you have strong feelings one way or another, and are willing to be quoted, give me your opinions.
Jerry Gerardi
Tallahassee Democrat

[charlie tuna]

It's necessary to enforce the laws that guard our State's fisheries.

[Dubble Trubble]

Depends on what you call "whole". It is legal to gut game fish from every rule I have seen. Just not to cut any of the meat or shorten the length in any way.

Like Charlie said, any other way would make it impossible to enforce length limits....

Dubble

[fishinfool]

I feel it is important for law enforcement to be able to do their job. I also think it should be legal to clean fish if you are "near" your boat landing. Beaching your boat, cleaning your catch and then go to the ramp to load up, should be acceptable. There are not always suitable cleaning facilities at most boat ramps. It sure is nice to have my catch cleaned and on ice when I get home from fishing. Not to mention, the refuse collectors in the neighborhood, as well as my neighbors, prefer that I dispose of fish carcasses somewhere other than my garbage can. (I usually freeze them and wrap tightly in plastic before disposing of them the day of pickup)

[leonreno]

I was reading a post on a pier fishing forum and a forum member posted the FWC were on the pier undercover and they would watch anglers clean/filet fish on the pier. When they walked off the pier they would write them a ticket/fine. I believe the cleaning stations on the pier have signs that state that fish must be landed whole on land. This would also pertain to boats. Also pertains to fish bitten in half by sharks when reeling them in. If this happens you are suppose to throw the rest of the fish back.

On a related note, fishermen were getting ticketed for exceeding the limit of cobia or king mackerel. They would catch their limit and when they caught more than their limit they would give the extra fish away. However, this breaks the law of harvesting/possession. You can catch and release fish unharmed but if you catch a cobia and gaff it and bring on the pier the you have harvested that fish and before you give it away you possess it. Either one is unlawful. Technically, this pertains to boat fishing also. If two fishermen on a boat and one catches and keeps 3 trout and the other 7 trout for a 10 trout limit, the one who caught and kept 7 trout (harvested) is breaking the law, even if he "gives" them to his buddy. Just hard to prove, and usually not checked by the FWC.

[wally]

Would like the option that you can clean your fish before landing as long as the remainder meets the size requirements. Won't help with the fish I normally catch.

[woopty]

I don't have a problem with the rule....
but...
I don't see why you couldn't fillet a fish leaving the head and tail intact.
Wouldn't that measure the same?
And what about having a grill out there?
I wouldn't mind grilling up what you just pulled out of the water, but I'd never BRING fish on a fishing trip.