BigBendFishing.Net

Well I've caught a fish, now what.

1. Check species. Pull out 26 volume encyclopedia Titanical. Make best guess at what I've caught. Hope the ID is right cause mistakes are not allowed.

2. Check regulations. Compare what I think I've caught against who I think has jurisdiction.
Start with God>Universal>Galactic>Planetary System>Terrestrial>Federal>State>Local>Captain.

3. Throw fish back in water because there is no way to follow all the rules and the "Green Shirt Posse, The Man, FWC, et. all.." don't seem to care if you tried to get it right.

This rant brought to you courtesy of Tom Keels who asked if I had kept a Red fish in Federal waters. Well Tom, no..but only because it was 1/2" too long. Never seen the Federal regs anywhere. When I buy my saltwater license I've asked for the state and federal regs but nobody has a copy of the Fed's. I thought the State regs were more restrictive.

This rant also courtesy of a friend who got a ~$200 ticket. He thought he had a red grouper. Who knew a yellow grouper could be 100% red. Did not matter that he followed the regs for what a legal red grouper would be because thats what he thought he had.

This rant also courtesy of the FWC officer who while checking my catch had to ask me what the regulations were for black sea bass and red grouper. No he was not testing me, he honestly did not know. He was more concerned about the number of life jackets on board, and if I had the proper license.

Now for three questions:

For you FWC folks ... Do you ever give a break to someone who makes an honest mistake???

If you Fish in Federal and State waters in the same day, Do you get to keep the bag limit for each?
Example: Amberjack 1 per Federal / 1 per State total of 2

The Federal Regs says no red fish in possession. Does that mean If I catch and keep a legal red fish in State waters, I can no longer fish in Federal waters?

Here is a url for the Fed's that I think is legit

http://www.gulfcouncil.org/fishrules.htm

If you think the FWC are hard try dealing with the DMV Safety , they have gone insane, tearing down on us small business people, making it a lot more expensive to be on the road than it needs to be. They make the FWC look like boy scouts ! And thats my opinion, as you can see i'm not pissed off or nothing...

Read yesterday that Gov. Purdue was dismantling DMV. The person chosen to satisfy Georgians regarding licenses has a background
in food service (ie, Varsity Jr.)!

Governmental logic at times just takes my breath away.

I can just see it now......a fast food drive thru lookalike for
drivers licenses.

"No, listen to me....that's a driver's license without cheese and
a large coke to go"!

Knot Tester wrote:The Federal Regs says no red fish in possession. Does that mean If I catch and keep a legal red fish in State waters, I can no longer fish in Federal waters?

Yes that's what it means. Same with red snapper when only the state waters are open.

Knot Tester wrote:If you Fish in Federal and State waters in the same day, Do you get to keep the bag limit for each?
Example: Amberjack 1 per Federal / 1 per State total of 2

The answer is no. The problem lies in that you have to travel through and LAND in State waters. Remember the laws are worded regarding possession. Therefore if bag limits are different from state to federal, then you have to be in compliance while within the jurisdiction.

Now having said all this. If you possess a redfish in federal waters and it is legal in the state waters in which you will land it, will you get a ticket if you are stopped in federal waters? I doubt it.

The exception to this is say if a season is open in state waters but not federal waters (like in the case of red snapper) and you catch fish in state waters and then travel to federal waters and get stopped, YOU WILL GET A TICKET.

BTW, I didn't make that comment in the other post to be a jerk, I just tell people because most folks, like you, don't know about the redfish law. Its pretty obscure and hard to find.

Hey RHTfish where did you read that about Gov. P , i'd love to read it..
thanks , f

Tom Keels wrote:BTW, I didn't make that comment in the other post to be a jerk

Yeah right.....

Aren't there some permits that allow you to be in possession of a federal creel? Probably more on the commercial side though....

Frank, he tends to know things like that, he told me the same thing a year or two ago..We were in the jon boat, it was calm and I was worried he wanted to go to O tower...

Now you talking about cracking me up. That was a good one...Thats just some funny ahh stuff...

Tom, never thought you were being a jerk.
You asked a question that caused a ! Which caused me to . So I went out and but there are no clear answers on the net.

So that made me . Which in turn brought out repressed feelings and caused this topic!

But your response leads me to believe that all us Georgia boys returning home with whole fish had better also check the Georgia regs too.

Which goes back to my original feelings, No matter how hard you try or your intentions to follow the law - you're still gonna screw up somehow.

And happy cinco cinco Cinco de Mayo (05/05/05) to all you Americans (Mexicans tend not to give a rip!)