View Full Version : tourney limits
guest
09-17-2009, 10:45 AM
Simple question can a pro reel in two fish over the length limit if only allowed one fish over per person? Can the pro reel in more fish over his limit when fishing a lake that has a 3 or four fish limit when you can weigh five or six? This is strictly a question of ethics and integrity. I fished a tournament where the pro reeled in all big fish is this right? Is there such a thing as party fishin like there is in deer hunting. Seems to me You reel in your limit and only your limit no more no less? Just asking.
In MN party fishing is allowed, but I'm not sure in other states. It states the party must be in the same watercraft. So yes the pro or co can reel in every fish.
Fishing Insider 2
09-17-2009, 04:49 PM
In MN party fishing is allowed, but I'm not sure in other states. It states the party must be in the same watercraft. So yes the pro or co can reel in every fish.
I'm not sure about anywhere else but that is strictly against the law in North Dakota. Aside from the ethics of it you will receive a citation.
It is against the law but it is not enforced. I hav enever heard of anyone ever getting a ticket for it. I heard a discussion abou tit on the radio the other day and the ND enforcement officer stated so.
Fishing Insider 2
09-18-2009, 07:02 AM
It is against the law but it is not enforced. I hav enever heard of anyone ever getting a ticket for it. I heard a discussion abou tit on the radio the other day and the ND enforcement officer stated so.
The law is the law. Try telling that to a judge if you do get a citation. See how far you get. Hearsay won't cut it if there is a written statuette saying otherwise. Or try telling that to a tournament judge if you get protested. See how far you get.
The law is the law. Try telling that to a judge if you do get a citation. See how far you get. Hearsay won't cut it if there is a written statuette saying otherwise. Or try telling that to a tournament judge if you get protested. See how far you get.
Never said it wasn't. Just passing on what an enforcement office stated. I doubt I would be seeing a judge if I received a $25 citation for catching a fish for someone else. Kind of like driving 56 in a 55. As I said, It is the law but they do not enforce it. Just wondering if you have ever heard of anyone receiving a citation? Me neither!
finfan8
09-18-2009, 11:32 AM
It is a law in Wisconsin also...almost got ticketed on the Wisconsin River.
guest
09-18-2009, 01:00 PM
So in my case it sounds like the pro actually broke the law and i should of reorted it to the tournament director?
So in my case it sounds like the pro actually broke the law and i should of reorted it to the tournament director?
My guess is that 90% of anglers are unaware of this law. Doesn't make it right.
Some questions:
Who put the line in the water that the fish was caught on?
If someone put the line out and someone else reeled it in, Whose fish is it?
Lots of hairs to be split and that is why I think the law is not enforced.
Jim Ordway
09-18-2009, 03:17 PM
This is not an issue with the AIM format because everything is released. IF you were fishing as an AIM CO then is was legal.
Take care,
stevefellegy
09-20-2009, 04:25 AM
I have some personal knowlege in this one. Case law could it be called?
While ice fishing a number of years ago, my neighbor(on the ice) was fishing with an "extra" line. The warden comes along and see's this. So he's caught red-handed, right? Maybe, and maybe not.
With the warden standing there, two fish bite(these were set lines with bobbers etc.) My neighbor goes to one line and lands the fish. The warden goes to the other line and lands a fish.
The warden writes a ticket, charging my neighbor with fishing with an extra line.
My neighbor takes it to court and the judge rules in his favor! When the warden grabbed the line and landed the fish, it became HIS line! Thus, the neighbor was only fishing with one line. (this was before the two line winter fishing in Mn.)
So--my point is; You lay claim to the rod when you pick it up and reel the fish in. You are only claiming that line at THAT moment. Whatever line/rod you have in your hands is YOUR rod at the time. The other rods, in the holders as set lines, are fair game to both anglers, until one picks a rod up. Then THAT rods is his at the moment.
Now, I'm not taking sides on this one.......but just pointing out how the court ruled on a "who's rod was it" question.
I do agree, though, there will never be a ticket written in these cases because of the potential court case like the one above. That's my guess.
On a side note, MANY Pro's ask the Co's to reel in the fish when fishing with boards, and would rather net the fish. So are the Co's fishing with ALL the rods and breaking a law in these scenarios?
Personally, this subject is like trying to pick fly S### off a tin roof!
guest
09-20-2009, 03:20 PM
You mister feglley are trying to interpret the law to suit your needs. If the law says you can have one fish per limit over such a length. thats what the law is. Just because its unenforceable its still the law just like "culling" another unenforcable law but still the law. So I can assume by your statement you cull fish when its aganist the law. Not much intgrety on your part what ever it takes to win.
Jim Ordway
09-20-2009, 06:22 PM
Where in the post did Steve condone or approve anything? He related a case study of events that was related as a point of interest. Also, I did not see any discussion about culling????
The assumptions brought up were so far off base, I am not sure if you were reading the thread, or so fired up on some agenda, you could not help yourself.
Take care,
GiddyGills
09-20-2009, 06:52 PM
Why, in the name of Cod, is Steve constantly ridiculed? And for things he doesn't say or do on top of it?
KEVLAR
09-20-2009, 07:15 PM
Simple question can a pro reel in two fish over the length limit if only allowed one fish over per person? Can the pro reel in more fish over his limit when fishing a lake that has a 3 or four fish limit when you can weigh five or six? This is strictly a question of ethics and integrity. I fished a tournament where the pro reeled in all big fish is this right? Is there such a thing as party fishin like there is in deer hunting. Seems to me You reel in your limit and only your limit no more no less? Just asking.
How in the world are you going to know if a fish is "over" length until you put it to the tape?
Are you asking, if a Pro can put into possession, more than the one "over" fish they are allowed?
Or are you asking if he can touch, assist or not let you reel it in?
I am going to go Mn Statues site, and I will copy and paste the law here, once I find it.
If any of you are siteing law from your State, paste the statue or law, and lets review it.
In the past, I did bring to the attention of a Tournament Director, that one of the written tournament rules was in direct conflict with the Minnesota/Wisconsin border water laws.
How did that rule make it past the "Permit for Tournament" process?
The Director Who was Sonny Reynolds, researched the laws, talked directly with the enforcing agencies, and announced at the rules meeting, a change in that particular tournament rule.
That was two days before the actual tournament.
Sometimes there is a "lost in translation" interpretation of State law.
Traveling across the country, and keeping perfect interpretation of the various State laws, is very difficult.
Once I even had one Conservation Officer tell me it is this way, and a DNR officer tell me "I must have misunderstood what the C.O. was stating as law". Two different answers is what I really got.
No Pro is going to risk a DQ of their weight for the day, by breaking State law.
You have to be a friggin lawyer these days, to interpret the letter of the Laws.
That stands for us that hunt and fish in the "Land of Ten Thousand Lakes", anyhow.
Simple question can a pro reel in two fish over the length limit if only allowed one fish over per person? Can the pro reel in more fish over his limit when fishing a lake that has a 3 or four fish limit when you can weigh five or six? This is strictly a question of ethics and integrity. I fished a tournament where the pro reeled in all big fish is this right? Is there such a thing as party fishin like there is in deer hunting. Seems to me You reel in your limit and only your limit no more no less? Just asking.
Been thinking about this all week. The "State" issues the permit knowing the circumstances of how tournaments work. You would think that they would make the rules state something if they were concerned. They normally make the rules include wording in regards to culling, so we know they are concerned about that.
Chad, you heve it right. The State issues a permit for the tourney. The State can also adjust normal regulations for the tourney if it choses to allow more, less, bigger or smaller fish. If the State tells a tournament organization that runs a Pro/Co format where fishing is done as a team that fish cannot be shared, or only one over by each angler, that would more than likely push the organization holding the tournament to go to a different body of water. This also takes the comerce from the tournament out of State.
Ponder this. While watching the FLW a few weeks ago, the Pro hands off a rod to the Co so the Pro can net the fish. In the context of the original poster's question, should this be an "over" fish, whose fish was it as both had a hand on the rod while reeling it in?
KEVLAR
09-21-2009, 12:43 PM
It looks like the Minnesota DNR commissioner, can change any state laws that they see fit to change,
for a tournament.
Yes, it does put the local fisherman on the "rant".
Remember In 2005, The FLW championship in Moline Illinois,
The Permit stated we were to fish only the Illinois side of the river.
The Illinois DNR, or Fish and Game, not sure what they are called,
lifted their slot limit for our tournament.
Iowa Fish and Game would not lift their slot, and was not cooperating in the least.
We had the tournament, and fished only the Illinois waters.
Bottom line, the DNR can do what they want.
They would be out enforcing the laws, if The Pro's were breaking them.
That I am sure of.
Personally, I think the DNR, etc have bigger fish to fry than someone catching less than a limit and who may or may have not caught one or two fish for their partner.
I am pretty sure the purpose of this law is to prevent someone from bring their 6 kids down to the river just so he can catch the kids limit for them without them even touching a rod.
:exactly:Personally, I think the DNR, etc have bigger fish to fry than someone catching less than a limit and who may or may have not caught one or two fish for their partner.
I am pretty sure the purpose of this law is to prevent someone from bring their 6 kids down to the river just so he can catch the kids limit for them without them even touching a rod.
Holy Cows
09-22-2009, 10:16 AM
My only suggestion to the original poster is to ask this question at the rules meeting prior to the tournament to get an answer before you go out. It would be a D-Bag move to wait until a weigh-in and ask the question or make a fuss about it if it is not clear. That's why the have the rules meetings in the first place. I've seen some pretty interesting rules come up before and get clarified in meetings. Also if you think it's a problem bring it up before hand to the Pro to get an understanding before you start the day.