The rule on limits for family members

[Biggestfish]

Everyone with facts or opinions are weclome to reply.

Here is my question. If a person has a MN resident family fishing license and ice fishes by themselves what is the rule for the amount of limits a person can have at home? I know that while a person is out fishing they can have only one limit on them, but once that person got home can they give a limit to their spouse and then go out the next day and catch another limit?? I think the answer is yes. Also what is the age limit to possess a limit?? If a person has a young child that doesn't fish yet say 2 or 3 years old, can a person catch a limit for the child also?? I am not sure on this one. To put another angle on the young child example, say a person had a 13 year son who hated fishing and never fished. In that case I don't think anyone would question having a limit for the 13 year old in the freezer. Give it some thought. Thanks.

------------------
Just Having Fun!
Love to Fish.

[NotoriousBLM]

If you are so inclined you could keep a limit of fish for a 1 day old. The regs don't have a minimum age requirement. In my case, my wife and I have two kids, one almost 4 and one almost 1 year old. My wife doesn't have a license, but if I wanted to, I could keep 3 limits of fish[at home]. Don't ever plan on doing that, but I would be legal. Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by NotoriousBLM (edited 01-23-2004).]

[BDR]

That is the law! And then there are ETHICS! It is an individual choice.

Brian

[swampman]

it is kind of handy having other family members in the house i know when i want to pickle some pike if i have to go through the whole ordeal i would rather have more than just a 3 fish limit.

[hunt4food]

Exactly. I just finished pickling 6 quarts last night. I kept 9 pike "smaller ones under 24"". I have two kids and a wife with a fishing license. I kept the fish from 3 separate outings to do this. You are right. It's not really practical to go through all of the pickling processes for only 3 fish.

[bigdog]

Actually you would have problems trying to justify a limit for a 1 day old. The child or family member has to be capable of landing the fish themselves. Just like you can't catch a limit for each child in your boat - they actually have to be fishing.

[NotoriousBLM]

While I wouldn't do it myself, the law is the law. If you have kids in a boat, you could keep a limit of fish for them too(agian I wouldn't, but its legal) even if they're not fishing. It is a possesion limit, not you can only keep them if you're able to fish limit. If you have a kid with you, you can even transport live fish to put in the aquarium at home. Fish in the aquarium count towards your[kids] possesion limit, but you can do that.

I'll change my position if you can come up with the regs, but I don't think you'll find them. I've got a copy of the regs by the crapper, and believe me, I've read them many times :0

[This message has been edited by NotoriousBLM (edited 01-23-2004).]

[Dennis Steele]

Do you call it the study hall? Its not a pretty picture but I can see it now..Notorious in the "Thinker" position going over the regs.LOL
I am failry sure that each person must be able to catch his/her own limit,but there are also rules about "party" fishing, so you do not neccessarily have to have the limit caught by each person.
Then there is also rules on storing or transporting fish for others...
The rule and regs that you get in the little pamplet is only a summary.I have seen the full statutes on fishing regs.Its THICK. I don't have a copy but I am sure if you contact the DNR they would send you a copy or let you know how to obtain it.
I would suggest just keeping what you can eat before you go out the next time.That is if you want your kids to be able to enjoy fishing when they reach your age.

[Biggestfish]

BDR, I think you start down a slippery slope to imply that someone is "unethical" for keeping a limit of fish for themselves and their spouse. The main reason I asked this question is because once the ice is off the lakes, I don't fish for anything I am going to keep and eat until next winter... (CPR Muskie fishing from June to freeze up.) So if I could have for example 2 limits of crappies or sunnies (I also don't fish walleyes) It gives my family a chance to enjoy a meal of fish in the summer, when we wouldn't normally have one. I hope that explains my original question better. Thanks

------------------
Just Having Fun!
Love to Fish.

[bigdog]

Straight from a CO, the child has to be capable of fishing to keep a limit for them.

[bigdog]

Straight from a CO, the child has to be capable of fishing to keep a limit for them.

[NotoriousBLM]

Again, show me the regs and not what a CO "said". Would a CO bust your chops for taking a quadrapaliegic fishing and keeping a limit, seriously doubt it. Cite the provision in the law that dissallows you from keeping a limit for a person under age 16 and I'll buy your argument. Until then, I'm going to resume my "thinker" position!!!!

As a side note, I'm playing devil's advocate. I am not fond of eating fish more than 1 or 2 times per year, and my wife and kids don't care that much for fish either. I fish because there is more to life than working and paying bills. My oldest LOVES to go fishing. My only problem taking her is that my 17' Ranger doesn't go fast enough for her, but that is a whole different story...

[This message has been edited by NotoriousBLM (edited 01-23-2004).]

[Biggestfish]

Bigdog, I don't doubt that a CO told you this, but I would be willing to bet that you also would get a different answer from a different CO. My Father was told a by a CO "if the kid can hold a pole they can have a limit..." and we all know that a 2-3 year can hold a pole, but more than likely they would not sit still long enough to catch anything. From what the reg book says that you get handed out I have to agree with Notorious. Dennis you bring up a interesting point, It seems to add to the "gray area effect" that the DNR would have a expanded set of of fishing regs that most of the public does not know about... But we do live in the state of 10,000 laws. I also should note for everyone that don't have a limit of any kind of fish at home right now and as a matter of fact the last few times out I put back every fish I caught, as most of the time I enjoy the therapeutic feeling I get from fishing. I view myself as a very ethical law abiding person, who does their best to perserve the great outdoors for everyone to enjoy.... and as most of you out there have seen, many other people out there don't give a hoot. Thanks

------------------
Just Having Fun!
Love to Fish.

[Fisher Dave]

A 2-3 year old not being able to catch fish? My son has 2 suckers(around 2 pounds), a 17" walleye, and a 15" crappie under his belt and he just turned 3 a couple weeks ago. His 1st fish(suckers) were caught last spring and had very little assist from *daddy*.. just enough to be sure the rod wasnt going in the river.

As for the regs.. the version we get is a *light* version.. I have seen the real regs book also and its over an inch thick. I'm sure a person could purchase a book from the DNR if wanted.. Dont assume anything because its not clearly defined in our reg booklet.

[Mark Christianson]

Absolutely amazing how many gray areas there are in the books. Time and again there are topics on here that make you step back and say "Hmmmmmm".
There is no doubt different CO's are going to have varied thoughts on what they are witnessing.
A CO that I know had this situation come up last year.
2 guys were fishing in a river in about April. He confronted them, and they said they were panfishing. He had witnessed them catch and release a few smallies. They were not using what would be considered panfish gear(spinning rods with fireline, and I don't remember the bait). He told them, if he saw them catch one more smallie, he was going to cite them for pursuing fish out of season, and if they had a problem with the ticket, they could fight it in court.

My point being, that even if there are gray areas, the CO's can use their judgement and ticket you, regardless of your stance about the "grayness" of the situation. Then you get to take vacation to go fight it in court.
Common sense and ethics goes a longggg ways in hunting and fishing.
The trouble is, even then you could get pinched...

[BDR]

Biggestfish, I should have stated for me it's not ethical. I dont need to find loopholes in the laws to make them fit what I want them to. I go with the manner in which they are intended and for what they are protecting against. I re-read my post and I did state it's an individual choice. I don't decide whats ethical for others. That is for you to decide. No offense intended!

Brian

[Biggestfish]

BDR, that is always the problem with these posts... It is hard to get the true meaning of what a person is trying to say by just reading what was typed. As I had stated in my follow up posts, I was just asking a question on what the rules are.

Fisher Dave thats great that your young child has made it out fishing with you... I only meant to say "most" 2 or 3 years will not sit still.

Hey check it out... 1st post of mine that went 2 pages!!! Thanks.

------------------
Just Having Fun!
Love to Fish.

[road kill]

Most of the CO's that I have encountered have been fantastic! But there have been a few that "GOD" would be a better word for them. I believe that they all have good days and bad days just like the rest of us.
I think that you could fish with just about any lure or bait and be legal. Either panfish or rough fish are always open. Red Lake for example: most of the crappies are caught with shiners and fatheads used for walleyes. Getting back to CO's,I think that if you had the same ticket and went in front of 3 different judges, I believe that you would see 3 different verdicts. On the same hand why push your luck.

Have Fun!

[Mark Christianson]

BINGO for Roadkill!