OVERLIMIT BUST

[jigginjim]

Blackdog, Am I bad? My mom is 70yr. I can't bring her some fresh. I don't keep a limit for myself. When I have more then my wife and I will eat. Your telling me I can't bring the exacts to her? Example: My wife and I have 7 walleyes in my freezer. I can't give 2 fish to my mom? Even, if I did catch my limit the next day. I still only have 11 fish in posession. There is a fine line, in some. But come on over 100 fish in your feezer.

Unless, you have 15kids thats nuts.

[Bulldoggr]

I disagree with some of the dissention that is being targeted towards some ofthe posts here. The intial thread was about a blatant case of poaching.

I am reading flames over what others have stated they have done with fish they caught.

i was not gonna reply to this but the supermarket remark has inspired me to respond.

I could branch off in so many directions with this but will try to make one point.

Recently i gave my catch to my buddy that was out fishing with me. Knowing he was going to his Fathers the next day. His Dad, who is someones Neighbor, someones grandfather, and the same person that taught my friend to hunt and fish and enjoy the great outdoors, This very same man is was in his 90's his health did not allow him to hunt or Fish anymore for years. This man loved wild game, wether it be fish, Fowl, big or small game.

Now the time line I am refering to is less then 7 days.

My Buddy takes takes the fish cleans them and cooks them for his Father last Sunday the 9th. His father passed away on Friday the 15th. It was the last real meal hi sfather had, due to having to go into the hospital.

My Buddy told me on the day his Dad died, that his dad was tickled to have that fish. My Buddy was almost in tears telling me.

So before you point a finger and tell someone to go to super market. Keep in mind when your parents won't beable to go out and hunt and fish anymore.

The tone of this post really went in the wrong Direction, and too many of you got on your high horse. I think you need to humble yourself a bit.

[Bandit]

I agree with Luker. I dont keep fish very often, but when I do I usually give them to someone that enjoys them, but either can't or does not care to fish for them. I don't care if it's my Grandpa, [before he passed he got ALL my fish] Mom, friend, or whoever. I caught them, and if I want to give them to someone that's my choice.

As far as the guys who keep way over the limit....Hang-em.

[blackdog1101]

My intention was not to blast giving fish to your mom or grandparent. I should have re-read it before posting.

My intent was, and remains, that someone CALLING YOU UP to ask for fish is a bunch of baloney. Your priest, mailman, or neighbors "always call me up for some fish." I've fished for decades, have caught a lot of fish, and eaten plenty, and even gifted a few. But, I've NEVER had someone outright call me up and ASK for fish.

Luker, I too have, within this past week, gifted fish to my neighbor who is dying of cancer. I think anyone here can recognize the difference between that and being a meat fisherman who "religiously" keeps the limit, even if he already has one in the freezer.

[goose89]

 Originally Posted By: CrappieKiller01

sometimes its the ppl who dont understand there posession limit. I myself like fishing. and catch my limit religously. but then when i get home theres some ppl and neighbors that always call me up for some fish. say your priest, mail carrier, grandma or mom, lots of ppl. this for i usually only have one limit in the freezer therefor i can get my limit the next night. that many fish in one freezer i can understand why they fine them, probally get freezer burn before anything.

Jiggin Jim and Luker,

I too give a couple of walleyes each fall to my wife's grandfather who loved to fish and has told me stories of the lake I usually fish on now.

I think you can see the difference in what we are doing and having people "always call you up for fish." Read the whole thread before YOU start judging others.

It's hard for some of us who care about the state and future of our fisheries to stand silent to obvious neglect and abuse, and my livelyhood doesn't depend on it one bit. Again, I can't see any difference in giving limit after limit of fish to friends, family, neighbors, preists, mailmen, LOTS OF PEOPLE, and keeping a hundred fish over your limit in your on freezer. The net effect on a lake, or lakes is the same. No "fine line" there.

You maybe didn't read back far enough to what Blackdog and a couple others where commenting on. If you didn't, please do. In quotes on top of this post. If you did, I'm glad we inspired you to write. I think this problem is as big as the slot limit / decreasing limits debates so prevalent now. We need to start talking about this. I grew up with this type of mentality. I grew up with dacron line and a Green box also. Times have changed, we need to also.

[icehousebob]

So far this winter, I've shared fish with an 83 year old aunt, my favorite teacher from the 60's, two widows with no one to fish for them, and my 80+ year old in-laws. When the inlaws are happy, my wife is happy. Since most of you are too young, I can't tell you how my wife rewards me.

[goose89]

Great job in keeping everyone happy.

Since your grandkids (assuming you have some) are too young to understand the overall effect of this way of thinking on their fishing future, they probably thank you also.

[goose89]

 Originally Posted By: tisosy11

But we don't need to hang a guy that fishes and gives other fish away. Hes just being friendly.

Giving limits of fish to multiple people is not being "friendly."

The problem is he's being overly "friendly" to those around him with no regard to you, me, fellow fisherman or the next generation. This type of activity is being friendly at someone esles expense (yours, mine, yound kids that fish.) Spending some time & talking with your neighbor, talking about how there day went, or what's on their mind , inviting them over for a meal of fish.... my idea of being friendly.

That kind of mentality "uses" others as fish disposal / storage sites so I can go out and collect some more. Looks better from the outside, but really is no different that dumping them. Net effect, I'm taking more than I'm using. Overall effect is negative on our resources and the way others see us. I don't want to be seen as a "meat" fisherman. I'd hope we, as fisherman, would be seen as a group of people who take care of what we've got. If that means "dissent" amongst sme us, so be it, If that's what it takes to change attitudes.

I wish I could communicate my views in a "kinder and softer" way. If someone out there shares my beliefs, and has a cool head, please help us out. I'm way too riled up about this, I know. It really gets to my core though.

[hondavxr]

It seems like all the post in every thread is flaming now. The post is about someone who excessively poached. The hammer needs be dropped on the guy. Preaching to others is not going to work. Even though I agree with selective harvest I am not going to preach it to a person, if what he is doing is legal. Selective harvest is like a religion, you either believe it or not. You won't ever force your religion on any one else, except if you are a Jehovah's Witness riding on a bike going door to door. J/K

[goose89]

Honda,

Your right. I apologize for changing the topic. A "gifting of fish viewpoints" thread is now posted.

ps - If Infisherman never mentioned (preached) the importance of Selective Harvest to me years ago, I wouldn't have been exposed to it. This new debate is "elemantary" compared with the Selective Harvest debate.

I can't lay silent, even if something is legal,(gifting of fish, multiple limits of fish, so I can keep fishing) IF it has and even more negative effect on something, collectively, than the occasional blatant breaking of the law.(Poaching) This goes on way more, I believe, than outright poaching. If it's legal, it doesn't automatically make it right.

Again, I was wrong, on where I shared my views. Sorry about that.

[Mr.Seaguar]

I been saying this for years. There needs to be Fishing Education classes taught to our kids same as Hunter Ed. Hunter Ed works. A little Fishing Ed will go a long ways towards eliminating guys keeping 172 crappies(legal here in Iowa) or giving away a lot of fish. It wont stop greed because we are still human.

[tisosy11]

I understand everyones complaint, but the idea that people won't be able to fish in the future IMO is not true.

We are stocking fish more than ever before and fishers are keeping far fewer fish than in many, many years ago.

If someone wants to give fish away and hes doing it legally, he should not be chastized for it.

[fishgutz77]

if you gift the fish before you go fishing your ok. but you can not keep or put into possesion 2 limits of one spiecies. that's why it's hard to pull off a big fish fry for freinds and neigbors.

[doughnut03]

If youre catching fish for reasons other than personal consumption and/or you already have a freezer full for personal consumption, there is a reason why they have put so much time and money into making hooks that do not damage a fish- for catch and release. Its not hunting, its fishing. You dont shoot every deer you see so you dont need to keep every fish you catch. A gift is always nice, but there should be no need to keep fish specifically to give to someone else just to get rid of them so you can catch more fish.

[goose89]

doughnut, copy that over to the "Gifting of fish" thread under Icefishing.

[frogtosser]

I dont think people need to keep a limit every time out because there are some that fish every day and there is no way that a lake can support that kind of abuse. I thought fishing was about getting outdoors and enjoying nature not killing everything you catch. I take my son alot and most of the time I dont bring any fish home cause we just like throwing them back. I am not saying dont keep fish but if you still want to catch some later you need to let a few go.

[doughnut03]

Will do- I must have posted that not long after you posted the other forum

[Sandmannd]

My understanding is you can have a limit in possetion and fish another one. You can keep two limits per license. Have to correct me if I'm wrong on this. I don't keep that much fish so never have to worry about it.

[Schloogs]

Sandmannd, as for keeping 2 limits per license, the only fish you can do that with is perch. I am not sure what the rules are on catching and releasing fish if you already have a limit in the freezer though.

[tisosy11]

I don't beleive you can target the fish if you already have your possesion limit. This would be difficult to track but if your freezer is full of your limit you can not target that fish.

[Sandmannd]

Schloogs, you are correct. This from the DNR "Daily and possession limits are the same unless otherwise noted." So I would assume by that you can keep one limit either on you or in the freezer.

[eyepatrol]

That's correct Sandmannd. You cannot specifically target a specie of fish you already have a limit for....regardless of in the boat or in the freezer. That's why it's called a "possession" limit. No matter in the boat or in the freezer, they are in possession regardless of where they are located.

[fishinalot]

I don't go for any of the guys that need to put fish in the freezer in case someone wants some???

Wants wrong with eating some and practicing C/R so theres more fish for everyone to enjoy.

My son and I went out this past weekend, caught 50-60 crappies, never kept one! Our choice, but thats why its called fishing, not meat hogging!!

Its no wonder the DNR has got to drop our limits, because some people just can't figure it out on there own.

If you ask me, catching 170 crappies over a time frame and giving them away, maybe legal.... but it is just as bad as getting caught with 170 crappies at one time.

Bottom line is this.. It affects our Fisheries!!!!

[bassNspear]

 Originally Posted By: vikinglandman

Just reading OD news about the two Sauk Centre men charged with 172 crappies over limit and the fines and restitution could be $4410 between the two---WOW thats just 25.64 per fish. No wonder these overlimits keep happening. The fines just dont fit the crimes IMO

I agree, i think there should be a fine, but no licence ne more. Whats going to be different the next time there out. I understand that they cant watch everyone, but i believe there going to have to watch this more and more, and the market it soft, and people are going to spend 5 dollors for minnows, and have a full meal for the familys.

[Pyrex]

The problem is this is what gives the sportsman a bad name. Like you said Bass, take away their license, we dont need people like that on our lakes. I really hate hearing stories like this. All we can do is turn these people in, Keep on the lookout everyone!!