I got into a heated discussion on another board with an individual that cans and smokes his daily limit when he goes on week long or longer trips. I explained to him that there is both a daily limit and an "in possession limit" and the warden doesn't care whether the fish are on a stringer, in an ice chest or in a canning jar. I basically got told to pack sand. What are the "in possession" limit laws where you are from?
Possession Limit in your state
- Thread starter SuperD
- Start date
Help Support Kokanee Fishing Forums:
skookum9
Well-known member
From what I've seen, the law in this state is however the state cop wants to see it. I'm a bit unhappy with our state's revenue collection system so I will admit that upfront, but this is usually how I see it as happening. My father and I were once ticketed by an officer for filleting trout. Because I was still young the cop let me off but cited my Dad. The lake had a 16" minimum length and a two fish limit. We had our two day possession limit and the smallest fillet was about 16". This cop said he couldn't tell if they were big enough to be legal or not so he wrote us up. I am still convinced to this day that he was out to collect some extra pay. I don't know if your "friend" will ever get caught or not but if he does, he likely will get a citation. At least in the state of Oregon he would.
In my eyes, especially considering the cost of fuel, the cost of campground fees, the cost of the ever increasing licensing fees and so on and so forth, I personally would have no problem with a person who does this. Technically speaking, you are allowed x number of fish per day. You are ordinarilly allowed 2x number of fish in possession. But also technically speaking, you have no limit to the number of limits which are in your freezer at home. According to a friend of mine from fish and game, the way they look at it is, If you are camping it is considered your home. Thus, I would say that this should make it okay. But that is a fish and game guy and not a state cop. Also, I am taking this a little bit out of context of what he had said. He did say this but it was in regards to filleting your fish while still on/near a lake. He believes that you shouldn't be allowed to fillet your fish if you are not camped there but you should be if you are. And it was this rule that he cited as reasoning. I don't agree with him but I do see his point.
I look at it like this, he who holds the rifle decides when to pull the trigger, and he who holds the citation book decides who must pay. I would never bet my life on a cops legal or logic brain, and I certainly wouldn't bet my wallet on it.
In my eyes, especially considering the cost of fuel, the cost of campground fees, the cost of the ever increasing licensing fees and so on and so forth, I personally would have no problem with a person who does this. Technically speaking, you are allowed x number of fish per day. You are ordinarilly allowed 2x number of fish in possession. But also technically speaking, you have no limit to the number of limits which are in your freezer at home. According to a friend of mine from fish and game, the way they look at it is, If you are camping it is considered your home. Thus, I would say that this should make it okay. But that is a fish and game guy and not a state cop. Also, I am taking this a little bit out of context of what he had said. He did say this but it was in regards to filleting your fish while still on/near a lake. He believes that you shouldn't be allowed to fillet your fish if you are not camped there but you should be if you are. And it was this rule that he cited as reasoning. I don't agree with him but I do see his point.
I look at it like this, he who holds the rifle decides when to pull the trigger, and he who holds the citation book decides who must pay. I would never bet my life on a cops legal or logic brain, and I certainly wouldn't bet my wallet on it.
Last edited:
SilverBullets
Super Moderator
Here in Oregon the regulation states: The possession limit is the maximum number or amount of fish that a person may lawfully possess in the field or forest, or in transit to the place of permanent residence...the possession limit is two daily limits. The possession limit applies to fish which are fresh, and when lawful, frozen, canned, smoked or otherwise processed.
SmokeOnTheWater
Well-known member
Since this is a Kokanee Forum, I'll provide what the Utah DWR defines as "Bag & Possession Limits". See page 15 of the 2010 Utah Fishing Guidebook for complete details.
"- Any trout, salmon or grayling that is not immediately released and that's held in your possession - whether the fish is dead or alive - is part of your bag and possession limit.
- A trout, salmon or grayling may not be released if it's been held in or on a stringer, fish basket, livewell or by any other device.
- In Utah, the bag and possession limits are the same. For example, once you've harvested a limit of trout, you cannot harvest any more trout until you have consumed or donated at least some of the trout you've harvested. So, if you eat one trout, you can harvest one more the next day; if you eat a full limit, you can harvest a full limit the next day."
I wonder how many Utah residents know these rules. This is a GREAT discussion topic, Thanks for posting. If you noticed, or didn't notice, there is no mention of storage ie. freezer, smoked, salted, bottled or canned. Possession is just that. How many do you possess?
There are also rules against wasting fish and wildlife in this state. Whether we think it's right or wrong doesn't really matter. Some lawmaker voted that way either out of their own conviction or through some lobbying effort. Sportsmen can have a say in the process of lawmaking or the lawmakers that are elected to office. Rules are rules and they are there for a reason.
We all know of someone who takes more than their share. Uncle Ted filling his plate for the third time at the family reunion or the guy down the street that always comes home with two deer, one for him and the Mrs. and she doesn't even hunt! Sharing is the key word! If we didn't share, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
It's not fun to go fishing and get skunked but there would be a lot more skunking if we didn't follow the rules. The guy that told you to "Pack Sand" is "DEAD WRONG"! Obviously he would not be legal in Utah or any other state for that matter.
Again - GREAT TOPIC!
"- Any trout, salmon or grayling that is not immediately released and that's held in your possession - whether the fish is dead or alive - is part of your bag and possession limit.
- A trout, salmon or grayling may not be released if it's been held in or on a stringer, fish basket, livewell or by any other device.
- In Utah, the bag and possession limits are the same. For example, once you've harvested a limit of trout, you cannot harvest any more trout until you have consumed or donated at least some of the trout you've harvested. So, if you eat one trout, you can harvest one more the next day; if you eat a full limit, you can harvest a full limit the next day."
I wonder how many Utah residents know these rules. This is a GREAT discussion topic, Thanks for posting. If you noticed, or didn't notice, there is no mention of storage ie. freezer, smoked, salted, bottled or canned. Possession is just that. How many do you possess?
There are also rules against wasting fish and wildlife in this state. Whether we think it's right or wrong doesn't really matter. Some lawmaker voted that way either out of their own conviction or through some lobbying effort. Sportsmen can have a say in the process of lawmaking or the lawmakers that are elected to office. Rules are rules and they are there for a reason.
We all know of someone who takes more than their share. Uncle Ted filling his plate for the third time at the family reunion or the guy down the street that always comes home with two deer, one for him and the Mrs. and she doesn't even hunt! Sharing is the key word! If we didn't share, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
It's not fun to go fishing and get skunked but there would be a lot more skunking if we didn't follow the rules. The guy that told you to "Pack Sand" is "DEAD WRONG"! Obviously he would not be legal in Utah or any other state for that matter.
Again - GREAT TOPIC!
trollmonkey
Well-known member
NC limits
In North Carolina The possesion limit is one days limit while afield ,and no more than three days limit at any place. Always assumed any place meant home or campsite.You've made me wonder about the campsite ,it would really bite to get ticketed on a camping trip when you think you are legal but aren't. As I read our regs fish can't be cleaned or altered in any way as to obscure the length or ID.
In North Carolina The possesion limit is one days limit while afield ,and no more than three days limit at any place. Always assumed any place meant home or campsite.You've made me wonder about the campsite ,it would really bite to get ticketed on a camping trip when you think you are legal but aren't. As I read our regs fish can't be cleaned or altered in any way as to obscure the length or ID.
twisted lines
Well-known member
trollmonkey
Well-known member
Nc Kokes
We have kokes, unfortunately only in one lake and no prospects for more. Check out my daughter-in-laws SR koke on the NCWRC site.We have daily limit of 7 and as far as I know now my son Alex has caught one of the few legal (not snagged) limits.
We have kokes, unfortunately only in one lake and no prospects for more. Check out my daughter-in-laws SR koke on the NCWRC site.We have daily limit of 7 and as far as I know now my son Alex has caught one of the few legal (not snagged) limits.
skookum9
Well-known member
Silver, you are absolutely correct about the wording of that "in transit to the place of permanent residence" in the regs. I hadn't looked that up until I read your post and now I am wondering about the whole filleting thing being legal when you are camped out. I would hate to think I had to waste time by gutting my fish. I hope that the law around here will continue to allow us to fillet them. As to the taking of too many fish, this depends a lot on the species and the body of water they are in. For example, the koke's in Odell are over populated. Kokanee are a very prolific little fish and they seem to thrive there. There has even been some talk of increasing the catch limit on this lake so more fish would be taken out. Of course, this still doesn't make it right to be wasteful.
This discussion has come up on Idaho Boards as well. According to a conservation officer in Idaho, possession ends at your doorstep. He said the law was that limit and possession only applies while you are afield including in a camper but ends at your door step. In effect you can have as many fish as you want in your home but are not allowed the multiple daily limits if you were camping for three days. That is the strangest possession law of any state I have heard of. I should note you are only allowed one limit per day.
Kokaholic
Well-known member
Ok, So this brings up a good question, I can go To Costco and Sams club, along with others and buy all of the salomon and Trout i can afford and fill my freezer if I choose. So now I go to the gorge, bring home three kokes, which I am allowed. I am now way over the limit. the proc doesnt discriminate between species of salmon. it just says salmon. or trout, it limits the amount and size of Lakers, some places brookies, Cutts at Bear lake, but good old bows. factory raised , natural or whatever. still rainbows in my possesion.
Might need to dig into this a little more with the CO around here and check into this
Might need to dig into this a little more with the CO around here and check into this
Save your receipts! Nothing they would do about store bought goods. I think our laws were changed to reflect the problems associated with tracking the differences in possession laws we have in different areas. For example, their is no limit, open take, on "Rainbows" on the South Fork of the Snake River and some lakes in Idaho have had huge limits on Kokes in the past. With all this going on the F&G made the laws applicable for "in the field" only and knowing that people had fish in their freezer or smoker or canner, did the practical thing.
Full_Monte
Well-known member
In California, there is a daily limit and "in possession" limit. The daily limit is 5 and the "in possession" limit is 10. You cannot have more than the daily limit on your boat. It is my understanding that "in Possession" also includes your freezer at home, though I am unaware of any enforcement of this rule. I think it's pretty weird that you cannot build up a store of salmon or trout in your freezer for winter consumption.
To really throw a wrinkle on it, I often wonder what happens when I'm in transit for one area where the limit is 5 and I drive through a state that has a limit of 3. Or you guys in Oregon have lake to lake limits that I would think could drive fish and game guys nuts.
skookum9
Well-known member
The fishing regs from one lake to another here in Oregon do differ a lot and I'm sure that there has been some confussion in the past but most of the regulating that occurs here is on or near the water. That makes sense to me, especially considering the right to privacy laws that require either warrants or "reasonable suspicion" for a search of anything more. Fortunately, the majority of us are a pretty law abiding bunch. With that said, I believe that over-regulation does more harm to a fishery than does over fishing it. I also believe that the illegal planting of bass and the illegal use of live baitfish, like shiners and goldfish, have done far more harm than has the taking of a few extra fish. These harmful acts have ruined a lot of fun for the rest of us and should be a major concern for all of us.
To complicate your point about the number variance from one body of water here to another think about this. It is legal to take a limit from one body of water and on the same day to take a limit from another body of water. This means that I can take 25 koke's from one lake and then race off to the next lake and take another 25. Now before anyone gets too awful bent about the harm this could lead to, and kokanee being so prolific this shouldn't really cause any harm, understand that there are still factors that prevent this from being a problem. The first is that there is still a 2 day possession limit that will keep anyone from being able to have too many at once. The second is that it is impractical to travel back and forth from one lake to the other, unless you get your gas for free or something. Also, most fishermen who are successful enough to even be able to do this are not hoarders and would not make a habit of this. With the exception of some who might just do it once to see if they could. Of course, I'm not sure how you could catch your limit on the lakes that have no limit on number of fish taken. Your right, SuperD, confusing, but not necessarily bad.
To complicate your point about the number variance from one body of water here to another think about this. It is legal to take a limit from one body of water and on the same day to take a limit from another body of water. This means that I can take 25 koke's from one lake and then race off to the next lake and take another 25. Now before anyone gets too awful bent about the harm this could lead to, and kokanee being so prolific this shouldn't really cause any harm, understand that there are still factors that prevent this from being a problem. The first is that there is still a 2 day possession limit that will keep anyone from being able to have too many at once. The second is that it is impractical to travel back and forth from one lake to the other, unless you get your gas for free or something. Also, most fishermen who are successful enough to even be able to do this are not hoarders and would not make a habit of this. With the exception of some who might just do it once to see if they could. Of course, I'm not sure how you could catch your limit on the lakes that have no limit on number of fish taken. Your right, SuperD, confusing, but not necessarily bad.
SilverBullets
Super Moderator
On that note...say your "in transit" with your fish and get checked. How are they to know if you just came from a 25 or 5 fish limit lake? Since a few of these types of lakes are in close proximity here in Central Oregon, it could get a bit confusing...
skookum9
Well-known member
Again, usually not going to get checked once you are in transit. Not to say that you can't get checked then but it isn't common. If it did happen, it would be to your advantage to have a receipt for a campground fee or something. If you don't, I guess you'll just have to hope that the officer thinks your story sounds legit or else you'll be having to convince a judge of it. I may not be a big fan of our law enforcement officer's, but even I don't forsee these character's hassling people driving home from vacation. At least I hope they never do.
Jim F
Well-known member
Here in Montana, Direct quote from the regs:
Possession limit:
The number of that may be possessed at any time in any form: fresh, stored in freezers or lockers, salted, smoked, dried, canned, or preserved.
Daily Limit:
The number of fish that may legally taken during a calendar day. A fish when landed and not immediately released becomes part of the bag limit of the person originally hooking the fish, even if the fish is donated to another person. If you receive fish from another angler, those fish also become part of your daily limit
This is where I call bull**** in this state. Say the limit is 10 fish.
Me and you go fishing, I catch none, you catch ten fish, and give them to me, we've both just limited out with ten fish, even though the limit is ten each. Figure the logic in that one!
Possession limit:
The number of that may be possessed at any time in any form: fresh, stored in freezers or lockers, salted, smoked, dried, canned, or preserved.
Daily Limit:
The number of fish that may legally taken during a calendar day. A fish when landed and not immediately released becomes part of the bag limit of the person originally hooking the fish, even if the fish is donated to another person. If you receive fish from another angler, those fish also become part of your daily limit
This is where I call bull**** in this state. Say the limit is 10 fish.
Me and you go fishing, I catch none, you catch ten fish, and give them to me, we've both just limited out with ten fish, even though the limit is ten each. Figure the logic in that one!
Jim, I think you've got another surprise coming. Once your buddy is done with his limit, he must pull his lines in and wait for you to catch your own limit if you follow the letter of the law. The trick I guess would be when your buddy got to 9, you pull in all the future fish regardles of which rod they came on?
skookum9
Well-known member
Wow! Are you saying that your possession limit is counted for your place of permanent residence also? It sounds like that would not be cool at all. A person should have the right to store up a few each trip so they can be prepared for the winter if they were so inclined. I never do because I eat too many of the little guys when I catch them but I'm sure not everybody out there eats a dozen or more per sitting. Many people I know here in Oregon have freezers full of meat from their seasonal harvests.
Here in this state, we are allowed to give our catch to someone else but if we want it not to count against their harvest, we have to fill out a note with information about what we are giving them, when it was caught/killed, and all the info about us including name, address, phone number and license number. It sounds like you guys could use some rewriting of your laws. I know that there is a lot screwed up here in Oregon but I have to admit that I like our fishing and hunting regs a lot better than most of the other state's I'm hearing about out there. But I also have to ask, how many of you have ever heard of someone being hassled while on the road after leaving their fishing hole. Everything I've seen here is just to check you while you are on the water or at least near the lake. I've never even been checked in my camp except when I was cleaning fish as they drove by, and that was totally uninvasive as they only checked what was in my immediate possession and never asked once if they could inspect my coolers or anything else. I may have some issues with these guys and some of their practices but for the most part they've been pretty reasonable.
So you don't think I'm just some kind of a cop-hating nut-case, I'll give you another example of my own frustrations with them. While fishing in a boat with my father and step-son, we took on another passenger who happened to be a friend of mine's father. We had enough life jackets out to accommodate one for everybody except me and that's because I was already wearing one. The sheriff's patrol came by for an annual boat inspection and after looking at our life jacket supply decided that I should receive a citation because the one I was wearing did not have a US Coast Guard label on it. Fortunately, we had a couple more stashed under the consol and got them to leave us alone but not until they had proven to me their lack of good judgement and common sense. Here I was, the only guy in the whole boat to be wearing a life preserver, and they were going to write me a ticket for it. Maybe this wouldn't bother some of you but it sure got me riled.
Here in this state, we are allowed to give our catch to someone else but if we want it not to count against their harvest, we have to fill out a note with information about what we are giving them, when it was caught/killed, and all the info about us including name, address, phone number and license number. It sounds like you guys could use some rewriting of your laws. I know that there is a lot screwed up here in Oregon but I have to admit that I like our fishing and hunting regs a lot better than most of the other state's I'm hearing about out there. But I also have to ask, how many of you have ever heard of someone being hassled while on the road after leaving their fishing hole. Everything I've seen here is just to check you while you are on the water or at least near the lake. I've never even been checked in my camp except when I was cleaning fish as they drove by, and that was totally uninvasive as they only checked what was in my immediate possession and never asked once if they could inspect my coolers or anything else. I may have some issues with these guys and some of their practices but for the most part they've been pretty reasonable.
So you don't think I'm just some kind of a cop-hating nut-case, I'll give you another example of my own frustrations with them. While fishing in a boat with my father and step-son, we took on another passenger who happened to be a friend of mine's father. We had enough life jackets out to accommodate one for everybody except me and that's because I was already wearing one. The sheriff's patrol came by for an annual boat inspection and after looking at our life jacket supply decided that I should receive a citation because the one I was wearing did not have a US Coast Guard label on it. Fortunately, we had a couple more stashed under the consol and got them to leave us alone but not until they had proven to me their lack of good judgement and common sense. Here I was, the only guy in the whole boat to be wearing a life preserver, and they were going to write me a ticket for it. Maybe this wouldn't bother some of you but it sure got me riled.
Last edited:
