In the fridge, the cooler, and on the stringer.

[Moosebunk]

delete

[Moosebunk]

And, sorry, I just had to share this pic from the w/e's fishing.

Camp at Kwetabohigan on the Moose...

[Cancatchbass]

Bunk- these people:

"I've known people to go on fishing trips. Fish a week and keep their limit everyday to take home. So, what would the law be on this if someone was stopped on their way home after a weeks fishing, having all their 7 day catch of say... 28 walleye in cold storage being transitted in the back of their vehicle. "

WOULD DEFINITELY be charged and would have the book thrown at them. Happens all the time at the 1000 Islands Bridge when the MNR does spot checks. No mercy shown.

I'll let someone else comment on the fillets in the freezer deal.

CCB

[Moosebunk]

delete

[Dartee]

MooseBunk

I was always under the impression that the possesion limit also included what was sitting in your freezer at home.But I may be wrong

Now this is were it would get a little gray..how would they know who caught the fish that are in the freezer? You or other anglers in the household?????

[chubb]

So lets say you've limited out on Lakers
But your still fishing (targeting ) the laker species
Is this illegal?

Even though you would intend on any catch and release.

I recall watching an episode of Angler and Hunter and the host had caught his limit of Whitefish (suprising as he usually gets nothing) He then went on that he had to stop targeting the species alltogether.

Any help on this

[winder]

Here is a story that I heard quite a while ago so I hope I get the details right.

There was someone fishing Salmon in Sault Ste. Marie a number of years ago. Going out every day and catching a couple of salmon. Enough to go over the limit over the course of a week. The MNR followed him home one night and checked his freezer. Obviously he had more than the limit in the freezer. He was charged.

Seems like you are not allowed to have more than your pocession limit at any time. Regardless of whether you are fishing or not.

Winder

[Leakyboot]

At this time I'll be honest I have the equivalent of about 12 walleye in fillets in my freezer, so, what these guys imply is that if I was to go fishing tomorrow I couldn't keep anything.

Hey Moosebunk,

I'm afraid that qualifies you, albeit I am certain unintentionally, as a poacher. Yikes! It's interesting that I've seen this question arise many times over the years. I find the law crystal clear on the subject. Nevertheless, there must be thousands of anglers who somehow missed this. According to the regs, page 3, beginning at the last paragraph in the right hand column"

"Catch and Possession Limits – The catch limit is the number of fish you are allowed to catch and keep in one day. The possession limit is the number you are allowed to have in your possession on hand, in cold storage, in transit, etc. Possession limits are the same as one day’s catch limit except where otherwise specified. For some species there are no limits. In these cases no reference will be made to a limit in this fishing summary. If you catch a fish after reaching the daily catch or possession limit for that species, the fish must be released immediately back to the water."

So, if you have the limit,or more, anywhere in your posession, at home, in a cooler, at the cottage or in a livewell, you have limited out. Interestingly however, this does not preclude you from catch and release fishing.

Better start eating some eyes. MB.

later,
Leakyboot

[CNs]

MooseBunk

I was always under the impression that the possesion limit also included what was sitting in your freezer at home.But I may be wrong

Now this is were it would get a little gray..how would they know who caught the fish that are in the freezer? You or other anglers in the household?????

easy:

divide the number of fish by the number of valid lcenses.

[big-o]

remember....if you have children , they are considered to have full sport lic. , in Markus case, there is four full lic in the house hold Pink Lady(who has a sport lic) and Hailee and Spencer, there fore he can have four limits in his possession, I'm not to sure about the age , but I believe it's like that until the child reachs 18 and over, they he or she will require a lic. This aspect of the law is over looked by some anglers that have young children

[FLOATFISHIN]

Phil you are 100% right.Markus having the 2 little ones "Who are under the age of 18" are cosidered to have a full sport licsense.

Though if you are turning 18 in the year you tend to fish, you must buy a license to hold your catches valid.B4 or on the day of your B-Day.(Im pretty sure thats it for the 18th year?)

Anyone over 65 or under 18 has to only provide ID to prove who they are and D.O.B mind you under 14 I dont think a warden will dispute.

F.F

[Tomcat]

Hi Moosebunk:

Firstly, the MNR needs to realize that many Ontario fishermen do not interpret the existing fishing regulations correctly as presently written. IMHO, this fact is directly attributable to the fishing regulations not being written in simple, clear and concise statements. As proof for my contention, how many of us have reviewed or participated in fishing message board discussions about the correct interpretation of Ontario’s fishing regulations?

According to the regulations, you may not harvest any fish once you have reached your “daily catch and retain limit” and/or “possession limit” for that species. In other words, if you had 2 walleye in your possession back at home, you are legally only entitled to catch and retain 2 more walleye even though the daily catch and retain limit is 4 (you can not legally contravene your possession limit). Although the fishing regulations allow one to continue to practice catch and release fishing for that same species (where the daily catch and retain limit and/or the possession limit has been reached), surely most ethical fishermen would stop fishing that species (in recognition of mortality rates of released fish).

Your possession limit of walleye (for you 4 walleye) consists of all your walleye regardless where you may have them stored.

Lets say you were to return home with your daily catch and retain limit of 4 walleye. If you already had walleye in your possession before you went fishing, you contravened the law. You legally could have gone walleye fishing, but you would have had to practice catch and release fishing if the number of walleye in your possession (before you went fishing) was 4. If you had less than 4 walleye in possession before you went fishing, you could catch and retain 4 minus the number you had in possession.

However, there is some “wiggle room”. Every person is entitled to a possession limit regardless whether they hold an Ontario fishing licence or not. Therefore, you can legally give a possession limit of 4 walleye to your wife and to each of your children. The caveat is that they have to know that you gave them this limit. Consequently, for you, your wife and two children, there can legally be 16 walleye in possession in your home at any one time. And if you were in this position and you wanted to go fishing and harvest some walleye, you would first need to dispose of some of the walleye in your possession – by eating some or by giving some to neighbours or friends - to free up some possession limit room.

In many areas of Ontario, the fishing regulations are not followed. It’s just a mind set. I was born and raised near the shores of the western basin of Lake Erie. My Dad had a Limestone 24 that he used to ply the waters for walleye. I’d guess that at one any time, there would have easily been 25 walleye in his freezer. He never breached the daily limit ever, but possession limits were a non starter for him. He just never understood possession limits.
.

[spanky]

Big-O and FF;

I was always under the impression that children under 18 carried the same license restrictions as their parents had... be it sportfishing or conservation. If the parents have conservation license then the kids are considered to aswell.

???

[BigSim]

This is what happens when you have beaurocrats writting regulations.

"Catch and Possession Limits – The catch limit is the number of fish you are allowed to catch and keep in one day. The possession limit is the number you are allowed to have in your possession on hand, in cold storage, in transit, etc. Possession limits are the same as one day’s catch limit except where otherwise specified. For some species there are no limits. In these cases no reference will be made to a limit in this fishing summary. If you catch a fish after reaching the daily catch or possession limit for that species, the fish must be released immediately back to the water."

Why put the etc. in there, allowing for a gray area. Also;

There was someone fishing Salmon in Sault Ste. Marie a number of years ago. Going out every day and catching a couple of salmon. Enough to go over the limit over the course of a week. The MNR followed him home one night and checked his freezer. Obviously he had more than the limit in the freezer. He was charged.

constitutes an illegal search and seizure without having a warrant, ( section 8 of the CCRF) as by entering a home and having to open the freezer door (unless the guy leaves it open to air condition his home) the evidence was not in any way in plain view, and unless they provided a warrant upon entering the home, they had no right to enter the property without just cause.

My question, however, would be;

My father (albeit occasionally) gives me fish. Is that to say that I'f he brings me a wonderful smallie fillet one day, that I put in the freezer instead of eating immediately, will that then add to my own possession limit?

Next; I live directly in the city of Kingston;
Very close to the borders of Divisions 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, all within driving distance, and I travel between them constantly.

As an example I will use Lake Trout; the possession limit in the division in which I live (9) is 2 Lake Trout. However, to catch lake trout, I often travel into division 8, being the north eastern section of the open lake. By catching my limit of three in division 8, and returning home to division 9, I have immediately broken the law, by transporting more than my limit, as well as storing over my daily possession limit.

For honest anglers such as myself, I can see how this could create a major problem, as I could subsequently be charged and prosecuted for being a legitimate, law abiding angler.

[Tomcat]

BigSim:

I want to respond to your questions but I also want to first emphasize that my answers are just my interpretations - I'm no fishing regulation expert.

WRT to your Dad giving you a smallie, yes, that would add to your (personal) possession limit for smallies. The smallie is your possession, not his.

I would contend that anyone's daily catch and retain limits and possession limits are established by the respective Division in which one is fishing, not by where one's primary residence is. If challenged, you probably would be rquired to prove where you caught the lake trout. I fish for walleye in Quebec and my daily catch and retain limits and possession limits are established by Quebec fishing regulations. For example, on the Gouin, the possession limit is 8 walleye and I contend it would be legal for me to bring my full possession limit home even though my possession limit here is less. However, these are just my opinions.