Out of Season fish (Bass Pike Trout or whatever you want)

After reading through most of the OOS Picture threads, I figured I would ask MNR directly, here is the answer they gave me :

Hello:

"Thank you for your inquiry.

If you catch a fish that is out of season or you have reached your catch limit for the day, you must release the fish immediately. By keeping the fish to take a picture, you're keeping the fish longer than needed and you can be charged for retaining the fish longer than required.

Release of Fish

12. A person, other than a person fishing under a commercial fishing licence, who catches a fish, other than an invasive fish, the retention or possession of which is prohibited by these Regulations shall
immediately return the fish to the waters from which it was caught and, if the fish is alive, release it in a manner that causes the least harm to that fish.

Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007

http://www.laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/re...r=SOR-2007-237

If you require further assistance please call the Natural Resources Information Centre at 1-800-667-1940.

Regards,

NRIC web reader - AC
*******************************************
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Information Centre
300 Water Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7
1-800-667-1940
TTY: 1-866-686-6072
Fax: 705-755-1677
[email protected]"

Thanks for the post

Thanks for posting. I thought that most experienced fishermen already knew the intent of the law, but apparently not.

Now if we could only do something about the people that think closed season means C&R is still okay.

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

Thanks for posting. I thought that most experienced fishermen already knew the intent of the law, but apparently not.

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Sometimes the law leaves too much room for interpretation.

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Originally Posted by 3Wheelerdude

Sometimes the law leaves too much room for interpretation.

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As it is written, yes, but the intent of it is pretty clear. One CO I ran into on the water was insistent that an OOS fish be released at the side of the boat - not even be brought on board to be unhooked.

Given how often this comes up and given the sensitive nature, it being technically illegal and these are OOD forums not private (Johnny Q)

Perhaps a sticky so that for future reference people (posters) will understand why posting them isn't a good idea or "allowed" and it's not rehashed every spring.. Just as pics of untagged game.

Just a thought

for what it's worth, even in the MNRs response they were careful with the wording. Choosing the word "could be" rather than "would be". There's the letter of the law, and the spirit of the law. My guess sense it's in the devil details and a COs discretion. I personally won't. Too each his own. But as far as posting them goes, it is technically illegal to take them and thus...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JBen

Given how often this comes up and given the sensitive nature, it being technically illegal and these are OOD forums not private (Johnny Q)

Perhaps a sticky so that for future reference people (posters) will understand why posting them isn't a good idea or "allowed" and it's not rehashed every spring.. Just as pics of untagged game.

Just a thought

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I started a thread just like that last week and drew enough flak that the thread got locked.
Lots of people think closed season mean C&R and that being asked to follow the laws is an invasion of their right to have fun.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

I started a thread just like that last week and drew enough flak that the thread got locked.
Lots of people think closed season mean C&R and that being asked to follow the laws is an invasion of their right to have fun.

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That's exactly why I wanted everyone to see what the MNR says about it!

Yes release out of season fish but taking a quick picture of a fish before being released for the most part would be fine with me, just like driving a Km or two over the speed limit, is it against the law yes but will I get a speeding ticket, not likely.

Thanks for the post.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fratri

Yes release out of season fish but taking a quick picture of a fish before being released for the most part would be fine with me, just like driving a Km or two over the speed limit, is it against the law yes but will I get a speeding ticket, not likely.

Thanks for the post.

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Sort of like keeping an OOS fish now and then because your not likely to get caught...

So the whole issue around this for a lot of people centres around the 'not likely to get caught', not what is the law now?

If the COs had enough resources to police this - that might be fair enough - but as it is they don't - so fish and wildlife are at the mercy of hunters and fishermen who based their ethics on 'will I get caught', not what the law is - that's a sad situation.