Thread: do fish have to be keep separate when two or more people are fishing in same boat

Originally Posted by mildot1

You absolutely have your facts correct, If you are fishing Shelbyville. However the question from original poster was about mixing daily creel limits together, would you care to show me in some type of binding document from the Great Suburb of Chicago(sorry I meant Illinois, If you live below I-80 you will understand) that states that two people in a boat DO NOT have to separate catch by some means?

This thread is not about a pissing match in my mind, It's about avoiding a ticket even though you know you are legal!

I don't think you will find a document that's you don't have to mark them, there would only be a document that you have to if it was a law.

Been pretty black and white to me for years!!!! Go buy a cheap paper punch and punch the fin of YOUR fish, been doing this for years

I've been checked multiple times in at least three states including Illinois.I can tell you that technically in Missouri you are suppose to keep catch separate. Everything about getting checked is pretty subjective about how much of a deal they want to make about it and what they have time for and feel like doing on any given day.Be sarcastic or a smart a&* if you want to find out exactly what they may do.

I remember specifically being checked on Cedar Lake in Illinois one time with a partner in the boat and we had a mix bag of fish in the livewell. The game warden said it was a good idea to keep them separate. I want to say at that time he told me it was the law.But that's been maybe 15 years ago? Anyway I said...well do you want me to pull em all out so you can see and measure them? And he said ..naw just let me look in there..he just looked em over pretty good and said have a nice day.

Had just about the same thing happen on KY lake one time about 10 years ago.

I think I only had a time or two they actually had me pull em all and really go over them.Most of the time I don't think they want to jeopardize the health of your catch by having them out of the water for a good while checking them. Now just a fish or two...and something that has slot limits or something...your gonna have to present and measure a lot of times.

Illinois has NO requirement to separate fish per the regulations.

CULLING
It is illegal to replace a smaller fish held in possession with a larger fish unless: the smaller fish is counted toward the daily limit or released within the confines of a bona-fide catch-and-release fishing tournament which requires the participants to have a boat live well with a pump constantly adding fresh or recirculating water.

DAILY HARVEST AND LENGTH LIMITS (STATEWIDE)
1. Length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail with the fish laid flat on a ruler, with the mouth of the fish closed and the tail lobes pressed together.
2. No fish species may be dressed (filleted or head and tail removed) on any waters to which length limits are applicable. Regardless of where taken, no fish less than the specified minimum length or more than the daily harvest shall be possessed while taking from, or on the waters to which length limits and/or daily harvest limits apply.

TOURNAMENT FISHING PERMIT
4) Demonstrates adequate provisions for holding, handling, and releasing caught fish. Specific criteria are:
A) Tournament officials must be able to certify that all boats will be required to possess a livewell (except muskie fishing tournaments) fitted with a functioning aerator and water pump.

That covers all the rules regarding harvesting fish. Not even tournament anglers are required to mark/identify fish or separate them per the state. You cannot exceed the creel limit for the number of occupants you have in the boat.

My source- the IDNR Fishing Regulations. Read it yourself. It' only 80 pages long.
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/fishing/...nformation.pdf

Well my plan to go to the State Fair was a wash out due to the rains! But I'm sure this thread is not dead and positive some-one will come up with an answer.

We have covered this many times on this site over the years. The wildlife code states you must keep bag separate ie ducks. The Fish Code you do not in IL.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/illin...nd-due-limits/

Originally Posted by Bowbender

Well my plan to go to the State Fair was a wash out due to the rains! But I'm sure this thread is not dead and positive some-one will come up with an answer.

I did in post number 2.