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Conference wahoo::fishing

Title:Fishing Notes- Archived
Notice:See note 555.1 for a keyword directory of this conference
Moderator:DONMAC::MACINTYRE
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Sep 20 1991
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1660
Total number of notes:20970

556.0. "MAINE/NH RULE CHANGES" by SPGNH1::HOJLO () Wed Dec 23 1987 09:56

    I have been told that a few rule changes for MAINE/N.H. Interstate
    waters (i.e., Balch, Great East, Milton 3, etc) are in effect for
    1988....
    
    1. All Interstate waters have a 16" minimum size limit on Bass from
    May 1 thru June 21.
    
    2. Tournament Permits must be obtained from Maine prior to fishing 
    these lakes.  The cost is $31.00 and only 4 permits per year per
    lake will be issued.  ("Tournaments" include any gathering of fishermen
    regardless of the fact that no monies or prizes are involved.)
    
    3. Fines range up to $250.00
    
    4. (This one is the frosting on the cake!)  If a single person/boat or
    2 people in a boat are out "pleasure fishing", NO LIVE FISH CAN
    BE IN THEIR POSSESSION. 
    
      The reason given is that "the fish would be subject to undo abuse
      and damage bouncing around when the boat is underway."
    
    
    Be Advised... Get a Maine Rules Book before you venture onto these
    waters, God knows what other suprises have been added!
   
     (It seems that a new motto is in order for this area.  Something like
     "Welcome to Maine/N.H.  Now go home." seems to fit.)
                                                         
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
556.1Sounds fishy to meVICKI::DODIERWed Dec 23 1987 11:416
    	I don't understand #4. Does this mean you cannot keep any fish
    or that you kill them immediately after catching them or that you
    need 3 people or more in the boat to keep fish ??? Also, what
    distinguishes "pleasure fishing" from "food fishing" ???
    
    RAYJ
556.2I think they want your $31 !!!HEFTY::CUZZONESif it feels nice, dont think twiceWed Dec 23 1987 14:176
    
    RE:.1
    
    How about tournament fishing as opposed to pleasure fishing ?
    
    Steve
556.3My interpretationMTBLUE::OKERHOLM_PAUThu Dec 24 1987 12:4811
    I think the reason for not allowing live fish in the boat is that
    some people keep fish alive until a bigger one is caught in order
    to maximize the size of their daily limit. These saved fish have
    very little chance for survival so Maine requires that you make
    the decision of keep or release immediately. If you keep the fish
    you have to kill it. 
    
    This may make sense to some people and seem rediculous to others
    but I think that's the rationale behind the rule.
    
    Paul
556.4kill or release in MAINE(don't use your livewell)MTBLUE::VORHIS_ALMon Dec 28 1987 07:2534
    
    The law referred to in this note is new and was not passed without
    a lot of debate . They had this rule was in force last year for
    trout and salmon . The cheap justification used was that this would
    help the wardens enforce the laws concerning the movement of different
    species fish from lake to lake .
    
    As a member of the state bass fed , we fought to not have this passed
    but lost out to the cold water delegation . This was a cheap way
    of allowing the warden service a loophole to snag an unknowing
    sportsman with good intentions . This way they don't have to work
    very hard to enforce the original law about moving fish . 
    
    Bass tournaments are covered by their own set of rules and regs
    and the kill or release rule doesn't apply if you have the proper
    permit . The mentioned 16' limit does apply , we will be using a
    catch and measure system during that time period for fish under
    16" .
    
    The major problem that I have with this new law is the fact that
    it will promote the killing and taking of more bass than before.
    Instead of enforcing the laws , the state has penalized the honest
    sportsman with this rule  . 
    
    All that said, maine is still one of the best bassin states in the
    nation , day in and day out . I am a transplanted Fla boy who was
    raised on Bass fishing the St johns river / lake george etc , and
    this is a better overall bass area ( higher average weight )
    but we won't catch too many 14-15#(any).
    
    Anyone interested in Maine bass news (tournaments etc ) let me know
    I am very active in local club and state federation.
    
    
556.5Is fish movement that much of a problem ????VICKI::DODIERTue Dec 29 1987 08:1617
    	Sounds like this law has the potential to create a lot of income
    if a per fish fine is involved. No insinuations here, just fact.
    Looks like this would be a good law to target for a repeal attempt.
    If in fact the fish populations start to decrease because of this,
    that should prove to be good ammo against the law. Unfortunately,
    I agree with Al in that this will probably turn into a kill AND
    release rather than a kill OR release law. This is especially true
    if a person winds up paying a per fish fine for keeping the fish
    alive for possible release later. In an Ethics (catch and release)
    vs. Money (potential fines for not killing) situation, I think I'd
    put my money on the later.
    
    RAYJ
    
    BTW - This is probably interesting enough that a well written article
    about it would probably get published in the editorial section of
    local papers (if it hasn't already been there).