Quinte Fishing

Well, interesting that the C.O. who responded used thw words "retain". Thanks guys for the last two posts. Although perhaps I understood this to be true, it certainly helps clearly define how the MNR looks at catch and retain, and live release. This probably will impact the rules for next year's walley tournament because a person will not be able to catch, weigh-in and release a fish over 25", then return to the weigh-in with another. They get one shot. Hmmm.
Good job guys.

The pro series get to cull their fish with a wink and a nod from the ministry but I didn't think they'd let all us commoners do it. And pro bass only weighs in one limmit per day. I don't mind if there are allowances made but they should let us all in on it, after all its a whole different ball game.

As promised, the following is the response I received from an MNR enforcement officer regarding whether or not Ontario Fishing Regulations for the BOQ were contravened when one contestant weighed in more than one 10 pound walleye (walleye greater than 25" in length).

"You are correct in your first assumption, it is an offence to catch and
retain more than 1 walleye greater than 25 inches in length. This is
indicated on page 33 of the 2003 summary. What is not clearly articulated
is the Ministry definition of possession. The definiton from our legal
services branch is that if you catch a fish and retain it and then enter it
into a fish derby, whether or not the fish is released immediately or in the
near future you have caught and retained a fish. It was not released
immediately.

This position has been relayed to many of the Derby organizers by the
enforcement supervisor for Lake Ontario when the regulation first came into effect."

Future tournament organizers could easily incorporate a statement in the tournament rules to ensure that such an occurrence doesn't happen again.

Well, we now have the official answer on this matter. Very interesting. Thanks for the follow-up and I'm glad someone followed this through.

Nice work "angler" thanks for posting your information, now we all should know the rules and remember, whether you support the C.O.'s interpretation or not, the courts most certainly will, they are on the same team.
As for the tournament thingy, I should explain, most tournaments have a five fish or even four fish daily bag limit. In a two person team event you would be able have twelve different fish in your livewell over the course of a single day, weigh-in the top five and still be legal. It is the thirteenth fish which would make you illegal. This of course is a bass tourney in a jurisdiction which legally allows a six bass daily limit, for other areas and species the math is the same, point of lawbreaking changes. Hilly

Most Bass tourneys have a rule that state you cannot have more than 6 fish in the live well for tourneys with a 5 fish limit. Even though the MNR regs allow for more, bass tourneys have there own rules.

So basically everyone shold pay attention to MNR regs and derby/tourney rules.

Cheers,

Mike

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Wish I wasn't here...Rather be fishing if you know what I mean