I ALWAYS like to fill my cooler before checking or asking about the regs, it sure is easier than throwing the over size, out of slot, and over the limit fish back! If after the fact I should find out that any fish are too big or if I have too many I fillet them and then cut them up into small pieces, that way if anybody checks them I tell them all the meat came from one giant fish.... as far as pollutants go, they aint killed me yet and add a nice Zing to the meat!