A Floating Musky, A Moral Quandry, and an Overshadowed Report

[BillsTheBassMan]

good on you for trying to save it, but not much reason for putting it in the livewell. Just try to revive it at the side of the boat and you won't get in any trouble.

 

Thanks for the kind words, and excuse me if this sounds harsh, but I've explained on two occasions now why that fish ever saw the livewell - we were exposed in 40km winds with 70km wind gusts (yeah, a gale warning), rain, and big swells. We needed to get into a sheltered area not only to attempt to revive the fish, but to protect ourselves.

[jimmer]

Your safety is definitly the first priority, wouldn't want to read about another accident on the water. Good on you guys for trying to save a fish of that age, but judging by the colour of the fish, it didn't stand a chance. Just a totally frustrating situation to be in, that's for sure!

[goteeboy]

Now I just skimmed through the thread but get the gist.

 

Here's my question. What do you do with any fish that you catch that unintentionally dies, but happens to be illegal to keep? (i.e. OOS, not within slot limits etc, possession limit, etc....). Do you dump the evidence? I know you can't keep it. I'm sure this happens all the time.

 

For example, "i have a friend..." just kidding. But say you catch an OOS muskie while fishing for pike or walleye and it dies. What do you do with it?

[Jer]

You have to release any OOS, slot-size, or otherwise illegal fish no matter if you think it will survive or not.

 

It may sound silly, but otherwise too many will take advantage and keep illegal fish claiming it was dead or dying.

[BillsTheBassMan]

Now I just skimmed through the thread but get the gist.

 

Here's my question. What do you do with any fish that you catch that unintentionally dies, but happens to be illegal to keep? (i.e. OOS, not within slot limits etc, possession limit, etc....). Do you dump the evidence? I know you can't keep it. I'm sure this happens all the time.

 

For example, "i have a friend..." just kidding. But say you catch an OOS muskie while fishing for pike or walleye and it dies. What do you do with it?

 

If Im fishing a catch and release spot and a fish happens to die from a mishook, you have to just let it sit there . . . nothing you can do.