Can you fish for nates after tagging out?

tailchaser · 01-05-2004, 12:01 PM

The only fish in Oregon you can keep fishing is for sturgeon. Everything else is off limits after you've tagged out. It almost sucks on a great day of fishing to have to twidle your thumbs, but there's always tomorrow.

tc

skrimmy · 01-05-2004, 12:04 PM

Just quit and bask in the afterglow Bill! Besides, you wouldn't want to leave your drift boat up there on the road while you're fishing that meathole from the bank on the Trask would you? :grin: :grin: Heck - Saturday you and I couldn't land a fish on either river, so what's the point! :grin: :grin:

5-Cents · 01-05-2004, 12:04 PM

Nope! Sturgeon Yes!

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 01-05-2004, 12:10 PM

I suppose you can if you want to be breaking the law...

Its only cheating if you get caught

...

In addition, I bet the fine is not cheap...

Otolith · 01-05-2004, 12:11 PM

OK - but can you fish for steelhead without a harvest tag? I thought you could. The harvest tag is for "harvesting" so if you just plan on fishing c & r, then you don't need a harvest tag, right?

Assuming that is the case (you can fish catch and release without a harvest tag), why wouldn't you just put the tag away after you are done harvesting, and if asked say you don't have one (because you don't need one because you aren't harvesting) ?? Is this a loophole in the rules?

It seems that the spirit of the law is to prevent you from culling fish, which would no doubt mean many fish would be "released" when they weren't very good swimmers anymore -- and this would be a bad thing.

Salmonator · 01-05-2004, 12:17 PM

NO

Otolith · 01-05-2004, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kentucky Hog Hunter:
I suppose you can if you want to be breaking the law...

Its only cheating if you get caught ...

In addition, I bet the fine is not cheap...

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Rolling eyes smily right back at ya Kentucky [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

I'm not looking to break any laws or kill any more than I'm alloted, just wondering what the law really is. If it is illegal to fish steelhead without a harvest tag, even if you have no intention of harvesting, then the point is moot. But if you can fish without a harvest tag, I don't know how they could enforce the "no fishing after tagging out" rule.

Otolith · 01-05-2004, 12:32 PM

I found my answer under General (Statewide) Regulations -- Licenses, Tags, and Permits

4) All anglers, regardless of age, need in possession a valid Combined Angling Tag to ANGLE (my emphasis) for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, or Pacific halibut. .....

Thats all I was looking for.

Uglygreen · 01-05-2004, 01:08 PM

You could catch kill and keep 2 on the Sandy or Clackamas in Oregon and then drive up to the North Fork Lewis or the Washougal in Washington and catch kill and keep (or release) 2 more. That doesent violate the catch or possession limits in either state as far as I know... not that Ive ever done anything like that. :grin:

UG

Mello-Yello · 01-05-2004, 01:15 PM

UG's right, but I'd strongly advise you to drop the first two off at home before venturing to WA.

Otolith · 01-05-2004, 11:51 PM

Take this scenario for example:

You float down the Wilson to the meat hole and go Rodney King on a couple of hatchery fish in the first hour. Tagged out, you row your smiling arse down to the takeout. Having worked so hard, you're dying for a Big Mac, but Mickey D's isn't even serving lunch yet (damn you're a good fisherman), so you decide to drive over to the trask and tangle with some feisty natives.

Is that legal? You have little to no chance of catching another hatchery fish. In fact, can't you fish catch and release for nates without even having a harvest tag (license only)? If so, could you just leave your tag in the car in case mister fish cop stops to chat and you don't want him to see that you're tagged out? I'm confused.

Crayfin · 01-05-2004, 11:54 PM

Can't do it

Crayfin

cosmo · 01-05-2004, 11:54 PM

When you tag out you're done. It's just that simple.

Fisherfield · 01-05-2004, 11:57 PM

Consider yourself lucky to get your fish...head home and get some of the "honey do list" stuff done so you can go bonk some more hatchery fish later. There's always time to go fishing when the list is completed...........

Twitchs_Tackle · 01-05-2004, 11:59 PM

Yup, you're done. The regs state that you cannot continue to angle for the same species after retaining a daily or possession limit. It doesn't matter if their nates or hatcheries, they're the same in the law's regards. :grin:

Guess you'd have to go home and organize tackle to hit it up the next day! :smile: