salmon fillet while fishing question.

[birddogdad]

I have always wondered how you can process (fillet) your fish on the boat and put on ice before returning to dock and still be able to prove "legal length" if stopped. I see pictures on various sites of guys with fillets in hand out in the sound... i always come in "whole". Am i missing something in the regs or what? Anyone with real world experience here? are they saving carcases on board too?

[metlhead]

I believe it is illegal. Regs state fish must be completely identifiable until you park your boat and are done for the day. I wouldn't risk it.

[birddogdad]

I believe it is illegal. Regs state fish must be completely identifiable until you park your boat and are done for the day. I wouldn't risk it.

yeah i was looking for that passage in the regs and cant find that..

[MooseStock]

Yea...it was illegal years ago when there were no restrictions on keeping wild fish...in this day and age they would ticket you for sure...

[fishngamereaper]

I believe it is illegal. Regs state fish must be completely identifiable until you park your boat and are done for the day. I wouldn't risk it.

yeah i was looking for that passage in the regs and cant find that..

General rules.

I wouldn't chance it with salmon. Not these days.

[jeffro]

I always bleed or gut mine immediately
Fillet them when it’s slow
Always keep the carcasses in case I get boarded

[birddogdad]

I always bleed or gut mine immediately
Fillet them when it’s slow
Always keep the carcasses in case I get boarded

yup found the passage in regs.. posted above finally!!! TY

[Caseyd]

I always bleed or gut mine immediately
Fillet them when it’s slow
Always keep the carcasses in case I get boarded

If they want to dig thru the fish head soup material and crab bait then have at it 

  Has always been a non issue

[Blacklab]

Personally, I just bleed them out in a water bucket. Ten or so minutes later I throw them on ice. Till  I get home. Never gut them anymore unless they’re a hen. 

[Born2late]

I would bet they will ticket you if stopped and they are separated.
We had something somewhat similar for deer happen. Proof of sex and species in a bag with the meat, wardens wrote tickets to my cousin and uncle and threaten to write them for the 3 kids.they said it must be a attached to some meat. This was in Idaho 2 years ago. Same type of thing, if there is a opportunity to tickets you they will

[metlhead]

My fish get filleted at home. Got a very large comost pile and fish are beneficial. Actually went round and rount with a gamie at the Blue Creek launch over a 5lb hatchery winter run. I cleaned it above the ramp and heaved the carcass way out. I was done for the day with the boat on the trailer when he checked. He wasn't concerned with state law, only his.  I eventually produced a timed photo of the catch showing no adipose and told him to suck a Matt Lauer. That really set him off and I just hopped in the rig and drove off. Good thing he chose not to follow cuz those days I wasn't in a gooder state of mind.

[jamesfromseattle]

I would bet they will ticket you if stopped and they are separated.
We had something somewhat similar for deer happen. Proof of sex and species in a bag with the meat, wardens wrote tickets to my cousin and uncle and threaten to write them for the 3 kids.they said it must be a attached to some meat. This was in Idaho 2 years ago. Same type of thing, if there is a opportunity to tickets you they will

They will indeed ticket you. I got dinged for this a few year ago, not realizing it was illegal. I was done fishing for the day and just floating around a mile or two from the dock to clean the fish when they stopped, but  this counts as "in the field." Seemed pretty chippy, but the rule is the rule, I guess.

[allen]

I had always thought that rule was in effect to allow guides to filet fish for customers when done fishing and at the landing.  As for me I filet at home where I know the water is clean, I can save the cheeks, the collars for smoking & the spine to cook up & peel off the meat (always a bowl full)