How often do you check the regulations?

[Cdog]

The drum poacher thread got me thinking, how often do you check your states regs to see if they changed. Might be different but here in Va serveral species can change during the coarse of th year.

[RuddeDogg]

At the beginning of the season and I also keep copies of the cards that the state gives out in my tackle boxes.

[Mullet Breath]

Weekly and keep a copy with me with some highlighted fish. I thought I was tough one day with the man only to see that in my haste to read I dropped a line while scanning. So I kept fish number 13 for 14's legal length. Highlighting helps prevent future feet from entering any orifice.:eek:

[Big Rad]

I read my regs almost everytime I go. I'm getting the longtooth syndrome so I fergets quite a bit.....

Wait a minute.......what are we talking about?


I read them especially when I am targeting a particular fish:cool:

[jcreamer]

Not as often as I should have. I (like some others) catch myself checking after I have caught a fish. So far I have not killed any and have followed what the regs called for. This year I have a copy of the regs in my tackle box.

[surfcast]

I print a copy out and keep it in my box..and check a few times a year...just in case

[Digger]

In VA I generally know about the changes before they happen but I still review frequently, making sure of the fine details.

[thebeachcaster]

Checking regs would be one of those things like when you catch a blue But think it is a spanish (while bringing it in) then you check cause you wonder what the regs are on spanish. Always keep a copy in my box or jeep.

[uncdub13]

rarely check them. NC marine fishing regulations deeply carved into the ol long term memory:p . usually if there's a major change like flounder goin from 14" to 14.5" this year you hear about it. not that it really makes a difference to me. hell, aint no meat on a 14" flounder anyways. same goes for a 12" speck. i see no reason to keep either one if you have to measure it. let em grow and catch them again. better fight, mo' meat.

[Drumdum]

I'm with ya on NC regs.. They generally don't change except for yr to yr,and I get a copy each spring before I go..

Everyone needs to check regs when they go to a new state though..

Some folks were at a tackle shop down here,didn't know reg obviously.. I drove up and looked,thought it was a cobe at first,then realized it to be a nice drum.. Well,I told the guy,if'n I wuz him,I'd get that drum,put it in the backseat and haul frieght before the owner of that shop came out,cause I know the guy,and he's flat gonna hammer on ya!! Besides that it's a big fine and replacement cost,I promise.. ;)
He was lookin at me like I was speakin Greek,by that time the owner came out,game on.. :D

[GMinPA]

Check at the top of the year and for changes during the year. Keep a card for each state in the fishmobile.

[rgking03]

I check once a week for the species that I am fishing for just to keep the regs fresh.. Have to know for the charters.. Look bad if G&F caught yeah with full boat of paying customers and illegal fish..

[thebeachcaster]

Hate to lap up the gossip, but details??????? I don't want to know the shop, names, etc...but what happened? cussing? Law come?? guy in the wrong appolagize?

I don't want to get all high and mighty and act like I have never made a mistake but taking a big drum to a tackle shop?:--| Kinda like bragging to someone about a fling with a farmer's daughter and then finding out he's the father!!! Big drum are like one night stands...."Love em and Leave em!!!"

[Lip Ripper]

i cant keep all of the lengths in my head so i check about every time.

[derekxec]

in florida new reg changes occur at january and july 95% so thats when i check them but usually dont have to because you hear about them before the official release

[cpn_aaron]

Yeah I get a copy every Jan and July and put it in a ziplock bag in my tacklebag. Most fish I know the regs in my head, but if I ever feel unsure or don't know about the fish I quickly whip them out and consult. No FWC officer will be hauling me off.

[Mark G]

I guess I'm a bit slack on reading up on the regs. Will check on striper regs, but usually rely on word from tackle shop owners to keep me straight- realizing of course I could be fed bum information, but it hasn't happened......yet.

Don't keep much fish anyway- if I plan on keeping fish I will ask prior to fishing for specific species at the locale I am at.

Guess it makes sense to be ultimately familiar with your own state regs- but I'm not about to spend my time dissecting the regs from New York to Florida and every where in between.

[Catfish713]

Actually I check em before every trip while I am checking the fishing report I check the regs also.
the regs are constantly changing here in Texas, usualy they are minimal things like if certain areas of a lake are closed due to debris or something but I am always up on the Texas regs

[Woodchuck]

I check and print the regs early spring, before the first trip. Mid summer to fall I will print another copy before the 2-week trip and keep it in the Cherokee. If there is a change someone will post a note on one of the boards, so you generally hear about them.

I just remarked the cutting board for flounder, from 14” to 15”. Last fall I had one legal, next morning as I was ready to clean it was 13 ¾”. I’d rather up MY minimum than have a ranger point a short one out to me. Especially with the first year of licensing, you KNOW you will be checked at some time. Drum, I don’t have a problem with shrinkage as I only keep upper slot fish.

[Drumdum]

Hate to lap up the gossip, but details??????? I don't want to know the shop, names, etc...but what happened? cussing? Law come?? guy in the wrong appolagize?

I don't want to get all high and mighty and act like I have never made a mistake but taking a big drum to a tackle shop?:--| Kinda like bragging to someone about a fling with a farmer's daughter and then finding out he's the father!!! Big drum are like one night stands...."Love em and Leave em!!!"

Well,the guy evidently had just drove up there,yanked the drum outta the back of his truck and hung her on the scales.. I didn't get there till after he had hung the fish up there..
I guess what had happen to make him have the "brainfawt" he had,was he had came down once in the past and drum were legal at that time??
No name,but if you know this tackleshop owner the way I do,you'd know the guy got that drum off'n the scales some kinda quick!! It was a triple X conversation that the tackleshop owner was having,and it seemed to be a oneway deal... :D Tackleshop owner didn't call the law,guess cause he felt the guy had made an honest mistake,besides,the cussin he laid on him was worse than any fine.. One thing IS FOR SURE,he'll be reading the regs next time.... ;)

[sand flea]

Because most of my catch is released and I fish multiple states with different laws, I'll admit to occasional ignorance of the law.

That said, I always make sure to ask fellow anglers or give a ring to a local tackle shop if I'm not positive about the legality of my catch. And let's be honest--the real problem fish is stripers. You need to bring a damn lawyer along with you sometimes to figure out what you can and can't do. I guess it's a legacy of the collapse of the fishery in the 80's.