A friend an I were fishing from the boat the other night for Stripers, and we got to talking about the possession limit. The question is if we have 3 people on the boat, the 3rd person being a 5 year old kid, could we keep 6 fish or 4.

He thinks we could keep 6, but I think we could only keep 4 unless the 5 year old lands 2 of the fish, to make six total.

I am thinking if I am a DEP officer and I stopped us, I would ask the 5y ear old if he reeled in 2 fish.

What do you think? I read the full text of the regulations and couldn't discern the answer.

is the 5 year old a person? if so then he is allowed 2 fish.

I often wonder what a DEM/EPO officer would say if i had already kept 2 fish and was still fishing.. if i catch another and plan to release it, am i not in possession of 3 fish?

is the 5 year old a person? if so then he is allowed 2 fish.

I often wonder what a DEM/EPO officer would say if i had already kept 2 fish and was still fishing.. if i catch another and plan to release it, am i not in possession of 3 fish?


It depends how the law is written (obviously). I KNOW in trout fishing, it is called a creel (sp) limit. Once your creel limit for the day is full you MUST stop fishing for the day or you are in violation.

You can keep 2 fish for each person whether they actually caught it themselves or not. As far as continuing fishing, I think theywould have to let you. There are times where I have kept my limit of stripers and continued fishing to get some blues. The fishing fuzz can't determine what fish you are targeting, so they can't tell you to stop fishing.

Here is what RI regs say:
R.I. Marine Fisheries Statutes and Regulations
PART XII - STRIPED BASS
12.1 Size/Possession Limits/Season -- Except as provided in Parts 12.3 and 12.5, no person shall possess in Rhode Island any striped bass which measures less than twenty-eight inches (28") in total length, whether caught within the jurisdic-tion of this State, or otherwise. Except as provided in Parts 12.3 and 12.5 no person shall possess, per calendar day, more than two (2) striped bass, whether caught within the jurisdiction of Rhode Island or otherwise. There is no closed season for striped bass. Compliance with the possession limit aboard vessels will be determined by dividing the number of fish onboard a vessel by the number of recreational fishermen onboard said vessel. (RIMF REGULATION)

Last line seems to cover it. Sounds like the child must be considered an "active" fisherman. At 5 years old I think I would consider him an able fisherman - if he were very young I think you'd be in violation. Probably would fall under the discretion of the Enforcement officer. I see loads of families scup fishing with some "very young babies" - I'm sure the babies would not have a possesion limit if they could not pick up a fishing pole.

DZ

I think section 7 article 2 paragraph 1.9 subsection 3 says that if they are rugged little kids with red cheeks and clean diapers , they can have two fish in their possession. Dirty diapered , no tan , cryers cannot be counted. :)

What Saltheart said, thats cool.

ahh but the last line says recreational. Now what about those charter boat guys who keep 2 fish for every paying customer, plus 2 for the mates and 2 for the captian??? They not recreational fishermen.

food for thought.

I think section 7 article 2 paragraph 1.9 subsection 3 says that if they are rugged little kids with red cheeks and clean diapers , they can have two fish in their possession. Dirty diapered , no tan , cryers cannot be counted. :)

That's to funny:laughs: :laughs: :laughs:

I think they should target the people that are stock piling any fish they catch on the beach . not nit picking the guy's who are trying to play it striaght ...

I use to wonder the same thing, till I was stoprd and was asked who caught the fish, I said I caught 1 and my son got 1 (10 at the time) and said ok.

Later I asked Boston how old did my son have to be to get a commercial lic cause he went with me all the time. This was before a boat lic. They said that it was up to the officer that would stop me, if he thought my son was old anough to contribute to the catch then he would have to have a Lic.

Thanks all, good discussion. I think I will stay on the conservitive side and the conservation side of the fish stock, and keep with 2 per fisherman, If we can get the 5 yr old to cranch one up we'll go with it.

ahh but the last line says recreational. Now what about those charter boat guys who keep 2 fish for every paying customer, plus 2 for the mates and 2 for the captian??? They not recreational fishermen.

food for thought.

Not sure about RI, but in Mass, the captain and mate are not allowed to keep 2 stripers each - just the paying customers.

When Codfishing, the Cpt and Mate do count, so 6 guys can actually take home 80 fish.

Btw - nice article today.

What is the limit for commercial rod & reelers in Rhode Island? In MA there is a sort of secret limit of about 30 fish a day for the commercial rod & reelers. Typical MA setup.