Live Bait Rules - A Dilemma
Tuesday August 26, 2008
We were bottom fishing some twenty miles offshore over an artificial reef, using small live fish for bait. One of our favorite live bottom baits is a small vermillion snapper - a beeliner. Grouper and red snapper love these fish, and I have used them for years - that is up until now... Read more...
Comments
I ve been salt water fishing for 50 years, and have never, knowingly, broke any rules or regulations. However my trend of thought has now changed with all of the imposed regulations being inflected on the recreational fisherman. I will now use all and any bait or baits that are available to me. It is definitely worth taking the chance. I fish mainly for fluke, Im tired of throwing back fish that are 1 inch or less considered legal, whereas if the commerical boat gets that same fish, it is allright to keep. When you spend $ 100.00 to go fishing and have to throw back almost everything you catch, its time to rethink the situation. And yes, I have caught more then my share of large fish to keep over the years. My new boat is coming soon, and monies are now set aside for fines if any are imposed on me. Life is good.Now to answer your question about still using the bait you found out is illegal, keep using it,if you dont, that fish you would have caught will be in the commerical net, after all, we have to feed the world, even the countries who would love to see us perish.
I understand how you feel - I hope you don’t get caught! Maybe all your fish will be legal size from now on - but I doubt it. Mine sure aren’t.