R
r_dawg1021
Process:
- Catch the fish
- Take photo and be proud
- Bonk
- Bleed out (This is where I get fuzzy)
- Cut gill to gill and let blood commence
- Throw in bag
- Put on ice in truck
- Continue fishing
- Go home and fillet
- Post a photo report at OFF. (Thanks Anatoliy)
Another option is to fillet while your still on the river and dispose of the guts and carcass into the river. This has a couple benefits. The river will greatly benefit with a decomposing fish in the river. Also you will benefit with not having to make a mess in the kitchen while cleaning and filleting the fish at home. Just make sure to look behind you and make sure there isn't a game cop before you toss the carcass in the river. Stupid rule, and it's not even enforced fully.
Umm...guys...in the Oregon Reg book, on page 10 under General restrictions...it reads as follows:
"The following activities are UNlawful"...
"15. Dispose of a dead animal (fish) carcasses, or parts thereof, in Oregon waters."
So according to the 2103 regs, it is NOT legal to dump any part of a fish back into the water. If this rule has changed; is that information available online?
excellent post Eugene1, it is worth noting that they narrowly defined when it is allowed as follows:
{ + (b)(A) In a prosecution under this subsection, it is a
defense that: (meaning if (i), (ii), and (iii) conditions are met, you are OK)
(i) The dead animal carcass that is discarded is a fish
carcass;
(ii) The person returned the fish carcass to the water from
which the person caught the fish; and
(iii) The person retained proof of compliance with any
provisions regarding angling prescribed by the State Fish and
Wildlife Commission pursuant to ORS 496.162.
(B) As used in this paragraph, 'fish carcass' means entrails,
gills, head, skin, fins and backbone. + }
item (iii) would make it important to always retain the adipose fin region, even if you fillet the fish and discard almost everything else, so as to identify native or hatchery to prove you correctly identified it on your tag. this would apply even in locations where both native and hatchery are OK to retain. and for salmon, I would think it best to also retain the head and tail as best proof of species..and length would be necessary as proof of jack/adult status, so I would only gut any jack and leave the head and tail on.
Net em. Bonk em. Bleed em. Tag em..
I cut nice fillets with the propper setup at home. I wouldnt be hackin on the bank.
It's legal to gut the fish and chuck the guts in the wateer.
It's not legal to fillet, or otherwise mutilate the fish in the field.
That's my understanding, anyway.
It's nice the regs are so straightforward, eh?