Is it legal or not to clean your catch offshore? I don’t think it is. I’d love to be able to stop off about a mile from the jetties, clean my fish, drink a victory beer, and then when I get my ride on the trailer I’m almost done other than clean up. 
22’ Wellcraft
One Motor Wonder!
gotta bring em in whole…
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
Sea School Charleston
its called “landing” your fish for a reason
stupid law for dolphin, with no size limit and a decent catch limit, i can understand with other fish
19’ Key West CC 140 Johnson
16’ War Eagle 40 Yami
12’ Alumacraft 1954 Johnson 5.5
“The charm of fishing is that, it is the pursuit of what is elusive, but attainable; a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
quote:Who's to say that I didn't go out and catch a bunch of juvenile groupers and tell the warden that I have a box full of cleaned dolphin?
Originally posted by tlreadstupid law for dolphin, with no size limit and a decent catch limit, i can understand with other fish
19’ Key West CC 140 Johnson
16’ War Eagle 40 Yami
12’ Alumacraft 1954 Johnson 5.5“The charm of fishing is that, it is the pursuit of what is elusive, but attainable; a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
And remember, before you say, “the meat looks different”, remember, I know quite a few wardens who can’t tell certain fish a part when they are whole!!!
The law states head and tail intact, right? So can you filet it?
Hold the tomato, fool!
quote:I have been pulled by upstate wardens that didn't understand tides and we almost hit docks while tied up to them. They got mad when I told them I needed to break away from their boat or we were going to collide with a dock.
Originally posted by skinneejquote:Who's to say that I didn't go out and catch a bunch of juvenile groupers and tell the warden that I have a box full of cleaned dolphin?
Originally posted by tlreadstupid law for dolphin, with no size limit and a decent catch limit, i can understand with other fish
19’ Key West CC 140 Johnson
16’ War Eagle 40 Yami
12’ Alumacraft 1954 Johnson 5.5“The charm of fishing is that, it is the pursuit of what is elusive, but attainable; a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
And remember, before you say, “the meat looks different”, remember, I know quite a few wardens who can’t tell certain fish a part when they are whole!!!
quote:So you want to leave the head and tail in tact on the fillet?
Originally posted by Turkey and SwissThe law states head and tail intact, right? So can you filet it?
Hold the tomato, fool!
I could be wrong but I believe it would be legal to fillet your catch as long as you keep the carcass with head and tail intact. I know when fishing for flounder in NC you are allowed to fillet a legal flounder for bait but must keep the carcass with head and tail intact, why would other fish be any different? Before I did it I would make absolutely sure though.
Plus it would kind of suck having a big trash bag full of rotting carcasses on the boat IMO. I have to say if it is legal I would want to get stopped just so the officer would have to go and measure all my rotten carcasses. That would be the bomb. 
I’m not saying all officers are bad but I’ve met a few that I wouldn’t piss on if they were on fire.
quote:
Originally posted by Blue_RunnerI’m not saying all officers are bad but I’ve met a few that I wouldn’t piss on if they were on fire
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>wow, that’s a strong statement there…
And the sea shall grant each man new hope as sleep brings dreams of home ~ Don Cristobol
The Morris Island Lighthouse web page
www.savethelight.org
blue runner I have to say if it is legal I would want to get stopped just so the officer would have to go and measure all my rotten carcasses. That would be the bomb.
i like ur thinkin
19’ Key West CC 140 Johnson
16’ War Eagle 40 Yami
12’ Alumacraft 1954 Johnson 5.5
“The charm of fishing is that, it is the pursuit of what is elusive, but attainable; a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
What about fishig form the bank. Land the fish and fillet it on the spot hook still in mouth.
When the man shows up and wants to take a look at your catch, he opens the cooler to find a bunch of fillets.
Hey next time wave at me with all your fingers.
I think it is illegal to mutilate fish before you bring em in. I saw it somewhere in the rules and regulations.
quote:
Originally posted by Blue_Runner I know when fishing for flounder in NC you are allowed to fillet a legal flounder for bait
“Is it legal?”
“Good, go ahead and fillet him. I want some cut bait to catch a stingray with.”
Just plain crazy…
Pillage and plunder with a 9wt and a fist full of clousers.
quote:
Originally posted by Blue_Runner I know when fishing for flounder in NC you are allowed to fillet a legal flounder for bait but must keep the carcass with head and tail intact, why would other fish be any different?
For the last time; we don’t care how you did it up North!!!
I had to say it.
quote:
Originally posted by buckwheat8282 I'll be the guy drinking Pabst on a 85 montauk with a clemson flag hangin from the stern light, going about 6 knots,. . .hopefully we'll have some ladies with us, but I think that might be wishfull thinking at this point.
My understanding is that you can still bleed and gut a fish. Something to strongly consider if you are bring home a large tuna or shark.
“Mahi-Fever”
Key West 225
Suzuki 225
Jerms and 23 - I’m glad to see my post caught your attention!
Jerms maybe this will help you understand the “crazy” aspect of using flounder strips - back in the days when things were a lot simpler in the 80’s, my grand dad bought a house on the sound at way way, I mean WAY THE F* up north at Atlantic Beach (NC) for $17,000. He would stay there for 3 months during the summers. During those 3 months each year he clammed and fished, mainly for flounder. My grand dad, grampaw as we say up here in Yankeeville NC, was a tight-wad, el-cheapo, so tight he squeaked when he walked type of fella. To my knowledge he never bought a bag of ice - he saved milk jugs to fill and put in his chest freezer, then busted em up with a hammer. To my knowledge he never bought any bait either. He knew the tides well enough so that he could motor out and use the drift as much as possible to save gas. Keeper flounder only had to be like 10" or 11" back then, so the first one always got filleted for strip baits to catch more of the cannibalistic flatties.
At any rate, he harvested enough fish and clams to completely pay for the beach house in 4 years.
And yes, some do still use flounder strips for flounder baits way up here, just as the real (emphasis on real) fishermen did back in the good old days.
Can you believe that - how “crazy” would a man have to be to do such a thing? If grampaw were here he’d surely say we were crazy for all of our high priced gadgets and equipment, buying 200 lbs of ice and Lord knows how much we spend on bait. It just doesn’t make sense when you think about it. I don’t see anyone buying a beach house these days by selling fish. Ah, maybe its because we spend all our money on bait!
Just some “crazy” stuff to think about.
How about this for “crazy” and I’m just as guilty:
Before the trip:
“Hey guys, I know its mid-march and the water temps are still in the 50’s but there is a nice weather window shaping up for an offshore run this weekend. Let’s do it!”
After the trip:
“Well, even though we got skunked it was still a great day on the water and we only spent $400 on gas and bait! Let’s do it again real soon!”
don’t worry it wont be long before we wont have to worry about filleting anything…
hope and change is on the way…
quote:
Originally posted by Blue_RunnerI could be wrong but I believe it would be legal to fillet your catch as long as you keep the carcass with head and tail intact.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Think about it this way… Let’s say that I caught 10 really nice gags and 2 undersized gags… Couldn’t I just fillet them all, cut them up into pretty chunks and keep 10 carcases on board?
A fillet does not have the head and tail in tact.