Tagging Or Marking Fish

[Leech Man]

Buddy and I were talking and he mentioned that MO law states that you have to tag or mark your fish to keep them seperate. I had never heard of this as where I am from they would only check the count as to the number of fisherman. Do they enforce this or is it just another of those on the books thing. Don't want to get my butt in a jam. How do you guys mark or keep fish seperated to know who caught what. Thank's Jim

[Thunderin Gobbler]

We always either keep the fish in separate livewells or on separate stringers. Of course that's on the rare occasion that I actually catch any keepers. That should take care of the problem, however I have heard of an agent or two that would write you up for not labeling them. I think these agents don't have anything better to do, or just don't care in the first place.

[zarraspook]

Buddy and I were talking and he mentioned that MO law states that you have to tag or mark your fish to keep them seperate. I had never heard of this as where I am from they would only check the count as to the number of fisherman. Do they enforce this or is it just another of those on the books thing. Don't want to get my butt in a jam. How do you guys mark or keep fish seperated to know who caught what. Thank's Jim

Most boats have 2 live wells and that is separate ...

I only use one live well and I have 15 brass "safety pin" and who ever catches the second fish uses the pins for their fish...

I "think" it is like a lot of laws/rules ... They are not going to stop you only to check for separated fish but, it is one of the "add on charges" to prove(?) that you are "chronic" violator.....

[straw hat]

Both of our live wells are marked with individual names. Our stringers also have our names on them. We always tie up our fish down stream of where we are fishing. Fish on a stringer release large amounts of fear pheromones and can turn off and repeal fish in the immediate area. With both stringers usually side by side we have labeled them just to be safe.

[Dutch]

Yes it is the law and yes it is inforced. I have been checked several times and the agent would take all of the fish out and count/measure them.

When I had a boat with one livewell and was keeping fish to eat with another person in the boat, who ever was not running the trolling motor clipped a spot on a fin with side cutters before he/she put a fish in the livewell.

The trolling motor operator had enough to do without the extra effort. That kept the fish identifiable to any and all lookers.

[powerdive]

I understand the reasoning, but not necessarily the reason. When 2 or 3 people fish together they usually function as a team, and divide up the fish they keep between them at the end of the day, within their limits. If you have 3 valid licenses onboard, and 3 people actively fishing, you should be able to put 3 limits in the well, no questions asked, rather than penalizing people who may not be as proficient as their partner, and vice versa. How many fish do guides catch for their clients?

Of course, if someone dies in the boat while fishing, then you've got a REAL Conservation problem with marked fish.

Sorry, I think it's unnecessary governmental bullheadedness. Obviously, I'm a deviant antisocial scofflaw criminal.

[watermen]

You're not a criminal powerdive you just grew up where deer hunting is a group affair. I put fish together and if I'm seen handing a rod to one of my kids and they reel it in I put it in their limit. It is a unique law, but I saw it enforced last weekend at a troutpark kids fishing day. The guy didn't heed the first warning so he got a ticket in front of his three year old who was excited to reel the fish in she just couldn't cast or hook the fish. I felt sorry for both of them and i'm a by the book kind of guy. I always know I'll have representation though if the bed is empty in the morning I'm assured I'll be bailed out and defended of any alleged transgression. The kids would be sorely missed as well I'm sure. It is just one of those regional differences that doesn't really hold up to alot of thought. Never tried the slow death rig we always just put a wobble glow ahead of the hook and called her good. Have to get some bent hooks nd tr it if they're real finicky. going to sacajewea in 10 days they're starting to get heated up. Keep up the good walleye tips picky fishing is catching on, and it's warm down here.

[luv2fish]

We usually put our fish on ice as we catch them. We either cut off a fin or put them on a stringer in the ice chest. I don't think group limits are a good thing myself.Sorta like buying your wife a deer tag so you can kill more deer.

[Dutch]

We usually put our fish on ice as we catch them. We either cut off a fin or put them on a stringer in the ice chest. I don't think group limits are a good thing myself.Sorta like buying your wife a deer tag so you can kill more deer.

So true so true. I have fished with a bunch of people who couldn't catch 5 fish before they died no matter how good they were biting. If they can't catch them then they should buy them if they want fish to eat.

I don't personally know of any guides in today's world who even fish while they have clients in the boat, though I am sure there are some out there.

[straw hat]

Just a note for any young fisherman reading this string. Clipping the fins works BUT be sure NOT to clip any off the tail fin. This shortens the fish and the agent may give you a ticket for being under the length limit. Clipping the dorsal of anal fin would be better.