During my last posting, ("Should fishing guides be allowed to hook your limits?") many different opinions were expressed. Some thought that it was legal to hook and hand off your fish to another fisherman, while others thought that it's illegal to hand off a fish to another. There is no question that the current game laws and regulations are very gray or ambiguous on addressing this subject.

To protect our future sport fishing rights, we all need to become more aware of, and fully understand what our "fishing rights " really are. We also need to better understand how WDFW currently has applied the "Fishing Rules" to our sport. There is no reason why these "gray or ambiguous" areas should be allowed to continue to exist. We clearly need to identify and resolved them now, BEFORE we get cited.

Why would anyone want to wait until AFTER they had been cited before asking for a change? During my last posing, 5 "ambiguous questions" or "gray areas" concerning our fishing laws were clearly identified, but not so clearly answered legally.

On July 2, 2001, a formal request was sent by certified U.S. mail, to Mr. Bruce Bjork, Chief of WDFW Enforcement, to clarify exactly how our fish and game laws would apply to the 5 questions that were heavily discussed in the posting "Should fishing guides be allowed to hook your limits?" Examples of possible violations of the fishing rules were also given in the request. WDFW also was asked for a Legal Opinion, and what the possible maximum penalties or fines could be. To date, (July 17) I have not yet heard back from Mr. Bruce Bjork, or his staff concerning the formal request. As soon as I receive his answer, I will post the entire request and WDFW response to the 5 questions.

What fish law or regulation are you still unsure about? Maybe this BB can give us the answers we need. If we don't like what we hear, then this is a perfect opportunity and forum for us to make possible changes to the rules. We all know that fish and game laws are a must, so lets try to make them as clear as possible in the next 2001/2002 Sport Fishing Regulations Pamphlet.

Is there any "OTHER QUESTIONS" that members of this BB have concerning any other "gray or ambiguous" areas in WDFW sport fishing rules and regulations? If we can identify them now, before we may possibly be cited, or issued a citation, we could be saving ourselves hundreds of dollars in possible fines, and thousands of dollars in possible attorney fees!

What fishing regulation or rule are you unsure about?

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????




[ 07-17-2001: Message edited by: cowlitzfisherman ]