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Bob17x
Minnow
Username: Bob17x

Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2008

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Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 - 6:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have been fishing Lake Arrowhead near Wichita Falls, TX, for a while, and taken quite a few crappie and white bass there.

I fished with my boat on a Friday evening and caught five crappie before meeting some friends at a campsite on another part of the lake. We were going to camp the night and fry fish the next day. I filleted the crappie and stored them in a cooler.

The next day, everyone was tired and decided to leave after breakfast. Wanting to be a responsible angler and not throw away the fish, I took the cooler on board and went on to catch five more crappie before I was met by the game warden at my boat while tied up to a rig. They asked to see life jackets, licenses, etc., then searched my cooler. When they found the bag of fillets, it was like they had made a drug bust. I was completely mortified when they told me this was illegal and they were giving me a citation for it. I explained that the fish were cleaned on shore and I had no idea there could possibly be anything illegal about having cleaned fish on a boat. They said I could maybe get statements from my friends and present it to the judge.

Has anyone else ever heard of this? I was there with several friends who have fished in Texas for years who had no idea there could be anything illegal about such a harmless act.

Perhaps this will prevent someone else from being molested by the TPWD, though I'm convinced they will levy whatever fines are necessary to pay for their equipment, as if I don't already pay enough in boat registration in the most overtaxed state in the South.
Wes
Moderator
Username: Wes

Post Number: 475
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 - 8:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

yep can't have fillets on the boat. Sorry to hear you had to find out the hard way.

BTW, welcome to the ramp.
Picou
Wall Hanger
Username: Picou

Post Number: 3047
Registered: 8-2004


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Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 - 9:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Ouch... Sorry to hear that you had to find out the hard way on that rule. Wes is correct, you cannot have fillets on the boat. It's one of those that there really needs to be some form of exception for those camping. I would definately get statements from your friends and take it to the judge. It very well may save you the cost of the citation.

Welcome to the ramp...
Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish

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Charles
Moderator
Username: Charles

Post Number: 1107
Registered: 7-2004

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Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 - 9:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Welcome to the site Bob!
Gclark
Minnow
Username: Gclark

Post Number: 39
Registered: 1-2008

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Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 9:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Yep, you must be fixed to the shore before cleaning fish. A pier/dock counts as shore. Cleaned fish in a floating boat is a no no. Naughty angler.
Gary
www.mg3embroidery.com
972-415-6507

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