I agree with all of you that the regulations serve a purpose and we should obey the law. But I'll play devil's advocate here. If you and I are fishing in California we are each allowed to take 5 trout. If you catch 5 and I catch 5, we've obeyed the letter of the law. What if you catch 10 and I don't catch any? We've still just taken a total of 10 fish, which we're allowed to do. Does it really matter which of us caught them? The purpose of the regulation is still served. I'm still on Mike's side here, but it is something to think about. Isn't it?

I agree with all of you that the regulations serve a purpose and we should obey the law. But I'll play devil's advocate here. If you and I are fishing in California we are each allowed to take 5 trout. If you catch 5 and I catch 5, we've obeyed the letter of the law. What if you catch 10 and I don't catch any? We've still just taken a total of 10 fish, which we're allowed to do. Does it really matter which of us caught them? The purpose of the regulation is still served. I'm still on Mike's side here, but it is something to think about. Isn't it?

Spirit27,

You ask "Does it really matter"?

First off, catch limits are written "Per Angler". If I were a fisherman who relied on my buddy putting fish on my stringer, am I really a fisherman?? Or just a fish collector? A true Sportsman will obey the limits.. maybe put his buddy in his spot after catching his limit and help him to catch his own fish.. A true Sportsman will share the hot spot for shared success, not just share the reward.. A true Sportsman won't bend the rules just because he/she had a good day..

Catch limits are set with the realization that not all anglers will achieve a Limit every day.. If every angler bends the rules, then as a collective group will over harvest..

You might want to try asking a Warden that just observed you catching 10 and putting 5 on your buddies stringer, "What does it Matter"?

Additionally, this was a recreational fishing trip described.. Is was not fishing for survival... Mike was uncomfortable with the situation because his heart told him it was wrong...

Yes... IT MATTERS!

Yes! It matters!

I recently had a dispute with one of my neighbor friends about following the fishing regulations versus poaching. We had gone fishing a couple of times and only caught some dink trout so we released them. We went on one more trip together and caught many good size trout 12-16” on a nymph and indicator rig. I released all but one fish but my fishing buddy was keeping all of his fish and was soon over the legal limit. When we left the fishing spot he said “remember tell the game warden that some of these are yours so I don’t get a ticket”. I didn’t immediately say anything because he was driving and we were about 60 miles from home. (I don’t like hitchhiking)!

He came by about a week later and wanted me to fish with him again and I refused. He asked why and I told him that I didn’t want to fish with him because he didn’t follow regulations and asked me to lie to a game warden. He made several excuses about how Fish and Game sets unreasonable limits and that he didn’t believe anything they said. It was obvious that he hates being regulated. I replied that everything he said didn’t matter because the bottom line is that he broke the law and tried to make me an accomplice. He then stormed off mumbling and hasn’t spoken or even looked at me since.

My father raised me to follow the fishing regulations, release small fish and to be courteous to wardens and other fisherman. I had a similar experience with a friend when I was a kid. My father told me “well if he doesn’t follow the rules then don’t fish with him anymore”. I also believe that wildlife management is necessary especially these days when there are many more hunters and fisherman competing for the resources.

What is your opinion?

Spirit27,

You ask "Does it really matter"?

First off, catch limits are written "Per Angler". If I were a fisherman who relied on my buddy putting fish on my stringer, am I really a fisherman?? Or just a fish collector? A true Sportsman will obey the limits.. maybe put his buddy in his spot after catching his limit and help him to catch his own fish.. A true Sportsman will share the hot spot for shared success, not just share the reward.. A true Sportsman won't bend the rules just because he/she had a good day..

Catch limits are set with the realization that not all anglers will achieve a Limit every day.. If every angler bends the rules, then as a collective group will over harvest..

You might want to try asking a Warden that just observed you catching 10 and putting 5 on your buddies stringer, "What does it Matter"?

Additionally, this was a recreational fishing trip described.. Is was not fishing for survival... Mike was uncomfortable with the situation because his heart told him it was wrong...

Yes... IT MATTERS!

Yes! It matters!