Halibut fishing today

[Whole in the Water]

UkeeDreamin are you postive that Fisheries Officers don't have the right to search your boat, cooler, truck etc. ?

Couple years ago just outside of Zeballos the DFO had a roadside check set up. There were pulling over trucks pulling boat trailers. We were waived to pull over. They asked us if we had caught and kept and fush - I said yes of course. The FO then asked us to open the back of my truck, pull out the coolers and open them up. They proceeded to pull out almost half of the fish and checked for species, size and total numbers (and ruined our nice ice packing job while they were at it.

So did they have to have a search warrant to do that, or is that part of their regular enforcement powers? I always that other then your house, they can search anywhere on your boat, truck, cooler, and campsite. How much can and what can they search for without a warrant?

[UkeeDreamin]

Very surprised to hear that. I know the FO personally who had quite a run in with 4 Alberta judges back in the late 90's when DFO regularly did road blocks and road side checks like you describe. As a result of the challenge and fuss they raised over the search, DoJ advice was that such searches require a warrant - same as a police roadside check, they have no right to search your vehicle unless they have intelligence that a crime has been committed and seizure of evidence is time sensitive ... otherwise they need a warrant.

If you would have said no to the FO's they would have had no recourse. Still, surprised it happened at all as I know DFO abandoned such things for at least a decade or so. I'm gonna contact him and chat. Just saw him the other night at a retirement party.

[bcboy]

In the summer of 2010 we were heading south from port hardy 10km down the road was COs stopping every truck towing a boat. They made us pull all our coolers and remove all the fish so they could count everything. We had no choice and they had no warrant. I think they are with in their rights to do so.

[bananas]

UkeeDreamin They have a couple co roadblocks every year coming out of Renfrew. They usually have the RCMP with them as well.

[spring fever]

They (Dfo and rcmp) had a full press roadblock aboout 10 miles north of Campbell river last year and they were going over everyone. Very polite etc. but I don't think I would have refused

[Dave S]

I don't know how it will matter? There is no way for a FO to tell whether the fish you have with you at the dock or cleaning table is your first fish in possession or your second fish. Your first fish can be as big or small as you want. The slot size is only an issue if you have a two day possession limit and FO's don't have the authority to search/inspect your possession fish, assuming it's packed away somewhere, without a warrant. That's also assuming you don't have your possession fish in your only cooler out on your boat with you or unpack it and wave it around, in which cases the FO's can inspect it. As such, not sure how it'll be beneficial for DFO to put any packaging restrictions on either fish. Also not illegal or unusual to buy or be given fish while on your trip and you can package that and transport it anyway you want. Burden of proof is on the Crown and they'd have to be able to prove that you caught two fish sport angling and are outside of the posted regs. Not sure how they'd endeavour to take that on. I guess we'll see as I wouldn't have thought they'd be crazy enough to adopt the slot limit so I'd say anything's possible.

If your into breaking the rules or lying to a FO or cop, maybe keep it to yourself. I don't think it's a good idea to encourage this sort of thing on a public forum. Hey maybe we should stash extra fish in the wheel well?

Even if you didn't catch the fish in your possession, it's still in your possession and there is a limit as you know. Saying the fish was gifted to you won't help that.

[bushwackin]

If your into breaking the rules or lying to a FO or cop, maybe keep it to yourself. I don't think it's a good idea to encourage this sort of thing on a public forum. Hey maybe we should stash extra fish in the wheel well?

Even if you didn't catch the fish in your possession, it's still in your possession and there is a limit as you know. Saying the fish was gifted to you won't help that.

Did he say he was into lying to them and breaking the rules? I think it's great for everyone to know their rights too. I'm pretty sure as well that a RCMP, FO, or a CO cannot search your truck or house or boat without permission or seeing obvious evidence that a crime is being committed.

[BlackPearl]

I think this new rule is almost a request from the lodges in the Charlottes the way I look at it...if anyone has guided up there they can probably see where I am coming from... halibut fishing with or without a guide just costs the lodges more money than if the guests were just sticking to the salmon program. Fuel, tackle, a guest in the hunt for 2 big 100 plus hali's like they see in the photos...times that by 30 other fisherman.... and all of that fish onto one helicopter/sea plane along with there limit and everything else...atleast now the manager at the lodge doesnt have to be the unofficial fisheries manager/bad guy as well. This rule doesnt affect the average local guy because we usually head home after fishing. That said, this is a another absolutely ridiculous idea by DFO...i seen whats his face in the paper recently........hes from ottawa....baby fed politician....Justin Trudeau! ...he was at uvic telling my generation to vote!! well i dont feel like voting anymore to be honest...until i start seeing more creel surveys in area 20 in march/april/may especially, money contributed to more clipped fins, and them holding there own meetings with fisherman/guides on ideas to improve fisheries for all....then I will start voting again....

I seen a post earlier about having to number ur fillets and keeping the carcus etc etc....dont even give them that idea.......thats the best crab bait guys! This rule will not last 2 seasons....they cannot afford all of the challenges in court people will demand after they get a ticket....

I am all for conservation...I want to be able to fish when i retire in 30 years...but also i like knowing that my fish has been processed properly and it didnt cost me $4000 at a grocery store for six halibut ...

Hope this post brings me luck at the Race tomorrow boys! Cheers

[River Rat]

this was posted on another thread.

http://www.mackenziefujisawa.com/New...eDFOsPower.pdf

[UkeeDreamin]

If your into breaking the rules or lying to a FO or cop, maybe keep it to yourself. I don't think it's a good idea to encourage this sort of thing on a public forum. Hey maybe we should stash extra fish in the wheel well?

Even if you didn't catch the fish in your possession, it's still in your possession and there is a limit as you know. Saying the fish was gifted to you won't help that.

Ouch!!

Dave S, where exactly in my post do I state I'm into breaking the rules, lying or encouraging that sort of thing?

My intent, and sorry if it didn't come across this way, was to point out how ridiculous the slot possession limit is from all angles. I've posted many detailed posts about the fishery science and fishery management shortcomings of the possession slot and this was intended to be on that theme - there are severe limitations to enforcing a size limit that only applies to your possession fish not the one you caught today (necessarily).

Would hope fellow fishermen would give each other the benefit of the doubt and at least seek clarification before posting allegations. But, it's an open forum and everyone's entitled to their opinion.