Using parts of game fish

[speckmaster 114]

Gord Pyzer wrote an article about using part of a pike belly for bait. I thought it was illegal to use parts of game fish for bait??

[Bobber Down 921]

Can you provide a link to the article? I as well as other members would be interested in reading it.

 

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits the wastage of fish flesh which is suitable for human consumption (by the person who has taken the fish). So, in general terms, a person may use the “parts” of fish (tails, fins, skin, eyes, etc.) as bait, but anglers should not use entire fish they have harvested, other than baitfish, as bait.

One alternative to using angler-caught fish is to buy fish from a commercial fisher or someone else who can legally sell yellow perch; the “flesh wastage” provision does not apply to fish that have been purchased.

Mark Robbins
Provincial Enforcement Specialist
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

 

This would also apply to Walleye Cheeks as bait because the cheeks are a well known edible part of the fish. You are legally only allowed 4 or 8 cheeks depending on your possession limit.

 

"Parts of a fish constitute “a fish” therefore, you must consume all of the edible flesh in order to take it out of your possession limit. An individual would not be able to save up more cheeks than what would correspond with the total possession limit."