cleaning fish on the ice.

[Guest Slowey]

when are you allowed to clean fish at the ice shack and when do you have to leave them whole? we got a visit from the C.O.'s this weekend and they told us that we were not able to clean the fish until we are home. just wondering what the rules are here because i can not see making people leve the fish whole for 3 days if they are staying at the shack for the weekend.

[Guest MNR]

ANSWER

The answer to your question can be found on page 9 of the 2010 Recreational Fishing Summary. For your convenience I have included below an excerpt from the summary. I feel this will provide you with a clear answer to your question, and explain the requirement to ensure ease of species identification and fish numbers in your possession, along with the requirement to ensure fish can be readily measured if taken from a lake where a size limit is in effect.

Additional tips regarding the packaging of your cleaned fish can be found on page 9 of the 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary.

TRANSPORTING SPORT FISH IN ONTARIO

Anglers need to ensure they are transporting fish in compliance with the regulations, which are designed to protect fisheries resources. The fish that you catch and keep may be cleaned. However, please remember that fish taken from waterbodies where size limits are in effect must be readily measurable at all times, unless the fish are:

• Being prepared for immediate consumption

• Prepared at an overnight accommodation for storage

• Being transported on the water from a temporary overnight accommodation to your residence and you are not engaged in sport fishing

• Being transported overland.

In Northwerstern Ontario, there are size limits for walleye, northern pike, and brook trout on all lakes (except those that are stocked). Zones 4,56 have size limits on lake trout as well as those species listed above.

In addition, when packaging fish you must ensure that a Conservation Officer can easily determine:

• The number of fish in your possession

• The species of fish in your possession. This may require leaving a large patch of skin, the head, or some other identifying feature depending on the species of fish (e.g. Lake whitefish vs Lake herring).