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Something Fishy Going Ony

#1
Zinjanthropos Offline
I really don't know what the law is for what I'm about to ask for Ontario Canada but for you who might know or any non Canucks, in your country/state/province is it against the law to encourage someone to break a law? Case in point: I was invited today to partake in a fishing tournament near the end of August. Tournament is an unsanctioned event being organized by a local neighbor. There is an entry fee and the winner, the one who catches 5 fish that weigh the most receives a cash prize. All contestants will be invited to feast on all the caught fish at the end. It is basically a catch and then eat competition. One problem.....

The target species is walleye or pickerel as we call it in Canada. Oh they are in season all right but one is only allowed to keep what their licence permits and the fish that are caught can only be kept if they are between 14 & 20 inches long. It's called a slot size and  everything outside the parameters goes back in the water asap.  Two types of fishing licences here, Conservation which allows for 1 walleye per day and Sportsman which allows 4 in a day. So keeping five for weighing and eating would be against law in both situations as well as keeping any fish not between 14-20". These are fragile fish, so even if you have a boat equipped with a 'live well' the odds are the fish will die anyways. 

My question asks if the organizer could be charged for inciting unlawful activity. Obviously if caught by Fisheries wardens the fisherman will be fined according to the law (Expensive).
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#2
C C Offline
Curiously, tournaments sanctioned by the Northern Ontario Walleye Trail permit a limit of six walleye. The 2018 Ontario Fishing Regulations-PDF also has six posted for walleye, but warns: "Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone". So I guess any deviations over the 20 zones potentially accounts for the conflict between four and six fish. (Walleye Limit …What’s That? - 2011)

Stoney Lake's 2017 Combo tournament had a limit of five fish; but it's of course a mix of walleye and bass rather than only the former (Stoney Lake Combo Tournament Rules). Whereas the 2018 Rainy River Walleye Tournament has the four limit: 2 persons per boat, each only allowed to keep two fish.

Setting aside the issue of endorsing poaching in its zone, I take it than an unregistered walleye tournament in Ontario in and of itself is not illegal, or decisions would be simpler here. A couple of years ago in Michigan, for instance, it suddenly became illegal to have bass tournaments that were not registered to that state's Department of Natural Resources. Question#4 of the FAQs is specifically about reporting suspected unregistered bass tournaments and illegal fishing to the state's Poaching Hotline.

~
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#3
Zinjanthropos Offline
Quote:Curiously, tournaments sanctioned by the Northern Ontario Walleye Trail permit a limit of six walleye. The 2018 Ontario Fishing Regulations-PDF also has six posted for walleye, but warns: "Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone". So I guess any deviations over the 20 zones potentially accounts for the conflict between four and six fish. (Walleye Limit …What’s That? - 2011)

I'm in Zone 17. The walleye limit is 4 for Sportsman licence and 1 if Conservation. The limit is a combination of Walleye and Sauger, a similar species. Plus there is a slot size which is actually between 13.8 and 19.7 ". For the unfamiliar, a Sportsman licence costs more than a Conservation. If over 65 or under 18 (not quite sure, may be under 16) years of age you don't need a licence. I do know that if 65 you are considered to have a Conservation licence. 

I just get tired of the ignorant, those who feel the laws don't pertain to them. Personally I release everything I catch, as do many. Personally I feel as if catch & release angling is sometimes futile or playing right into the hands of those who don't, including unsanctioned tournament competitors. There just aren't enough enforcement officers to patrol the areas (gov't budget cuts). However the ignorant are plenty stupid sometimes and get caught after posting recent fish pics on social media. Anonymous tips also help police the wrongdoers.
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