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Sometimes fishermen rant and rave about the stipulations put on fishing. They wish that they could fish anywhere, any time, and catch as many fish as they want.
While that was acceptable during the times of mountain men such as Jeremiah Johnson, times have changed. Laws have been created to protect the fish from extinction, to protect their habitats, and yet still provide an enjoyable experience for fishermen.
Fishermen are required to get a fishing license. However, states vary their regulations for licenses for children. It’s best to check with your state’s Wildlife and Game commission to see if your young children need to buy one.
There are limits on how many fish of a certain species you can catch in one day. Usually a beginning and stopping date is set for the fishing season. There are limits on the size of fish that you can catch and on how many fishing lines and hooks you are allowed to use. Even the type of tackle and fishing method is regulated.
There are several things that you can do to help the fish and game department do their job. If you catch a fish that is tagged, report this to the proper agency. (It is most likely identified on the tag) If you don’t want to eat the fish yet you still want to fish, simply catch the fish and then immediately release it unharmed back into the water. When you have finished fishing, make sure you leave your fishing area cleaner than you found it. Pick up your trash. Properly dispose of the guts you have removed from your fish. Make sure your campfire is out.
