Thread: length limit scenario question

say you hook a king that is obviously over the 24 inch limit until it gets sharked and you end up with 22 inches of fish. is that legal to keep?

Ask the shark :shark

;-) LOL :

:-\ I'll get back to ya...

... a quick response from the Chief! :headbang:

I believe the officer would use their best discretion on the totality of the circumstances.
How many fish does the angler already have, and does it appear they generally fish within the law and things like that.
They also recognize the species well enough to determine if it would have more than likely been legal.

Major Scott Bannon
Chief Enforcement Officer
Alabama Marine Resources

251-861-2882 (Office)

YOU DA MAN PIER#r !!!!!!!!

[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=3015.msg27451#msg27451 date=1364573716]
... a quick response from the Chief! :headbang:

I believe the officer would use their best discretion on the totality of the circumstances.
How many fish does the angler already have, and does it appear they generally fish within the law and things like that.
They also recognize the species well enough to determine if it would have more than likely been legal.

Major Scott Bannon
Chief Enforcement Officer
Alabama Marine Resources

251-861-2882 (Office)

[/quote]

thank you very much. so technically, it wouldn't be legal. at the officer's discretion, and if y'all's officers are like ours, it most likely wouldn't be written up. i have never had a bad experience with a wildlife officer and do all i can to stay within the law.

Yes, while TECHNICALLY it may be a 'short' fish, the officer will cut most any law-abiding citizen some slack (at his discretion).
:yippee:

Now IF that citizen had other violations (like say no expired license, or two intact king mackerel) or was being a general 'butthole' toward the officer, then the officer could use that (with his discretion) plus any other violation he may observe to "nail him to the jailhouse floor!" oke:

8)