Is It Legal to Keep My Limit Plus My Friend’s Fish?

December 22, 2011

Question: My buddies and I fish for rockfish out of Pillar Point Harbor and are very careful about following the rules. We usually return with legal limits. However, on occasion one or more of my fishing friends decides not to take their entire catch home. When that happens I might leave the marina parking lot with my 10 fish as well as additional fish caught by other licensed fishers. I’m thinking that since we caught them legally and returned to the dock legally, we are ok. Am I right? (Bill L., Half Moon Bay)

Answer: No. You cannot ever be in possession of more than the possession limit, even if the extra fish came from another angler who caught them legally. Your buddy may only give away fish to someone who does not already have a limit in their possession. If you have your limit and then take additional fish from another angler, you may be cited for having an overlimit regardless of who gave them to you.

Bill, maybe your buddy should only keep what he wants to take home.  Just a thought.

You can do it with trout! 

This is probably the most abused violation in our sport.

This is probably the most abused violation in our sport.

Not sure why anyone would risk a ticket for RGC.

Question: does a person need to be there, physically, to claim possession of gifted fish?
Because maybe Bill caught his limit, then his buddy gifted some fish to Bill's wife (who was at home). Can Bill say "Here are my fish; and the other ones were gifted to my wife." 

Question: does a person need to be there, physically, to claim possession of gifted fish?
Because maybe Bill caught his limit, then his buddy gifted some fish to Bill's wife (who was at home). Can Bill say "Here are my fish; and the other ones were gifted to my wife."

Answer: No. You cannot ever be in possession of more than the possession limit...