Prawn Star
Active Member
These styrofoam coolers in a cardboard box are available at most tackle stores. I have used them several times with Wesjet with no probs.
Halibut Transporting for out of Towners 2013
- Thread starter the fog ducker
- Start date
sir-vivor
Well-Known Member
Wow, fish have a tougher time traveling dead then we do alive LOL
I travel with fish 2-3 times a year between BC and Sask with Westjet and never a problem with vacume packing it and putting some ice (not dry ice .... thats a no-no) in a cooler. Before we got vacume packing machine , just froze the walleye in baggies and put that in a cooler and good to go with Westjet (and come to think of it Air Canada too) . Even with canned salmon (jars) no problems.
Also was always sent as bagage, never as carry on , dont know about that !
Good Luck !
I travel with fish 2-3 times a year between BC and Sask with Westjet and never a problem with vacume packing it and putting some ice (not dry ice .... thats a no-no) in a cooler. Before we got vacume packing machine , just froze the walleye in baggies and put that in a cooler and good to go with Westjet (and come to think of it Air Canada too) . Even with canned salmon (jars) no problems.
Also was always sent as bagage, never as carry on , dont know about that !
Good Luck !
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It's so much easier for me when I fish out of Neah Bay. I buy a Canadian license, phone in when I cross the border near Swiftsure, catch a hali, go back to the dock on the state side, fillet and vacuum pack 1-2 person portions. I understand the logic of not transporting the fish in pieces when one is on the water, but IMHO, if the DFO can't enforce the regs on the water, the likelihood of them enforcing them appropriately off the water is slim. This reg seems like a lot of effort for the honest fishermen just to allow a rare enforcement situation to catch a dishonest fisherman.
Red Monster
Well-Known Member
What a pile of crap.
And your point? I buy the Canadian license in Canada. Once I'm stateside, the rules of transport are those in the states.
The fish will be whole until I'm out of Canada. I'm not sure how those requirements will follow me after I hit the dock in the U.S. Who will enforce the Canadian packaging requirements between the dock in Neah Bay and my home N of Seattle?
Regardless though, the packaging requirements for those in Canada seem a bit crazy to me. Once you're off the water, it seems to me to make a lot more sense to allow you to package the fish for your most convenient use. If the DFO didn't catch you doing something illegal on the water or as you returned to the dock, the likelihood of the DFO catching you with something illegal in transport is low. When you weigh that likelihood against the extra effort/pain caused to those who are obeying the law, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
GLG
Well-Known Member
2013 Halibut package rules
Well that link did not work let me try this then...
grind...grind....grind...
Nope that didn't work either...
Sorry folks ... got a PDF with the new package rules for the new season but I can seem to download it here.
I'm sure it will be posted on the DFO website at some point....
GLG
Well that link did not work let me try this then...
grind...grind....grind...
Nope that didn't work either...
Sorry folks ... got a PDF with the new package rules for the new season but I can seem to download it here.
I'm sure it will be posted on the DFO website at some point....
GLG
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scott craven
Well-Known Member
Fishers are reminded that it is a violation to have
any fish in your possession that is caught while
recreationally fishing that has been skinned, cut,
packed or otherwise dealt with in such a manner
that the species, number, and length of the fish
cannot be readily determined.
Regulations require that where size limits apply to any
fish caught while fishing recreationally, it must remain
in a condition that the size of the fish may be readily
measured. Possession of fish that are not readily
measurable, if inspected by a fishery officer
constitutes a violation of the regulations
GLG
Well-Known Member
copy and pasted from the PDF....
Packaging for Transport
Any halibut that you catch may be left whole, may have the head removed, or may be filleted as noted below.
Halibut may be packaged by a registered fish processing establishment. Some lodges are registered and provide this service and most coastal communities have certified establishments that also offer this service.
Filleting
Halibut that are too large for your cooler may be filleted for transport however some care must be taken to ensure that the fish you possess can be readily measured if inspected by a fishery officer.
Once filleted you should have no more than seven pieces from each halibut including the one whole fillet with the tail and pectoral fin attached.
To remove the fillets so that you can comply with the maximum length requirement remove the top (dorsal) fillets first.
Remove the bottom (ventral) fillet from one side. This leaves you the last remaining fillet still attached, the backbone, tail, and the pectoral fin on the side opposite to where the first ventral fillet was removed.
You must retain the pectoral fin and the tail attached to the last fillet. Beginning at the pectoral fin, start to remove the fillet towards the tail as you normally would.
Once near the end of the fillet, cut through the spine above the tail being careful to leave the skin facing you at the tail attached.
When you have cut through the spine you can cut through the flesh at the end of the fillet down to the skin without cutting it through which then will act like a hinge allowing the tail to be folded under the fillet for transport. This will allow the length of your catch to be readily measured.
The dorsal fillets and the fillet without the tail and pectoral fin may each be cut into two pieces for ease of storage until you arrive at your ordinary residence.
Keep the pieces of each fillet together in its own bag.
The ventral fillet that has the tail and pectoral fin attached must remain in one piece. Should you make a mistake during this procedure on removal of this last fillet, retain the pieces from it and keep them together in a separate bag so that they may be inspected if required.
Fillet pieces that are frozen must be frozen separately so that each piece may be measured if required.
Avoid cutting fish into smaller pieces. The regulation states that the fish you possess must be readily measureable to determine that it is in compliance where size limits apply. You are responsible to comply with this requirement.
Packaging for Transport
Any halibut that you catch may be left whole, may have the head removed, or may be filleted as noted below.
Halibut may be packaged by a registered fish processing establishment. Some lodges are registered and provide this service and most coastal communities have certified establishments that also offer this service.
Filleting
Halibut that are too large for your cooler may be filleted for transport however some care must be taken to ensure that the fish you possess can be readily measured if inspected by a fishery officer.
Once filleted you should have no more than seven pieces from each halibut including the one whole fillet with the tail and pectoral fin attached.
To remove the fillets so that you can comply with the maximum length requirement remove the top (dorsal) fillets first.
Remove the bottom (ventral) fillet from one side. This leaves you the last remaining fillet still attached, the backbone, tail, and the pectoral fin on the side opposite to where the first ventral fillet was removed.
You must retain the pectoral fin and the tail attached to the last fillet. Beginning at the pectoral fin, start to remove the fillet towards the tail as you normally would.
Once near the end of the fillet, cut through the spine above the tail being careful to leave the skin facing you at the tail attached.
When you have cut through the spine you can cut through the flesh at the end of the fillet down to the skin without cutting it through which then will act like a hinge allowing the tail to be folded under the fillet for transport. This will allow the length of your catch to be readily measured.
The dorsal fillets and the fillet without the tail and pectoral fin may each be cut into two pieces for ease of storage until you arrive at your ordinary residence.
Keep the pieces of each fillet together in its own bag.
The ventral fillet that has the tail and pectoral fin attached must remain in one piece. Should you make a mistake during this procedure on removal of this last fillet, retain the pieces from it and keep them together in a separate bag so that they may be inspected if required.
Fillet pieces that are frozen must be frozen separately so that each piece may be measured if required.
Avoid cutting fish into smaller pieces. The regulation states that the fish you possess must be readily measureable to determine that it is in compliance where size limits apply. You are responsible to comply with this requirement.
Check pages 12 and 98 in the WDFW fishing regs and be able to document when and where your Canadian fish were taken. Combining Canadian and US harvest can get dicey if you are in possession, in the field, of more than 2 fish. I wouldn't be fishing both jurisdictions on the same trip/day without landing one or the other first.
From my read, if you are going to claim Canadian fish you should give serious thought to meeting their transport requirements. No telling which agency you might run into on the water or on land - DFO, USCG, WDFW, Clallam County, USFWS, NOAA....all have jurisdiction at one or more locations along your route.
If you get stopped in WA and are claiming Canadian halibut, you have to be able to prove size and species pursuant to the Canadian rules.
Fishers are reminded that it is a violation to have
any fish in your possession that is caught while
recreationally fishing that has been skinned, cut,
packed or otherwise dealt with in such a manner
that the species, number, and length of the fish
cannot be readily determined.
Regulations require that where size limits apply to any
fish caught while fishing recreationally, it must remain
in a condition that the size of the fish may be readily
measured. Possession of fish that are not readily
measurable, if inspected by a fishery officer
constitutes a violation of the regulation.
If fishing out of Neah Bay, don't forget about the Canadian closures and depending on where you are fishing, you might need the paper license. The electronic license won't suffice.
From my read, if you are going to claim Canadian fish you should give serious thought to meeting their transport requirements. No telling which agency you might run into on the water or on land - DFO, USCG, WDFW, Clallam County, USFWS, NOAA....all have jurisdiction at one or more locations along your route.
If you get stopped in WA and are claiming Canadian halibut, you have to be able to prove size and species pursuant to the Canadian rules.
Fishers are reminded that it is a violation to have
any fish in your possession that is caught while
recreationally fishing that has been skinned, cut,
packed or otherwise dealt with in such a manner
that the species, number, and length of the fish
cannot be readily determined.
Regulations require that where size limits apply to any
fish caught while fishing recreationally, it must remain
in a condition that the size of the fish may be readily
measured. Possession of fish that are not readily
measurable, if inspected by a fishery officer
constitutes a violation of the regulation.
If fishing out of Neah Bay, don't forget about the Canadian closures and depending on where you are fishing, you might need the paper license. The electronic license won't suffice.
Thanks for finding my prediction Craven it appears I was correct. It's a bit confusing that you added that next bit though.
I predicted you can cut your over the slot fillets in half. the way I read it you can cut 3/4 fillets in half and the 4th you can break at the tail and fold it in half. The document says if you make a mistake (like cutting the 4th piece in half) just keep all the pieces so it can be measured. Sounds reasonable to me.
I predicted you can cut your over the slot fillets in half. the way I read it you can cut 3/4 fillets in half and the 4th you can break at the tail and fold it in half. The document says if you make a mistake (like cutting the 4th piece in half) just keep all the pieces so it can be measured. Sounds reasonable to me.
scott craven
Well-Known Member
bigbruce
Crew Member
Avoid cutting fish into smaller pieces. The regulation states that the fish you possess must be readily measureable to determine that it is in compliance where size limits apply. You are responsible to comply with this requirement.
This part of the process gives my wife and I big problems. Hoping someone might have a suggestion. We spend at least a month at Alder Bay each summer and have a small freezer outside our fifth wheel. We like to freeze our catch as soon as possible after catching it but don't want big pieces as usually it is just the two of us eating it. I've so far been taking the "to hell with it" approach and cutting and packaging into filets that suit us but certainly wouldn't suit the fisheries folks if they ever inspected our freezer. We do make the 3 hour run home from time to time and transfer the catch, but still...
So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how one might be able to meet the requirements yet still be able to freeze the fish for transport and still be able to get smaller filets once home?
This part of the process gives my wife and I big problems. Hoping someone might have a suggestion. We spend at least a month at Alder Bay each summer and have a small freezer outside our fifth wheel. We like to freeze our catch as soon as possible after catching it but don't want big pieces as usually it is just the two of us eating it. I've so far been taking the "to hell with it" approach and cutting and packaging into filets that suit us but certainly wouldn't suit the fisheries folks if they ever inspected our freezer. We do make the 3 hour run home from time to time and transfer the catch, but still...
So, does anyone have any suggestions as to how one might be able to meet the requirements yet still be able to freeze the fish for transport and still be able to get smaller filets once home?
Rob H
Active Member
bigbuce: We will cut down to the skin on larger filets but not through. Put some saran wrap or equivalent into the cut and package the whole filet as required. When you get home you should be able to snap the frozen fish apart at your cuts then re-package in the sizes you wanted without needing to thaw the fish or cut with a bandsaw.
...Rob
...Rob
bigbruce
Crew Member
Fishtofino - but you can have a couple of filets cut between the fin and the tail - as long as they are numbered - right?
Rob - good suggestion! We'll give that one a try this summer.
Has anyone actually ever been stopped while transporting fish, or had a fisheries officer go through their cooler or freezer at their tent, trailer or lodge room?
Rob - good suggestion! We'll give that one a try this summer.
Has anyone actually ever been stopped while transporting fish, or had a fisheries officer go through their cooler or freezer at their tent, trailer or lodge room?
Dogbreath
Well-Known Member
No never there just aren't enough CO's to mount any kind of intensive program to check people as it is there are random checks.
But I have seen DFO check someone's fish in a lodge freezer.
One year @ Shearwater a guy who was living in his boat on the dock was bragging in the bar about all the fish he'd killed and sure enough just as we were leaving DFO came down to the dock and asked to check the freezer-a courtesy call since I'm sure they could just walk in.
They knew what they were looking for, found it and the guy ended up with his boat-a big welded aluminum-chained to the dock for months until he appeared in court can't remember what he was fined but it was serious.
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spring fever
Well-Known Member
I have-there have been a couple of big pull-overs with cops and DFO at the roberts lake?rest stop north of campbell river. Very interested in the 36 crab we had in the live well-measured 3 at random-looked in our cooler-did a count-very professional and polite!
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