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I was using blue gills as bait out at Lake Wateree and a game warden told me that using bluegills as live bait for game fish is illegal. Is that true? I've read the SC DNR regulations multiple times and there's actually a paragraph that describes it as legal. Anyone have any additional info on this? Thanks.
Now you've got me thinking because I thought we could use them as long as they were caught in the same body of water.
Sent from my VS501 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
If your catfishing,I think they are legal. any other fish is game fish, catfish are not Game fish.thats the way I understand it.
If blue gill are classified as game fish, they would not be legal for bait in most states.
No game fish may be used as bait to catch fish recreationally except for bream (excluding redbreast). This is copied and pasted from SCDNR regulations.
That's exactly what I read too. I just wanted to make sure everyone else saw it that way too. From that paragraph, it clearly states that bluegill is legal as bait. Well, to all my fellow SC fishermen, you might want to let the wardens know that it is legal. I'll surely do that too. I wasn't too sure the last time I talked to the warden so I didn't want to bring it up, but it's clearly legal so I will mention it when the situation comes up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Winchester
Seems I read that if they were caught by hook and line they could be used. :dono Who knows what the way it would be determined in court. I know you better not use a cast net to get them or any game fish. LOL
Back when I jug fished (30 years ago) I was told that no live bait could be used for catfishing in SC.....and that meant bream. The laws could have changed since then but it used to be illegal to use a bream as bait other than as cutbait. ANY gamefish in Ga can be used as cutbait for catfish as long as you don't exceed the limit on those game fish. Live gamefish can also be used. When I'm crappie fishing I always save some smaller crappie to use as cutbait when I know I'm going catfishing.
You are right so many changes over the years. I don't have a current regulation here at home but I better check for myself and see if they outlawed anything that I do while fishing or hunting. I'd get a ticket for picking my seat probably with my luck. :Rofl
According to the current regulations bream may be used as bait but must be caught with hook and line (page 18 of rules and regs under " Methods and Devices")
This was the exact conclusion I came to, as long as it was caught with a hooked worm on a fishing pole. Thanks for all the input. I take it the game warden may have misinterpreted the regulations. In fact, I messaged the game warden too, and they initially sent me to section 50-13-665 and 675 to show that bream was only allowed as cut bait for non-game fish. I told them to look at section 50-13-10 under "live baits" where bream was also included in that section as live bait. They seemed dumbfounded, and said that they will contact the fisheries coordinator for clarification. From reading all the posts here, it seems we all agree that the regulation does state that bream (except for red breast) are allowed as live or dead bait when fishing for game fish. I'm not sure why the SC game warden couldn't come to the same conclusion, but I am waiting for the inland fisheries coordinator's response back on this issue.
You can use game fish in NC for catfish as cut bait, but you have to have the intact carcass. That way if you are checked, they know it was a legal fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by gabowman
Code of Laws - Title 50 - Chapter 13 - Protection Of Fish
That's the link to the SC statehouse law on freshwater fishing. In section 50-13-10 under (B) Miscellaneous definitions in (1) Live Baits: It states that bream (except for red breast) is legal under the live bait section. It looks like this section 50-13-10 was amended in 2013, so this law could be new to most people.
Didn't know goldfish were legal. I will have to check the Ga laws on that too.
Ray does it say if you have to catch them in the same body of water that you are going to use them in? ThanksSent from my VS501 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile appQuote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
Don't think it was addressed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eatmorecrappie
You're correct. It didn't address whether the bream has to be caught in the same body of water. It does require that the fish is already established in that body of water. So, I think the regulation says that you just can't introduce bream to a body of water that didn't have it beforeQuote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
how does a game warden know what kind of fish you trying to catch?
Especially me! I'm trying to catch anything that will bite. Even I don't know what I'm fishing for. :RoflQuote:
Originally Posted by uncle remus
Well, I guess if they ask you then you can tell 'em what youre fishing for. And if you haven't caught anything like me then youre legal anyway. HA!:):):)
Yes I have used them but never had any luckSent from my SM-G960U1 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile appQuote:
Originally Posted by gabowman
I know gold fish work in a pay pond for catfish. :Rofl
Typically, Law Enforcement don't particularly respond positively to being told "You're wrong". Best to really read and learn the regulations digest, then keep a copy with you. In the event of a "misunderstanding" of the regulations, you can always respectfully ask if he could show you in the regulations so "I don't make that mistake again". In the case of what SeaRay posted above, It would do no harm to show that sentence to the LEO and ask him to help you understand what that means exactly and how you're in violation.
I live in NC but the NC regulations book is very similar to SC and realistically, if you hunt and or fish for different species and in different parts of the state, much less two states, it's darn difficult to know every regulation and with a clear understanding. I doubt every game warden knows every regulation to the letter.