Is "cut bait" legal?

[justducky]

Forgive me if this is not the right forum for this question. I'm new here and I didn't see a specific forum for fishing rules or regulations. I'm from Michigan, and here it's popular at times to use "cut bait", such as belly meat, from legally caught fish. Fish eyes are also very popular, such as in ice fishing. I reviewed the Ontario regulations as best I could (your regulations certainly are complex), but I don't see any reference to "cut bait" being legal or not? I've sent an email to the Ministry asking the question, but I've not gotten a response. Anyone have an answer?

Thanks.


***EDIT*** Disregard this post please, as I just received an email from the MNR indicating it is legal to use any part of a legally caught fish for bait. But I'll leave this question up on the board incase anyone else is wondering.

Thanks again.

 

[NADO]

can you post the response from the MNR? I am pretty sure you are only allowed to use part of a fish that is classified as legal bait.

 

[xxxSIBxxx]

Few things I found.

"You may not use edible parts of a game fish for bait in Ontario. By using sunfish or bluegill for bait you would be wasting flesh suitable for human consumption. you may use the inedible parts of game fish left over after you clean the meat (fillet) off them. This would include the head, fins, entrails and eyes or the whole filleted carcass." - from CO

There is a page on mnr site that shows which fish you can use as baitfish called "what kinds of baitfish can I use as live bait'. I cant seem to paste on here or I would have put the page in here.

 

[drifter2k]

There is a page on mnr site that shows which fish you can use as baitfish called "what kinds of baitfish can I use as live bait'. I cant seem to paste on here or I would have put the page in here.

That page is for live bait, the OP is asking about cut bait.

 

[NADO]

I am pretty sure the same rules apply that's why I asked him to post the response from the MNR.

***EDIT*** Disregard this post please, as I just received an email from the MNR indicating it is legal to use any part of a legally caught fish for bait. But I'll leave this question up on the board incase anyone else is wondering.

Based on this comment you would be allowed to slice up a steelhead fillet and use it as bait which is definitely not the case.

 

[xxxSIBxxx]

You cant use edible parts of a game fish period.

 

[justducky]

I'm new here, and can't seem to paste the response from an email? I also tried saving it as a word doc, but can't get it to work?

 

[cork]

yeah I'm new too I tried to paste also but I guess we need a certain amount of posts before we're allowed to do that

 

[NADO]

Just paste the text....

 

[justducky]

I've literally tried it about 15 times!!! I'm no dummy...I know how to cut/paste text. I've used the little icons on the upper right to "paste", and it shows it's going to do it, then when I hit "okay"....nothing shows? I've also tried copying the text as a pdf, a jpeg, and anything else I can think of. It won't let me attach anything. Could it be because I'm new here (only joined a couple days ago)?

 

[justducky]

Okay forget it...I'm just going to re-type their response word for word...

Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, it is legal to use parts of fish that have been filleted for bait and you may use any parts of a fish that is not suitable for human consumption as bait. Ex: heart, stomach, intestines, kidneys, spleen, liver, ovaries, gills.

If you require further assistance please call the Natural Resources Information Centre at 1-800-667-1940.

Regards,

NRIC web reader - ARIS

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Natural Resources Information Centre
300 Water Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 8M5
1-800-667-1940
TTY: 1-866-686-6072
[email protected]

From the horses mouth folks...don't shoot the messenger.

 

[Knuguy]

I'm glad you cleared that up. Here's the key phrase: "..............you may use any parts of a fish that is not suitable for human consumption as bait................"

 

[salmotrutta]

I'm glad you cleared that up. Here's the key phrase: "..............you may use any parts of a fish that is not suitable for human consumption as bait................"

^ And to clear that up, it's the "parts" that are not suitable for human consumption, not the "fish", meaning you can use any of the aforementioned parts from a perch, steelhead, bass, etc., since those "parts" are not fit for human consumption (at least not typically).

 

[justducky]

I wasn't an english or journalism major, but you two are ignoring the first part of that answer....

"It is legal to use parts of fish that have been filleted for bait and...".

the AND being the key word. You're only reading the second part that refers to parts not suitable for human consumption. My read on their answer is they are saying two things...yes, you could in fact use parts of fish that have been filleted, and yes, you could use those parts not suitable for human consumption. It may help to know that my original question about using parts of fish for bait included the statement "such as belly meat". Is there some "edible" meat left on that belly skin after we fillet them? Sure there is. But is it a normally eaten part of the fish? Well, not when you fillet them. However if you simply gut a fish, and cook the entire carcass such as over a fire or a bbq, then it is possible that some of that meat which is normally left over when filleting is edible.

I realize I've opened a can of worms here. What we did last year when live bait was unavailable at our remote camp was use some strips of belly skin/meat from the carcasses of filleted fish on the hook, and it worked well. We searched the hard copy of the fishing regs that we had in camp first, and had no indication either way. So I was only trying to clarify it in case we do that again this year. As far as I'm concerned, I have my answer, and I'm going to carry a copy of the email with me this May.

 

[Knuguy]

Not to flog this to death but I think that sentence is poor English i.e that "and" is inappropriate. I think that what he meant is:

Yes, it is legal to use those parts of a fish that are not suitable for human consumption as bait. Ex: heart, stomach, intestines, kidneys, spleen, liver, ovaries, gills.

Using 'a fish' with 'are' rather than 'is' makes it clear that the phrase "not suitable for human consumption" applies to parts, not the whole fish. I don't think a different interpretation would stand up in court----at least I would not count on it.

 

[justducky]

Agree with all of you. Logically I don't see how using normally edible parts of fish for bait would be legal. Afterall, how would you EVER calculate your daily limit? What...you would have to look in your bait bucket as well and "piece" the fish back together? No, I agree with you all that believe this is not legal.

It does get gray however, if you think of my example...a whole carcass, gutted, and thrown on the grill is typically all consumed except for the fins, the bones, the head, etc. So that belly skin/meat that is left over from filleting, and I'm now cutting into little strips, could theoretically be "edible". I'm just going to assume any officer would be logical in his/her approach to this and consider the "intent" of the fisherman, and if the parts I'm using are left over from a typically filleted fish, then I'm good to go.

 

[Knuguy]

FYI

QUESTION
Bob Ekholm of Thunder Bays asks “I know it is illegal to use live yellow perch as bait in Ontario, but can perch pieces like tails, eyeballs, and fillets be used?”
ANSWER
You’re right, the Ontario fishing regulations restrict the use of live fish as bait to only listed baitfish species. That does not include live perch.
As for using perch pieces, yes you can, with some exceptions. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits the wastage of fish flesh which is suitable for human consumption (by the person who has taken the fish). So, in general terms, a person may use the “parts” of fish (tails, fins, skin, eyes, etc.) as bait, but anglers should not use entire fish they have harvested, other than baitfish, as bait.
One alternative to using angler-caught fish is to buy fish from a commercial fisher or someone else who can legally sell yellow perch; the “flesh wastage” provision does not apply to fish that have been purchased.
Please also be aware that there are areas, like Fisheries Management Zones 2, 4, and 5, where the use of dead smelt is prohibited and there are also specific waters where only artificial lures can be used, and others where only artificial flies can be used. Anglers should always consult the Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary for zone and lake-specific rules before they go fishing.
Mark Robbins
Provincial Enforcement Specialist
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
- See more at: http://www.oodmag.com/fishing/qa-can-perch-pieces-be-used-as-bait/#sthash.GHefkZnH.dpuf


http://www.oodmag.com/fishing/qa-can-perch-pieces-be-used-as-bait/