[WylieCat]

"...So if you are using a crappie with an 8" length limit that practice would be illegal...."

You can cut the tail off as long as the crappie is still more than 8". Just don't cut the tail off an 8" crappie....LOL!!

 

[Trackerguy]

LOL wyliecat you got that right :laugh1: do crappie really make that good of a catfish bait vs bream or shad?

 

[WylieCat]

"....do crappie really make that good of a catfish bait vs bream or shad?...."

Crappie are an excellent bait, but like any bait, they have their better times of the year. I seem to have had better luck with them in colder months for whatever reason.

 

[Flatline]

Can I resurrect this dead horse?

Can I take small bass from my private pond to a public fishery and use it as live bait? Would the officer still bust my chops because I wouldn't have a way to prove that I brought it from a private lake? I know that other states you can fish legally with undersized or otherwise illegal gamefish if you show the officer a receipt from a bait shop saying that you bought a commercially raised fish for use as bait. I know in Georgia you can do this sort of thing with trout(which normally are not allowed as live bait). Is there a similar situation here? Anyone know?

The reason I ask is I talked to a guy who lives right on the Neuse river and he caught a 45lb flathead on a 8'' bass that he brought over from a friend's pond.

 

[WylieCat]

"....Can I take small bass from my private pond to a public fishery and use it as live bait?...."

I can easily answer that.

No.

As it was explained to us by Officer Bulllins; it's all about possession.

If you read the laws, they repeatedly say, "it is illegal to possess....". They say nothing about catching or where you caught them.

You can have 6" crappie that were caught from a lake where they are legal, and if you take them to a lake where you must have 8" crappie you can be charged.

You can catch 40 bream on Lake Wylie in NC, which is legal, but if you cross into SC you could be charged with a creel limit violation.

The law is VERY CLEAR on this matter.

 

[Flatline]

Thanks Dieter. I thought something was fishy when that guy was explaining how he caught the fish. He even told me that the fish is still in his deep freezer cuz it is too big for just him to eat at once... SAD.

 

[Bryan8552]

I just e-mailed this question to the top three officers with the WRC, a colonel and two majors.

"Sir,

I frequently visit a fishing website named "catfish1.com". There's an ongoing argument there that's been taking place for years. Some of us think that it's perfectly legal to use largemouth bass and crappie as livebait and some others think that it's illegal.

Do you know of someone with the WRC who can clearly answer this question for us once and for all?

Thank you for your time,

Bryan"

Now, hopefully we can clear this up once and for all.

Here's the response from Colonel Dale Caveny.


It is legal to use bass or crappie as bait. However, they must be of legal size and be caught (for bait) by hook and line. It is illegal to use any live fish on trotlines, sethooks, or when jug fishing.

Dale Caveny
NCWRC
Division of Enforcement
1717 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699
Office 919-707-0032 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 919-707-0032 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Cell 336-309-2495 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 336-309-2495 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

 

[m slayton]

or the guys who will be taking your gear and hauling your *** to jail LOL i don't listen to the office people they can barely answer the phone , do you think they really know the laws ??? hahahaha look for the guy with a gun and hand cuffs and talk to him .

laws change from state to state and not all rules are posted or easy to find so when in doubt ASK THE MAN lol or don't do it. they can take all your gear and your truck and lock you up ... all over a fish wth

also no game fish maybe used for bait here in florida other then blue gill caught by hook , by the man who caught them.... in other words when I use matt77's b gills he caught as bait i am breaking the law go figure ..

matt is that a blue gill in your pocket are are you happy to see me LOLOLOLOL

 

[mack in n.c.]

Abosutely legal here in nc.......been cked plent of times with crappie on my hook...........legal as long as like bryan said it was caught in hook and line and you dont go over your limit....many a cat has fallen to me with the aid of crappie...and bream....mack

 

[BigBird]

dont want to be part of any debate of the rules.........this is strictly and fyi-keep the rod that the bait came on in the boat. Heard of someone on badin that had legal amount of bream on board in his cooler on ice. he had a cast net in possession but not a bream rod. he caught them a pond and brought with him. the officer ticketed him on the basis that they were taken by net since no bait rod on board.

 

[karaep]

I know this issue is now clear as crystal so this is only adds to the shine. I have asked this same question and here is the written response I recieved from Kent Nelson, NCWRC.

Hi Joe:

Bluegill and other sunfish (aka panfish) may be used as bait. The only restriction is that you cannot possess more than their legal limit (if there is one). On a somewhat related note, you cannot use live bait on trotlines, set hooks, or jug lines. Also, if you were to use a species for bait that has a length limit, you could not cut it up to the extent that the identification or length could not be determined.

Regards,
Kent Nelson, Fisheries Program Manager
Division of Inland Fisheries
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
1721 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
919-707-0223
kent.nelson@ncwildlife.org

 

[CatmanJ]

Those saying that sunfish, bass and crappie may be used for bait, as long as they are caught on hook and line and meet size and numbers limits, are spot on. As far as cut bait is concerned just make sure there's no question about the size. Remember that in the Law, the burden of proof lies with the accuser, not the accused. A friend who was caught with bluegill and no "appropriately sized" rig to catch them on but a cast net, should have gone to court and said exactly that. If the wildlife official can't prove that the fish was under the size limit, not caught on hook and line, or caught in a cast net, then I suggest that you take your ticket, take it to court and say "It is my understanding your honor, that the burden of proof lies with the accuser, and not with the accused. I caught these fish before I left the house, cut them up and brought them for bait. They were all legally caught on hook and line and of legal size and number for the fishery I was ticketed in. If the Representative from North Carolina can provide me with some proof that I did not do as I said, that these fish were taken illegally, or that he has any kind of proof beyond that he found a net on a fishing boat, I'll gladly pay my fine and be on my way." I had a friend in court today who beat a bogus wildlife ticket. Sometimes these guys make mistakes and assume you'll pay your fine and not challenge them. Stand up for yourself if you feel you've been unfairly treated.

 

[Asartin]

Thanks for the response. Welcome to the BOC/USCA Joe!!