US rivers fishing question

[Enigma]

First off, I will apologise for my total lack of ignorance about the U.S.

next I will apologise to anyone who thinks I 'should do my own research'.

I have read that some fish species like Salmon can be caught all year round in some rivers in the north west, is this True? is fishing by line, the only legal way to cath them? Are nets OK? Whats species (if any) have a 'season'? Down here trout have a legal 'season'. Bass down here also travel during the year, so they can be hard to get, in certain parts of river systems, depending on where you are, is it the same over there?

Can only the guys who are willing to help reply, I don't really want to read the usual in-jokes or smart arsed replies. No offense but I am TRULY trying to get first hand knowledge. Again I apologise if my questions are annoying people here. I DO NOT expect free advice, I just want to learn REAL stuff, from the guys on the ground, not touristy style general info anyone can look up on the net.

[wilderness medic]

I'm not saying this to be an A hole but to help you....no matter who replies it isn't first hand information. It's random strangers on the internet. And it varies form state to state and even county to county.

Here, Salmon have a season and require a tag. Freshwater and ocean have different sets of regulations. Most game fish have a season, at least in the ocean.

You can also net some small fish like smelt.

You can spearfish as well. In the ocean there is no season for spearfishing. Year round.

In fresh water you can spear striped bass for half the year. Spear carp year round. Can't spear anything else.

Freshwater, sturgeon are year round but require a tag.

The only true way you will get first hand information is to look up the state regs.

[Enigma]

mate, you're helping, even when you think you're not. I really appreciate your answer. ALL info is better than no info. It is always the little bits of 'gold' that makes the biggest difference. Just like what you just wrote, "spearfishing all year around". I really appreciate you taking the time to answer, what to you guys may seem quite stupid questions.

[LowKey]

Are you looking for regs for freshwater or saltwater fishing? Anadromous fish also fall into their own category (like salmon)
Depends on what state you are talking about in the Northwest US too. WM lives in California. Their laws are going to differ form the laws in Oregon or Washington, and then there is Alaska with usually a completely different set of allowances.

I live in the northeast, the other side of the country. Only 2 years ago, the state of MA made it mandatory of casual anglers to buy a saltwater license (as opposed to commercial anglers who always had to buy one.) Seasons vary as to which side of the arm of Cape Cod you are on. And I can't take my license and go fishing in New Hampshire or Maine. Have to buy a license for each state and follow each state's laws on catch limits.

I just looked up the Oregon Salmon fishing regulations. I chose Oregon because I'm sure it is less convoluted than California. It doesn't matter if I'm from Massachusetts or Australia, this is the easiest and most expedient way of finding out the fishing regulations in the area you might propose to visit.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/salmo...s/regindex.asp
or if you want the size and catch regs in chart form, maybe this helps:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/salmo...ea_Graphic.pdf
Or if river fishing here is a good start, for Oregon only.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/fishin.../northwest.asp

You may not like the links and probably could have found them on your own, but never listen to a fisherman's advice on catch limits and open fishing areas. With salmon fishing, the seasons can close with little notice before the dates listed in any printed material (the new age of the internet means you are supposed to be up on the rules.) I fish for stripers and bluefish off Cape Cod every summer. Before each trip, I now check online to be sure the length limit and bag limit hasn't changed on the stripers. If I'm going for flounder, I check which side of the Cape is open and what the current length/bag limit is.

If you have questions before going, contact the Fish and Wildlife service of the state you want to be in for what might be in season while you are there.

[Enigma]

if you want me to be honest, regs are not my concern. I am interested in knowing what is there to catch, what time of year and with what method to get results. Regs can be delt with by others I may be working with/for. :-)

[kyratshooter]

The "regs" are of constant concern. There is no allowance for subsistence living in most of the areas of the US and all regulations apply even if you are practicing your survival training.

The damage done to the ecosystem during the Great Depression by subsistence hunters and fishermen is the very reason the regs exist.

Some species and areas nets are legal, the next stream over they my not be legal. Bag limits can change when one moves from one side of a lake to the other. Size limits can changed from the upside of a damn to the down side.

In my state there are certain regs that apply only to a specific number of miles of stream bank.

Our wildlife resources are very closely managed and the penalties for violation can carry felony status, complete loss of hunting/fishing privileges, firearms ownership rights and prison time.

You ask about the US, then say you do not care what the rules are, it's someone else's' problem???

[wilderness medic]

Oh, by season you meant when are they running, not the laws.

Striper Spring and Fall, unless resident. Sturgeon winterish.

Ocean fish year around unless they are pelagic. Ling cod come into the shallows to breed in spring.

[Rick]

You can also look at a specific state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Just Google Oregon DNR for example. The regs will usually coincide with their season or when they are available. Wilderness Medic and Kyrat were spot on in their response. Even if the producer is responsible for the license the ranger will ticket the person with the illegal fish on the line. You could find yourself deported, hence no longer on the show, if you are not compliant with the regs. That would require you to be familiar with them. And depending on the violation prison time could be a real possibility if the game is endangered or migratory.

[aflineman]

Do not forget that Oregon can do an emergency change to the regs, with little or no notice. When I was salmon and/or steelhead (sea run trout) fishing, I was checking the regs Daily. Tribal fishing is about the only subsistence fishing left, and even then, they are subject to quota and tribal regs.

[1stimestar]

We have subsistence fishing here for Caucasians but you must live here as one of the many qualifications.

[Enigma]

You ask about the US, then say you do not care what the rules are, it's someone else's' problem???

Yes, I'm NOT the producer of this show, so it's not my concern at the moment. Regs can be photocopied at the last minute, and shoved in my pocket. Someone has allready stated it all changes continously anyway. I am actually interested in the game available, movements of said game, realistic expectations with hunting/trapping/ fishing etc etc. I'd love to hear anything at all from people on the ground, doing it for real, and their techniques, gear, weapons, traps, etc etc.

if my questions seem a PIA tp people, please just ignore my post. I AM NOT demanding answers, I'm just trying to socialise here.

No one is commiting a crime, simply by asking questions. Relax it's all good.

[kyratshooter]

Conspiracy to commit....whatever.

Yep, its a crime.

[wilderness medic]

Conspiracy to commit....whatever.

Yep, its a crime.

I was going to say that but I was afraid Hayshaker would come along.

[Enigma]

Are you guys serious? or taking the mickey out of me?

"conspiracy to go fishing, now THAT is funny".

[hunter63]

No one would dare make...." in-jokes or smart arsed replies. No offense but I am TRULY trying to get first hand knowledge".

So every thing said is true....has to be on the interweb.

[Enigma]

I understand Hunter, but the last comments about 'conspiracy to commit', I don't 'get' at all. There's been no 'conspiracy', I've asked questions, some of you guys have answered, it's all good. I have no idea what the fuss is about.

Maybe, somethings getting misunderstood or something, or there's some cultural misunderstanding? I'm asking about hunting and fishing opportunities in the pacific Nth West, and a couple of guys here are getting their knickers in a twist about 'the regs'?

I'LL LOOK INTO THE REGS DUDES. Is that better?

actually, while we're on the subject, me and a few mates are organising a canoe trip soon, I'm looking at trapping crabs, I spent 3 minutes checking the new NSW regs, and lo and behold, I can take 2 traps of a particular kind, not the 1 I had planned, happy days!!

[Enigma]

On the subject of that canoe trip, we go to an extinct volcanoe, which has old stands of Osage Orange in it, (and also all the way down the creek to the inlet) I grab a stave each time I go, plus we do fishing and trapping and foraging. It's a cool overnight trip, but we have to time it by tides, as the current is way too strong to paddle against. I'll post some images up when we do it.

[crashdive123]

Enigma - the term "conspiracy to commit" as used above was used in a legal reference. I believe the intent was to let you know that while the producers of the show may be responsible for all permits and licenses, that may not relieve the participants of any potential legal exposure.

That term is commonly used in US law.