Fishing Catch

Hi all

Do you have a method of preparing your catch for the chilli bin in the boat before you get to shore in case MPI wants to check your catch? IMy wife caught a Rig and Moki that were too big for the bin. I wanted to fillet them and put them on ice right away, but I just gutted them and stored them whole in case we had an inspection.

Cheers

Occasionally, I want to fillet at sea. If I do, then I either make sure the fillets are bigger than the minimum size for the species or keep the head and frame intact after filleting. Is there a minimum size for rig?

Most of the time: iki > bleed > scale > gut > ice. It only take a few minutes and makes fish processing at home so much easier, not to mention keeping fillets in top condition.

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Originally Posted by SAUM

Hi all

Do you have a method of preparing your catch for the chilli bin in the boat before you get to shore in case MPI wants to check your catch? IMy wife caught a Rig and Moki that were too big for the bin. I wanted to fillet them and put them on ice right away, but I just gutted them and stored them whole in case we had an inspection.

Cheers

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As fair as I'm aware its only blue cod that need to be landed in a measurable state around our neck of the woods.
I had a good yarn to an Mpi officer about it in Moeraki at Xmas time.

I always fillet at sea. But always bring the frames home. I'll gut and wash the frames then put them on ice and bring them back for the Bros.
Had one jumped up inspector try to tell me I had to bring fish in whole so he had a chance to measure them.
Told him he was welcome to put them back together to measure them, or measure the frames, or go join the "far que" .
He chose neither option and I went on my way without an infringement notice.
I'd be careful presuming a fillet longer than legal size for that species without the frame would be suitable. Proving a fillet came off the species you say could be difficult.
I know a guy who got pinged for paua he had shucked at sea. They were quite clearly longer than 125 mm, but the fish cops stated that they weren't in a measurable state, as the measurement is based on shell size. Stupid bit is, they were living on board so could have eaten the paua at sea legally.

Photograph with the tape beside the fish ?

No minimum size limit for rig ?
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aqua...ules/#twisties

I would definitely clarify things with MPI though.