Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: clarki on September 15, 2017, 10:34:52 AM
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My wife and I are in the Sedona area of Arizona for vacation. (Little aside: it's my first time in the state and I am struck at the exquisite beauty of the area. We have done several hikes and each has been just stunning. The red rock formations coupled with the high desert environment is ... I am running out of adjectives.😀)
Anyways, being the fishing nerd that I am, I visited the Page Springs Fish Hatchery and then later, at the pool, read over the Arizona Fish and Game Department's fishing regulations. Compared to BC, I found some things interesting...
You can buy General Fishing license ($37), a Combination Hunt and Fish ($57) or Community Fishing ($24)
The Community Fishing Program is similar to FFSBC's stocking urban lakes, but it's interesting that if you just fish community waters, it's a different and cheaper license.
Licenses expire a year after purchase, not on a fixed date at the govetnment's fiscal year end.
During non summer months, community waters are regularly stocked with sunfish, catfish and trout
Several species of fish have unlimitted bag limits, but northern pike are also designated "immediate kill or release". Other fish you can keep in a live well or on a stringer, but not pike.
The Colorado River pikeminnow is a protected species
Although rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout are stocked, they are not native to the state. The two native trout are the Apache and the Gila.
You qualify for a free license if you are over 70 yrs of age and have been an Arizona resident for the previous 25 consecutive years
If you have caught and kept your daily bag limit, it is illegal to continue fishing for that same species. You cannot continue fishing and practice catch and release, nor can you continue fishing to "help" another get their limit.
My wife thought I was crazy but it was an interesting read 😀
Cheers
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The one thing I like is the stop fishing after you have your limit. I can count how many times I've been on a river or lake and guys that have their limit and continue to fish.
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Would also disallow one single person continuing to fish to fill their entire family's daily limit, or for their buddy who is 'down around the corner'.
Several species of fish have unlimitted bag limits, but northern pike are also designated "immediate kill or release". Other fish you can keep in a live well or on a stringer, but not pike.
Do you know the rationale for this pike rule?
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My guess it's to reduce the possibility of moving pike between waterways. In BC there is a no live well regulations for much the same reason.