Actually that's your interpretation of the regulation which says: "snagging (foul hooking)
hooking a fish in any other part of its body other than
the mouth."
...
My interpretation and I believe the CO's interpretation is, as long as the hook is anywhere around the mouth, it is legal...
I'd have to talk to a CO about this. Last time I checked, when a baby has food on its face it's missed its mouth
Your mouth, or pie hole, is that cavity in your head that you put food and drink into. It contains your tongue, teeth, and salivary glands, which help you digest that food and drink. While salmon don't have lips, I don't think it takes a biologist to point out where the mouth ends and the "face" begins; the average 7 year old could probably do that. The regs say fish must be hooked
in the mouth, not
around the mouth in order to be considered "fair."
But, yes, this is obviously my interpretation. Would be interested to learn what a CO has to say on the matter.
While lure fishing in a lake or river the fish will often get hooked outside the mouth as it strikes the lure and the hook becomes lodged outside the mouth...
I have caught 50+ fish trolling and/or casting lures. Never once was the fish hooked outside the mouth. An additional 50+ rainbows on flies have also been hooked inside the mouth. While not large numbers, experience tells me that such hook-ups are a rare occurance. Would I keep a fish that was hooked, for example, by the nostril? I'd probably toss it back, figuring I had accidently towed my lure into it.
While trolling bait in the ocean, it is common to use a trailing hook which is often lodged outside the mouth.
There was an article/editorial this week, in The Province, about raising BCs posted speed limits. The author wrote that, "[if everyone is doing it, even the cops, and it's relatively safe then why not?]" Just because everyone is doing it/it isn't being enforced doesn't mean you're not breaking the law. Again, I do realize this is just my interpretation/opinion; not saying I'm right, but I'm yet to be convinced otherwise.
Cheers