Are fishing charters allowed to gut & filet caught fish on board or does it HAFTA be done at the dock BY LAW where you live? If so why?

[DrPepper12]

[spartan55]

I went on two deep sea fishing charters many years ago in Florida and they gutted and dressed our haul on the dock when we returned.
I assume they don't allow it at sea because it would be easy to hide the fact that you were illegally 🎣 fishing. (weight, quantity caught etc)
I would make sure everything was understood and above board before taking a knife to any fish.

[OneViewpoint]

Here in New England, in Floriduh, and Louisiana I've always seen it done at the dock. I don't know if that's by law or just a desire to keep the boat clean. But the docks have really well set up cleaning stations with overhead cover, a hose, and a way to just push the guts, scales, and carcass into the water... to the delight of about 100 dump ducks (seagulls).

[Abbycado]

My dad says you can where we live, but there are strict regulations.

I don’t really fish, so….

[Ariesman81]

In MN you can clean and package on the water, but you have to leave a patch of skin for identification purposes as well as keep the skeleton if the body of water has length requirements for the harvested species. If consumed on the water, the number still goes against your daily/bag limit.

[NaultD]

It seems so inefficient to process them as you catch them. Do it all together after the morning and early afternoon catching while having a beer. then cook some of it up for dinner then start all over again the next day.

[NaultD]

Now that I'm thinking about it. My guess the processing is throwing out extra bait. Realistically you are not holding on to every bit of bones in the boat so chuck it so the seagulls can get at it and it's fun to look at.

I'm thinking salmon at the moment so not eating but thrashing at everything with a shine and meat scent. I can see how the game warden are getting upset.

[seeyounexttuesday]

not sure about my state’s laws, but the rule is likely because you have to prove you caught a legally sized fish. Filleting the fish eliminates that proof.

[jamesgoldman]

Commercial has to be on shore but domestic is acceptable to prepare at sea

[Anonymous]

I don't think so. Why? I guess because of the ecology.

[ilistengood]

In Alaska they are , or were anyway.