The Outdoor Line Forum

That is the question! Before I give my opinion, what is your call? Bonk first and ask questions later??? Let's hear it gang!

Ive had a handfull of fish that have had that. I took a pic saved it for the next time I saw the warden. Ive been told thats a miss clip. And since then have brought several fish in that have looked like that and no problems with the checker or wardens since. Definitely doesnt look like that big half pepperoni piece. Id say bonk it.

There is no question that this fish had an attempted clip; however by definition it is not clipped. I would let it go then go kick myself .

IT IS A CLIP, BONK IT!!!

Is it a hatchery raised fish, yes. Can you bonk it, by a strict reading of the rule, no. Here is the definition out of the fishing regs:
"Hatchery Salmon Means a Chinook or coho
with a clipped adipose fin and having a healed
scar at the location of the fin."
Since the fin is still there, it does not meet the definition. I would think most of the gamies would not give you a ticket, but with my luck I would get the one that would give a ticket check me at the ramp....

Well my guess it is on Nellys cooler so that should tell you his answer!! Ya I would BONK IT!!

I had saved a news brief from WDFW a while back. I was looking for it but can't seem to find it (lost in a hard drive crash),and couldn't find it on their website either. Anyway, it basically said that the adipose fin doesn't always get completely removed, so if it appears that the fin was clipped at all and healed you could keep it. What started me on this search is that several years ago we caught a steelhead with a perfectly round hole in its adipose fin on the Big C. Now should we have kept that one... (we let it go), further research found that a hatchery on the upper C. was marking their fish this way for a research project.
L8R
Dan

I would welcome him to the club!

baddawg wrote:Is it a hatchery raised fish, yes. Can you bonk it, by a strict reading of the rule, no. Here is the definition out of the fishing regs:
"Hatchery Salmon Means a Chinook or coho
with a clipped adipose fin and having a healed
scar at the location of the fin."
Since the fin is still there, it does not meet the definition. I would think most of the gamies would not give you a ticket, but with my luck I would get the one that would give a ticket check me at the ramp....

Hey BD,
You've got the definition exactly as it reads in the regs and that's the best place to start any discussion regarding a question about regulations.
I've asked several wardens about this issue and their view is pretty consistent. If there is a visible, healed alteration to the adipose fin, you're good to go.
So, the answer to the "Bonk or not to bonk"? Bonk away my friends!

This is one of those additude type things. So if you left your license in the truck, didnt pinch your barbs all the way , and whined when asked to show your gear you will probaily get a ticket for everything including the "unmarked fish".