This is a follow up of "SNAGGING - The Ultimate resolution - I hope?!" thread (02-06-2002). There were some unanswered questions. Please read the other thread to come up to speed. Snagging issue will ultimately comes down to "intent" and I hope this helps.

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To intentionally snag a fish is illegal in any (Salt/Fresh) water.

SALT WATER:
I don't have a Washington State Code Rule (WAC) for this but this is what I was told:

In salt water if you have a fish with snagged marks on the body, you are legal and you can also keep a fish which was hooked any where on the body as long as you did not intentionally snag it. Lets say you are trolling or casting and hook a fish on the body. You can keep it as long as you did not "intend" to snag.

FRESH WATER:
WAC 220-56-215 Unlawful possession of snagged salmon. It shall be unlawful to possess salmon taken for personal use from freshwater areas that were not hooked inside the mouth or on the head.

If you are not intentionally snagging and have a fish which is hooked on the head (gill-plate forward) you are legal. Body shots are illegal. When I asked about the definition of "snagging" on page 13 of WDFW sport fishing rules which clearly indicates "hook(s) must be in the mouth", I was told sometimes in the process of taking the lure, the fish is hooked outside the mouth (due to hook set and other timing related issues) and they allow that as long as it is gill-plate forward. See WAC 220-56-215.

As far as keeping a fish with fresh snag marks on the body. Now that becomes very technical. Let say you have a legally hooked fish on the bank with fresh snag marks on the body and the officer walks by. What does he think? You know you are legal but do you want to take that risk? How bad do you need the fish? No easy answer. I would let it go but you have every right to keep it. Your call.

Also to "floss" or "line" a fish is illegal. Theoretically the fish is not "voluntarily taking the lure".

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UltimateFeashKacher

Can you post the web address where we can read the WAC you are refering to (WAC 220-56-215).
I would be interested in reading it. Thanks

Disregard the last post. I was able to locate the Wac above. Here is the web address for Title 220 WAC
FISH AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF
(FISHERIES)

http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/wac/wac%20220%...%20%20title.htm

Just scroll down and click on chapter 220-56 Personal-use fishery. Then click on 220-56-215 Unlawful possession of snagged salmon.

UltimateFeashKacher
The answer is not really that hard!!

Unless the officer has actually seen "you" personally commit the act (snagging), or unless someone else had seen you and had officially filed a complaint against you, stating that they had "witnessed" the alleged crime or act, he or she (the officer) would be out of their blooming minds to "ticket" you. They (the officers) know that they would look like a bunch of blushing fools and be laughed right out of the court room! Most of them are pretty fair and spend quite a little bit of time watching and taking pictures of you long before they write that ticket. The picture is the nail that gets the snaggeralmost every time!

They can not just "ticket you" just because "they think" that a crime has been committed. It would be like you catching a fish with fresh gill net marks all across its head and back. What's the officer going to do arrest you? Is he going to ticket you for illegally gill netting fish just because that fish you just landed has net marks all along its body, and it's in your procession? It's just not going happen!!

How many times have you caught a fish with a spinner or plug, and netted it? Many, many times a netted fish will roll and roll in net until the lure is pulled right out of its mouth and winds up with the line all wrapped around the fishes body with hook of the lure berried somewhere else into its body. It happens all the time, especially with coho! Most officers look for that fish that is swimming backwards when he is being pulled in. That's a sure clue! If it was me, and I KNEW THAT I DIDN'T snag the fish, I personally wouldn't worry what the officer may or may not think. He damn well had better seen me snag it before he tickets me, and believe me, they know that!

That's my opinion about getting ticketed.

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

Cowlitzfisherman....good closing post!!!!

FJ...out.

I don't use spoons or spinners so I just snap off my hook and leave it in the fishes mouth if ask show where I hooked it.

River Rat

I know of no law, or WAC, that says that you need to show "anybody" where you hooked your fish. If so, please let this board know which law, or WAC it is.

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

cowlitzfisherman,

In regard to "Keeping a legally hooked fish with fresh snag marks on the body", as I said before "you have every right to keep it". I just stated my preference in letting it go in order to avoid any potential conflict. You are legal and I said it is "your call". I am not trying to impose my views. Who knows, if I am in a feisty mode and want the fish, I will keep it as well.

UltimateFeashKacher

Your whole thread was about snagging, and my reply was only meant to give an answer to your hypothetical question about keeping a "snagged looking" fish!

If you wanted to "keep" a fish for dinner that same day, would you also through back another fish just because it had net marks on it? What the difference? What would there be to fear?

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????