Wild collection regulations?

[loki132]

I live in NJ and i am thinking about starting a native tank. I also am planning to catch some of my specimens wild, but before starting my tank i need to verify the legality of catching bait and sport species in my area. I believe the snakeheads are the only fish species illegal here.
When i emailed the department of fish and wildlife, they responded with nothing that helped me... this was their email back.

You would need a Scientific Collecting Permit, or perhaps others, or perhaps you wouldn't meet the criteria to do so legally.
Contact Amy Wells at 609-292-2966 regarding game permits, and our fisheries staff at 908-236-2118 regarding bait fish. PT
Paul Tarlowe, Wildlife Education Specialist
NJFishandWildlife@dep.state.nj.us
The N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife is a professional, environmental agency dedicated to the protection, management and wise use of the state's fish and wildlife resources.
http://www.NJFishandWildlife.com

So that means i would either need a permit or i wouldnt, what a freakin helpful response.
Anyways can anyone that knows the rules/regulations help clarify for me? And also can someone tell me the permits/licenses that would be required to do so?

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

you can proably keep any legal sized fish caught with a rod and reel and fishing license.

 

[fish junkie]

looks to me like you have to collect the fish for display in an aquarium, with a scientific permit and or other permits. That basically says legally you have to be a scientist or perform a scientific study on or of the fish thats great ,apply for the scientific permit on the grounds of studying breeding behavior or feeding response . Then it appears that you are studying rather then just collecting the native species for show make sure to document your findings and the works just incase they inspect you

 

[fish junkie]

you can proably keep any legal sized fish caught with a rod and reel and fishing license.

i dont know about your state or new jersey but that is illegal here but of course different states =different laws. There is a list somewhere on this site that explains what is illegal to posses in each state but i dont know if it covers the native species in any given state

 

[WattaMelon]

Yup, here: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56884 Scroll to find your state.

 

[loki132]

I already looked through the pages for new jersey before, but the department of fish and wildlife website doesn't say anything about collecting fish. Here the only illegal species are snakeheads, and with a fishing license you are allowed to catch fish and eat them. I don't know if it is legal to collect bait fish though and thats what i'm trying to find out.

 

[bumpylemon]

hey... go to forum.nanfa.org


you can most likely keep "baitfish"

thats how most of us get away with natives.

 

[WattaMelon]

hey... go to forum.nanfa.org


you can most likely keep "baitfish"

thats how most of us get away with natives.

Well, that or anything not labeled a "game fish". I know that in MN, "rough fish" are fair game, but the list of rough fish is so short that it's not worth keeping just those. Darters are in their own class even...they aren't game fish or rough fish, and you have to have a permit to keep them.

 

[Noto]

I suggest you call those contact numbers you were given and get a full explanation from the appropriate person. Not everyone at the DNR will know all the regs, especially for something relatively uncommon or obscure like catching fish for a home aquarium; the responder was directing you to the people who can answer your question.

By the way, you can apply for a scientific permit, but the chances of you getting one without a connection to a research institution or at least a known researcher vouching for you are miniscule.

 

[loki132]

Yeah a scientific collecting permit wouldn't work anyways. I was looking further into it and when i read the conditions for a scientific collection permit it says that you have to specify what species of fish you want to collect beforehand and you cant just collect random fish. Also if you catch a different species than the one listed on the permit you get penalized. If we are allowed to take live baitfish from the wild and then use them as bait does that mean you can take them for a home aquarium?