Just recently started crappie fishing and want to know if it is legal to clean fish at a cleaning station (Isle Du Bois or Johnson Branch ) then transport the filets across to he boat ramp that I put in at. I usually put in at an access ramp with no cleaning station but would like to clean the fish at the lake before coming home.

Reason for asking is how would I be able to prove that fish were of legal limit.

I think you just answered your own question. It would be illegal, because you are correct, no way for game warden to tell if your catch were all of legal length.

to the forum!

JMO, it would be legal. You cleaned once off the water, otherwise if stopped leaving the boat ramp parking lot where you launched, how could you prove legal length?

Rules say after you reach the mainland and clean the fish you can not transport them by boat,so it would not be legal to clean and them go to a different ramp in the boat as I read it.

I stand corrected, thanks!

Thanks for the reply. I've browsed through the TPW guide but haven't found reference to it.

Thanks,

I've been a long time lurker.

Look under possession of fish from public waters in fishing regs.

Thanks, Found it. So it looks like if I want to clean fish at the lake , I had best out in at one of the parks with a cleaning station. Wife is not too keen with my cleaning them at home. I�d like to put in at a more convent ramp but don�t want to break the law.
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In order to verify length and species, a fish caught may not have the head or tail removed and may not be filleted until an angler finally lands the catch on the mainland, a peninsula, or barrier island not including jetties or piers and does not transport the catch by boat. For broadbill swordfish and king mackerel, the head or tail may be removed but the remainder of the carcass must remain intact and may not be filleted. For sharks, only the head may be removed. The remainder of the carcass (including the tail) must remain intact and may not be filleted.
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I crappie fish Buck Creek a lot. I load the boat when I get done fishing and then drive down to IDB and clean fish on my way home. No issues that way.