Snagged bass in tournaments

[RichF]

I'm curious to know if snagging bass is legal in the south. I noticed that during the Classic, KVD and Ike both snagged bass and put them in the livewell to weigh. Here in NY, snagged fish have to be thrown back. Can anyone shed some light on this?

[J Francho]

I'm curious to know if snagging bass is legal in the south. I noticed that during the Classic, KVD and Ike both snagged bass and put them in the livewell to weigh. Here in NY, snagged fish have to be thrown back. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Actually, that isn't true.  There is no provision for foul hooked bass in the NYDEC Fishing Guide.  Now salmonoids....that's another story.  Intentional foul hooking, or snatching is always prohibited.

[Glenn]

Depends on the state as well as individual rules.  In the case of the Classic, snagging is allowed in that state as well as BASS rules.  However, BASS rules prohibit snagging of bass off beds.  In this case, neither angler snagged one off a bed, so they were legal.

Other states ban snagging no matter the circumstance; or where states allow it, some tournament circuits prohibit it.

Yep, it's confusing.

[J Francho]

Foul hooked is not the same as snagging....one is intentional, the other is not.

[RichF]

Thanks for clearing that up. I did mean foul hooked too.

[J Francho]

This came up on a local forum recently, and I was under the same impression as you. I've never foul hooked a fish that counted in a tournament, so cannot really comment on what I'd do. I guess its legal, so if it culls...

Making a rule disqualifying any foul hooked fish from being weighed in would eliminate any snagging from the equation altogether.

[b.Lee]

This came up on a local forum recently, and I was under the same impression as you. I've never foul hooked a fish that counted in a tournament, so cannot really comment on what I'd do. I guess its legal, so if it culls...

Making a rule disqualifying any foul hooked fish from being weighed in would eliminate any snagging from the equation altogether.

This is true!

[Carrington]

since you mentioned the classic, from my understanding a snagged fish only counts if you are not sight fishing.  if you are sight fishing then the snagged fish does not count.

[b.Lee]

^^^

Well again this would depend on the state regualtions, even if not sight fishing it still maybe illegal.  I think it is legal in BASS rules if the state allows such things.

[Glenn]

Foul hooked is not the same as snagging....one is intentional, the other is not.

Ah, the semantics police are hot on the trail.  Justice is served! 

[J Francho]

Foul hooked is not the same as snagging....one is intentional, the other is not.

Ah, the semantics police are hot on the trail. Justice is served!

Glenn, its NY, so legal semantics abound.  Unintentional foul hooking, like with a crankbait or hard jerk would be OK.  Snagging or snatching is defined in the guide as intent to hook a fish by sweeping or lifting the rad in order to hook a fish any where.

So, what's funny to you, could mean a big fine and you boat and gear confiscated to others.

[SkeetyCCTX]

Now what about hooksets that are just outside the mouth, still in the head area?  I think that these types of hookings should be legal, because most of the time they were the result of an actual strike in which the fish just missed the bait!  You see these kinds of hookups alot when throwing topwater spooks with treble hooks.  Obviously a strike was triggered so I think it should count!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I prefer to spear my bass with a frog gig.

I just take the 8oz penalty.

[fishizzle]

I was in a bed fishing tourney 2 years ago and before the event the coordinator said any fish that looks foul hooked, the bag will be DQed.  I got a bass off a bed legally and it had a fresh scar on its face so I had to release it.  That sucked.  Oh well.

[J Francho]

I prefer to spear my bass with a frog gig.

I just take the 8oz penalty.

Wayyyy too much skill required.  Just drop some Rotenone on some prime aquatic real estate, and scoop the bodies up with a net.  Our dead fish penalty is only 4 oz., (insert inappropriately long evil laughter here).

[salmicropterus]

Now what about hooksets that are just outside the mouth, still in the head area? I think that these types of hookings should be legal, because most of the time they were the result of an actual strike in which the fish just missed the bait! You see these kinds of hookups alot when throwing topwater spooks with treble hooks. Obviously a strike was triggered so I think it should count!

Maybe so but in California for example, any fish caught at any time (bed or not) that doesn't have at least one hook in the mouth does not count and I think some other states have similar rules too. Just have to know the rules of the state and the tournament circuit  you are fishing in.