Measuring a rockfish

[Big Mike]

Yak67 shared a picture with me today of a fish he said was 23". When I looked at it that was to the fork. The fins were clearly at 24" and if they were pinched probably would have added half an inch. I went to the Maryland regulations site to see if they decribed how they measure rockfish for the purpose of legality and found no description. Having recently been stopped by DNR and having them measure a fish I said was 21" but probably 20 at the fork I know they are checking. I didn't ask them how they measured as the fish was legal. Does anyone know if Maryland is fork or tail for measurement purposes?

[ronaultmtd]

Overall length

[Shady]

closed mouth, pinched tail. But if you have do all that to make it over 20, its probably too close...

[Crotalus]

Yeah, pinched tail for all fish except sharks.

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[RavensDfense]

Ill also add that fish will shrink a little bit on ice, so if you have one that is RIGHT at the 20" mark and you plan on icing it, you may want to reconsider keeping it. The whole "It was 20" when I put it in the cooler" line may not fly depending on who checks you.

[Memory Lapse]

Ill also add that fish will shrink a little bit on ice,

They don't.

[ronaultmtd]

So long as they are wet and iced- I would think shrinkage is minimal- but 1/16th of an inch is enough to get you a ticket- If my fish isn't a 20 1/2 inch fish on the Hog Trough, it gets to swim again...

[rugbyfish]

If my fish isn't a 20 1/2 inch fish on the Hog Trough, it gets to swim again...

This has been the most stress-free approach, at least for me. Plus, I don't mind releasing a keeper-sized fish or two anyway.

[baitball]

closed mouth, pinched tail. But if you have do all that to make it over 20, its probably too close...

+1


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