Rockfish storage in a group outing?

[Slackdaddy]

So,
3 kayaks going out, 1 kayak rigged with a cooler in the rear tankwell.
Is it legal for the other 2 kayakers to put there catch in the 1 cooler? so that 1 cooler would end up with 3 rockfish in it.

[Slackdaddy]

Another question on Rockfish (striped bass)
If I catch a legal fish and put it in the cooler,, is it legal to continue fishing for rockfish? catch and release.

[rugbyfish]

I’ve often wondered about your first question myself. I’ve done it once or twice when my wife and I were fishing. I had the cooler and she had one on the stringer. Before we made the mile or so trip back to the launch, I threw her fish in the cooler. I figured DNR wouldn’t be too upset if they stopped us, since we were clearly together and no longer fishing. To answer your second question, catch and release is still permitted if you have your limit.

[Slackdaddy]

I think I will take a sharpie and write all 3 DNR ID numbers on the lid of the cooler.
We will be withing 100 yards of each other.

[Memory Maker]

You might consider different labeled stringers for each person to keep them separated

[Slackdaddy]

Well,
did not have to worry about explaining anything to the DNR,,
6 hours of casting, trolling, pedaling, staring at the sonar and not a single hit.

I do agree with Ron about respecting and protecting the resource. We each had intended to keep a sub 24" fish for dinner.
In all this season I have kept 1 fish, a 20"

[nhunter344]

I’ve often wondered about your first question myself. I’ve done it once or twice when my wife and I were fishing. I had the cooler and she had one on the stringer. Before we made the mile or so trip back to the launch, I threw her fish in the cooler. I figured DNR wouldn’t be too upset if they stopped us, since we were clearly together and no longer fishing. To answer your second question, catch and release is still permitted if you have your limit.

I have a related question. As a traveling angler, if I drive a significant distance, I plan on fishing multiple days. For instance, fishing for bluefish this past spring, I went to Ocean City and fished the evening, grabbed some sleep in the car, and went back out in the morning. Ended up with my limit both trips out which meant 6 fish in the cooler. I didnt violate any catch limits, but Im wondering what wouldve happen if a warden had pulled up while I was throwing 3 more in a cooler that already had 3 (albeit cleaned) fish in it.

[LivinTheDream]

I have a related question. As a traveling angler, if I drive a significant distance, I plan on fishing multiple days. For instance, fishing for bluefish this past spring, I went to Ocean City and fished the evening, grabbed some sleep in the car, and went back out in the morning. Ended up with my limit both trips out which meant 6 fish in the cooler. I didnt violate any catch limits, but Im wondering what wouldve happen if a warden had pulled up while I was throwing 3 more in a cooler that already had 3 (albeit cleaned) fish in it.

In PA, when traveling, you can have at most two-days limit in your possession. I imagine other states have similar laws.