Shrinkage

[RavensDfense]

Appears guys aren't the only ones this affects. Sunday at the CBBT, I kept a flatty that was rougly 17.5-18 inches. I didnt get an exact measure because I knew it was legal. When I got it home, it was exactly 16.5 with its mouth open. He was on only on ice for maybe an hour since I caught him up on the way in. This ever happened to anyone else?

[Yak Fish]

Usually the fish I catch grow at least 2" on the way home

[RavensDfense]

Usually the fish I catch grow at least 2" on the way home

Lol, if I didnt measure him out of curiousity when I got home, he would have been an easy 22".

[Memory Maker]

......... you are talking about fish ....... or are you ....

[tufnik]

Yes, certain things get smaller when they're at colder temps.

You already measured for legality. Does shrinkage matter? Will authorities verify your catch while you're on the road or at your home?

My only disappointment is when I show the fish to the family. The fish seem smaller

[RavensDfense]

Tufnik,
My concern is at the landing, when you are most likely to be checked. Say I had caught him at 12:00 and he had been on ice for 4 or 5 hours. Would the man believe he was 17 inches when I put him in the cooler or would be cite me for having a 16.49999 inch fish? If the latter is the case it seems like taking a dated picture of the fish on a measuring board or only keeping 18 inch fish would be the safest bet. I dont see this being a huge issue, but it just made me think.

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Yes, certain things get smaller when they're at colder temps.

You already measured for legality. Does shrinkage matter? Will authorities verify your catch while you're on the road or at your home?

My only disappointment is when I show the fish to the family. The fish seem smaller

Very interesting concept this minimum length requirement. " Officer, it was measured when I caught it and it was legal."

Verses

The fish in my possession is not the legally required minmum length at this time. (hours after being caught)

Unfortunately, it is illegal in Md to possess undersized fish. On the other hand if you smoked the fish whole and it shrank in length, that would not be a violation...... or would it ?

What about if you air-dried the fish whole, and it shrank ?

[tufnik]

I had a check only once. Two wardens came by at night while my wife and I were shore fishing off the Patuxent. They checked our license and catch. They had me take out all the iced blues and stripers from the cooler, and hold them against the ruler. All passed. The smallest striper was over an inch from the minimum. Anyway, if a fish was barely legal, I suppose it would depend on the mood of the warden on believing your story about the shrinkage effect should you use that line.

Maybe someone else has a story about a barely legal fish and warden checks.