Anglers: Remember Fish Filleting Laws

Saturday, May 05, 2001
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This article was Archived on Monday, July 01, 2002

Montana game wardens ask anglers who fillet their catches before returning home from a day on the water to take special note of fishing regulations related to filleting of the fish they keep.

Fish may be dressed and filleted for transportation to a permanent residence, unless size limits apply, under the following conditions:

• Salmonids (trout, salmon, cisco and whitefish) may be dressed and filleted before transportation to a permanent residence, but the entire skin must be left attached to the fillets for identification of species.
• Anglers may remove all but a 1-inch by 1-inch square shoulder patch of the skin of nonsalmonid fish (those other than trout, salmon and whitefish) they catch. However, the patch of skin must remain attached to the fillet.
• All fish that are dressed for transport must be able to be counted. That means, even if the catch is frozen before it is transported, each fish or fillet must be packaged in a means that will allow it and all others to be counted. Two fillets count as one fish.
• It is illegal to can fish before taking them to your permanent residence.

Questions regarding legal filleting practices should be directed to your local game warden or nearest FWP office.