Blue gill Q's

**Dsully227** · 09-02-2012, 06:27 AM

Quick question is it illegal to take a bluegill out of a pond and house it in a pond/tank in my house ?

**Bawl** · 09-02-2012, 07:08 AM

If I had to guess I'd say it's fine, but you'd have to check what the laws are where you live. You may need a fishing permit.

**Dsully227** · 09-03-2012, 02:06 AM

Yeah i figured that , Thankyou :)

**ac_rhino** · 09-03-2012, 01:06 PM

It can be illegal in several ways. If you're fishing without a license and are over 15 that is illegal and taking any native North American species of anything without the proper permits and licenses is illegal and a very costly fine. Now I don't think most people would care but the law is the law.

**Cliff** · 09-03-2012, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Dsully227

Quick question is it illegal to take a bluegill out of a pond and house it in a pond/tank in my house ?

As you live in England, I would check with your local lawes. I would imagine there would be lawes covering this topic, if not even making it illegal. This usally is the case in North America

**UncleWillie** · 09-04-2012, 03:38 PM

Is this a privately owned pond? Private ponds are usually not subject to the same regulations as waters of the state (streams, rivers, reservoirs, swamps, etc). If it is privately owned (and New England is just a region of the northeastern US, not actually England - just messing, Cliff ;) ) get permission to fish it, get a fishing licence, and a bucket. If you are fishing for them, go ahead and use a small hook and mash the barb down. This will reduce damage to it's mouth.

**Brhino** · 09-04-2012, 04:26 PM

All the normal rules apply as if you were fishing with intent to, say, clean and eat the fish. So if it's legal for you to catch a bluegill, it's legal for you to keep said bluegill.

I don't know the rules out where you are, but in Michigan bluegills have no size limit or bag limit (maximum quantity you can take) but you do need a license.

On the subject of private waters, again, I don't know if this is a Michigan law or it works this way everywhere - but a pond is only considered private if it does not connect to any other waters. So if your spring fed pond overflows into a stream that connects to a public lake or river, you do not have a private pond. If it is private you just need the owner's permission - no license required, and other regulations like size limits and fishing seasons do not apply.

**Lady10Godiva** · 09-04-2012, 04:31 PM

I would say the rules/ laws vary a lot state to state. Here in WI it is only legal to own native species if you can prove you purchased them from a place like a fish farm.