The most important thing about the fishing ban
Experienced fishermen and novice fishermen, and simply those who like to enjoy the beauty of nature on the shore of the lake with a fishing rod, will need to forget about bait, lures and catch for two months. After all, during the spawning period there is a ban on fishing to ensure that the fish have the opportunity to naturally reproduce.
Such a restriction is not just words; violation of the law entails heavy fines. In order not to pay for your actions, you need to clearly understand the rules and responsibilities of the fisherman during this period, what the law is and what the subtleties are. Strict implementation of the law is monitored by vigilant environmental authorities and structures.
The law helps the most common fish in water bodies to calmly create offspring, such as:
- roach;
- zander;
- pike;
- perch;
- bream.
Indeed, in the process of laying offspring, caring for them, even the smallest noise, insignificant processes can interrupt the process.
Safety measures when fishing from a rubber boat or kayak
Today, many fishermen use collapsible kayaks and rubber boats. It must be taken into account that these watercraft require special care, since their bottom and sides are easily punctured by sharp stones and submerged snags.
Rubber boats and kayaks should not be anchored far from the shore, and if even a medium wave appears, you must stop fishing and return to shore. Such watercraft are very unstable, so it is impossible to stand up to your full height in them, and even leaning over the side is unsafe.
It is not recommended for beginner fishermen to use collapsible kayaks and rubber boats.
When does the spring fishing ban begin and end?
This legislation was developed and created by the Federal Center for the Protection of Fisheries, in agreement with all heads of federal facilities . The law specifies the terms and rules separately for each region, because the peculiarities of climatic conditions determine different periods of fish spawning.
From April 1 to May 30, current legislation regulates strict restrictions on fishing in all fisheries and fisheries. Such fishing restrictions apply to all regions and all water bodies of the Russian Federation.
At the same time, the rules apply to both sport and recreational fishing.
With the arrival of spring, when reservoirs begin to rapidly free themselves from ice captivity, anglers begin one of the most interesting stages of fishing - in open water. At this time, most fish species, in preparation for spawning, begin active feeding, which promises a stable bite and high catch results. The opening of fishing in the spring makes it possible to fish not only from the banks of reservoirs, but also the possibility of hunting from boats. And as you know, from a boat you can reach those secluded places in the waters where the concentration of fish is much higher and, moreover, they are not as shy as near the shores.
When can you fish from a boat?
Having clarified from what date you can fish from a boat in the fishing planning region, you can safely get ready to set off, determining your hunting strategy with full confidence in the legality of your actions. The fisherman should not forget that even permission to fish does not give the right to fish with illegal fishing gear and to fish at night.
For fishing from boats, it is better to select weather conditions with little wind and no heavy rain. Thick fogs will also make fishing and navigation difficult. Of course, it will be convenient to have a boat motor selected for the parameters of the boat. The motor helps to fish vast areas of water bodies, quickly changing deployment points, which increases the efficiency of the catch, especially when the activity of the fish is low, when you need to look for places where they stay.
Do not forget that a powerful motor will require obtaining permits to drive a boat. Boats must also be equipped with an anchor, mooring rope and life jackets. The end of the fishing ban, which falls at the beginning of summer, opens a long boat hunting season, characterized by excellent catches and pleasant emotions from the opportunity to catch the most intriguing and productive points of any body of water.
Reasons for the ban
Fishing is prohibited because the state is responsible for the preservation of natural resources, which include all types of fish.
The authorities have to introduce bans in order to ensure the normal reproduction of fish stocks. In some areas of the country there is a huge concentration of fishermen going off the coast and into open water. If certain restrictions are not set, their actions will cause irreparable damage to water resources. It is quite normal that law-abiding citizens are interested in what date they can sail on a boat. It has been proven that fishing from a watercraft with a motor disturbs representatives of the fauna of water bodies. The fish gets scared, it stops feeding normally, its life and the natural course of reproduction are disrupted. Noise in spawning areas causes disruption of normal fish reproduction. As a result, in a year there may be a decrease in its numbers. And this is already a reason for concern.
Different restrictions for different bodies of water
Any region or area includes a ban on fishing on a large, industrial scale (for sale), starting at different periods that fully correspond to the biological spawning period of fish for a given administrative district.
This mainly occurs in the spring-summer period, and even for each river, reservoir and reservoir, the timing and rules of fishing can vary significantly.
If we talk about the most popular reservoirs of Moscow and the Moscow region, then the deadlines under the law “On approval of the Fishery Rules for the Volga-Caspian Fishery Basin” adopted on January 13, 2009 by the Federal Agency for Fisheries are as follows.
When fishing on the Volga, you need to place your fishing rod at a distance of 1 km from the Dubna dam downstream. Any rule has limitations, and this is no exception; the rule does not apply to the bay in the oxbow of the waterworks, on the right side.
Such restrictions mainly concern places most suitable for fish spawning, and they exist for all reservoirs in every city and regional center. Despite this, the legislation does not regulate a complete refusal of the pleasure of sitting by the shore of a pond with a fishing rod; restrictions must be strictly adhered to.
The ability for fish to lay eggs in peace provides future benefits for fishermen.
Restrictions on fishing during the spring-summer spawning period, applicable to all regions
Regardless of the region and time of the law, there are a number of rules that must be strictly observed:
- Under no circumstances should you fish with two or more fishing rods , or use gear such as a “donka”, fly fishing rod or float tackle.
- The hooks on the selected, permitted fishing rod must have a serial number of no more than “10”.
- Fishing can only be done during the daytime; fishing at night is strictly prohibited.
- You can only catch the “future dinner” from the shore, no boats!
Such restrictions only need to be endured for two months; they will help preserve the fish population . Immediately after the spawning ban is lifted and the rules cease to apply, you can immediately equip the boat with such donks and go night fishing.
What are you allowed to fish with?
You can fish with classic standard fishing rods, if you use a hook with a diameter of up to 10 mm. Also, in some places specified by law, spinning rods can be used.
It is strictly forbidden to take TNT and any explosives with you and use them for their intended purpose. In some regions, previously prescribed in the rules, you can use girders for fishing, but use no more than 5 circles for one angler.
It is not allowed to fish on:
- spinning rods;
- fishing rods with multiple hooks;
- use of explosives;
- chemistry;
- electric shock;
- traps;
- use of piercing objects.
The duration of the bans changes annually. And they are also filmed at different times. Therefore, to know exactly when it is possible, you should look at the official website of this department.
Spinning restrictions
Basically, during periods of fishing restrictions, the use of spinning rods is strictly prohibited. This is due to the fact that at this time the fish often swims close to the shore to lay offspring or for the fertilization process.
During the fishing process, while furrowing the bottom of the reservoir, spinning tackle touches fish eggs and mixes them with silt, preventing the offspring from hatching. Often in such a situation, the entire masonry simply dies.
You can only use a float rod for fishing, which is so light in weight that it does not plow the bottom and does not cause damage to the masonry. The use of spinning rods is prohibited in certain regions and bodies of water, a list of which is contained in legislative acts.
Fines and punishment for violations
When planning a fishing trip during the spring spawning fishing ban, you need to know and follow the rules. We must remember the responsibility for non-compliance with restrictions, which every fisherman bears when “meeting” with fisheries authorities.
It is worth understanding that ignorance of the rules has never exempted anyone from responsibility.
The main punishment for violating the rules of the spawning ban is a fine, most often it ranges from 5 to 10 minimum wages. But even in case of a fine, you need to know that under no circumstances should you pay it on the spot.
Payment for an offense is made only by receipt at Sberbank branches . Within 10 days, the offense and, accordingly, the fine can be appealed in court.
Below we have described the main options for which you can be fined while fishing:
- you will be fined if there is a violation of the Code of Administrative Offenses, Article 8.37, Part 2. The approximate amount will be from 2000 to 5000 rubles. In addition, this legislative act also provides for confiscation of property. Including, your boat and fishing rod will be taken away;
- destruction of a prohibitory sign is also punishable by a fine;
- catching fish from a boat during the spawning period will cost much more, at least 300,000 rubles;
- in the event that you were seen with the gear and the damage was assessed as major, you will have to pay from 100,000 to 300,000 rubles. In addition, the article also implies a possible arrest for six months;
- if you come to the reservoir in your own car, then you face an amount of 3,500 to 4,000 rubles, provided that the car is located 200 meters from the shore.
As we can see, the consequences are quite serious, so it is worth planning the event in advance so as not to find yourself in a difficult situation.
Thus, if serious violations of the law are detected, a case can be opened against a citizen in accordance with Article “Illegal extraction of aquatic plants and animals” No. 256 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The use of prohibited fishing gear is considered a serious violation of current legislation, the consequences of which can be the destruction of a large number of plants and fish.
It is strictly forbidden to fish in protected areas, zones of environmental disasters and on spawning routes; this will also lead to imprisonment.
In addition to a two-year prison sentence, the citizen must pay a fine of 200,000 rubles.
At a time when you can’t fully engage in fishing, you can, in order not to get bored, start upgrading your boat, making new poppers, baits, lures, or, for example, make your own smokehouse for your future catch.
Consequences of violating prohibitions
The discovery of fishing instantly pleases fishing enthusiasts. Many of them forget about the restrictions, which leads to very sad consequences. Some people don’t even know what permissions and prohibitions exist.
However, as you know, ignorance of the law does not exempt you from responsibility.
If you do not know until what date fishing is prohibited, and go ashore or on a rowing or motor boat in open water for the purpose of fishing, this can result in a hefty fine. Penalties will be imposed if you do not remember the restrictions on catching certain types of fish. Not only administrative, but even criminal liability is possible if you catch species that are generally prohibited from catching. You cannot boat or fish in bodies of water that are prohibited for fishing.
Why was the fishing ban issued?
The ban on fishing is not a whim of government agencies responsible for the rational use of the country’s natural wealth and, in particular, fish stocks. The restrictions are motivated by very real concerns related to the reproduction of fish resources.
It is no secret that nowadays, especially in densely populated regions of the country, fishing pressure on water bodies is at a very high level, which entails a sharp decline in fish populations. And this applies not only to rare species, but also to popular fishing objects for most anglers. In order to maintain fish resources at a stable level, allowing them to replace the volumes taken by fishermen, restrictions are introduced on fishing, which occurs during the spring breeding season of fish. The Fisheries Law clearly interprets the rationale for the prohibitions that every fishing enthusiast must follow.
Hunting from boats, especially if the craft is equipped with a motor, causes serious disturbance to schools of spawning fish, driving them away from their spawning areas. And the danger here is not that the fisherman will catch a large number of fish, as a rule, at the very moment of spawning, most species of fish stop actively feeding and it is not so easy to catch them with legal fishing gear, but namely in the obstacle to the full spawning process.
Pros of fishing from a boat
- Mobility. This is a great opportunity to move from place to place without much effort. You just need to pick up the weight and fishing rods and swim to where you need to go. This is much easier than carrying all the gear on yourself;
- Patency. On a boat you can get into difficult places, and even if your boat is rubber and it seems that it is about to break, it is not so. Even on a fragile rubber boat you can get into the reeds, albeit with extreme caution;
- Accuracy. From the shore you need to accurately hit a certain point, which is not always possible. On a boat, without much effort, you can simply swim to the desired place and cast a fishing rod.
What are the prohibitions on fishing from a boat?
Restrictions related to bans on fishing from a boat during the spawning period are initiated by the country's Ministry of Agriculture. It is this body that disseminates information about the places and times of restrictions. Depending on the specifics of the reservoir and its inhabitants, in addition to the above-mentioned ministry, bans may be introduced by local authorities and in some cases these restrictions are not tied to the spawning period.
Also, bans may be incomplete, giving fishermen the opportunity to fish from boats, limiting only the amount of fish allowed to be taken, or the use of a boat without an engine using oars. These half-measures are caused by such factors as the need to protect small species of fish, as well as the timidity of the inhabitants of the reservoir, which subsequently affects the reproductive abilities of the fished objects. Restrictions or bans on fishing from a boat apply to such reservoirs on a permanent basis or are temporary, which can be found out in advance on the official websites of the region where fishing is planned.
Important! It is definitely impossible to fish during spawning in all parts of the country, and this fact should be an unwritten rule of any adequate fisherman who is concerned about the safety and reproduction of fish resources.
It is worth understanding that the destruction of the spawning area or the catch of the brood stock today will result in enormous damage to the fish population in future periods. After all, the restoration of an animal resource is a slow and painstaking process, sometimes requiring decades after a seasonal barbaric attitude towards nature. The imposition or lifting of a ban is carried out by the same authorized body, but compliance with the law rests with all participants in the fishing industry, without exception.
There are bans on ring fishing from a boat
Many anglers wonder about the legality of ring fishing from a boat, knowing about the effectiveness of this method, especially when catching bream. The question can be answered in the affirmative that it is clearly permitted by law to catch fish from a boat on a ring, observing only the measures for catching prey. As soon as permission to fish from a boat in the reservoir planned for fishing has been officially received, you can begin to develop a fishing strategy.
To do this, select the deepest areas on the river bed, the depth of which can exceed 10 meters. Having selected a fishing point, they anchor the boat securely, preventing the watercraft from being pulled under by the current. The gear used is a rod short to a meter, equipped with fishing line and a special device called a ring. The ring has a design that allows you to accurately deliver the bait to the zone of the bait train, lowered on a cord to the bottom. When biting, the main line comes out of the ring, and thus the fisherman freely catches the bream hooked on the hook.
This method can be used to fish from a boat from mid-summer until freeze-up. The success of the method lies in attracting a school of fish emerging from the feeder, dusty and creating a cloudy spot of bait. The rapid current quickly spreads a trail of food, attracting fish from long distances to the fishing point, and bait placed in the dusty cloud zone does not particularly alarm shy fish, bringing quite large trophies into the catch.
What kind of fish is banned?
In most regions of the country, fishing from a boat is automatically prohibited once the ice melts. It is worth noting that our country is divided into eight zones in which the opening of reservoirs occurs at different time periods. But in general, we can state the fact that with the disappearance of the ice cover and until June 10, there are restrictions on fishing for bream, asp and pike perch. Until May 15 inclusive, you cannot catch pike . This also includes restrictions on the removal of crayfish, which cannot be carried out during spawning from May 20 to June 10.
One of the nuances of the fishing ban is the restriction of fishing for grayling, eel, brook trout, whitefish, peled and ripus in the autumn period, starting from October 1 and ending on November 20. Locked on fishing, interconnected with permits for fishing from a boat, which you need to pay attention to when planning fishing and especially in a region unfamiliar to the fisherman. To summarize, it is obvious that there is a spawning ban on fishing throughout the spring, and therefore the use of a boat during this period is subject to a similar synchronous ban.
In each region, lists of fish prohibited from catching have been compiled. When going fishing, you should study the list of fish species that are prohibited from catching at all.
In addition, there are standards for catching fish of a certain size. If the caught fish is smaller in size than what is allowed to be caught, then such fish must be released. For example:
- Carp - at least 30 cm.
- Crayfish - at least 9 cm.
- Pike perch – no less than 38 cm.
- Burbot – at least 40 cm.
- Pike – at least 32 cm.
- Asp - no less than 35 cm.
- Catfish – at least 40 cm.
- Chub - at least 20 cm.
- Carp - at least 24 cm.
- Rybets - no less than 22 cm.
- Taran - no less than 16 cm.
- Grass carp – at least 45 cm.
- Bream - at least 25 cm.
- Trout - at least 15 cm.
- Podust - not less than 15 cm.
- Bersh - no less than 25 cm.
- Barbel - at least 20 cm.
- Herring – at least 15 cm.
- Silver carp – at least 50 cm.
The mobility of the fisherman, and modern transport communications, make it possible to organize fishing trips not only in our country, but also among our closest neighbors. Trips to fishing sessions in Belarus, the Baltic countries, Kazakhstan or Ukraine are not uncommon among our domestic fishing enthusiasts. When thinking about visiting neighbors, the fisherman should know that in these countries fishing restrictions have almost the same mechanisms as in our country, focusing more on spawning. Therefore, it is important, especially in spring, not to get into an unpleasant situation when visiting a country when fishing is prohibited.
When is the ban in effect?
Since there are 8 zones in our country, each of them has its own permits.
Here's some general information on what date you'll need to start with:
- The opening dates of the ice cover have nuances regarding the timing of fishing for pike perch, bream and asp, and from June 10 it is allowed.
- From the moment the ice breaks up until May 15, you cannot catch pike.
- From the 20th of May to the 10th of June is the beginning of spawning for crayfish.
- In autumn, from October 1 to November 20, whitefish, peled, brook trout, grayling, ripus and eel are prohibited.
Considering the above, it is better to wait a little for the season to open and then go on vacation, rather than lose your fishing rod at best, and get into very serious trouble at worst. Therefore, you need to find out in advance and plan your trip taking into account current laws.
There is no need to be too upset, since in Ukraine there are also bans on fishing from a boat. In order to know exactly the fishing date when it is not allowed, you should use the official website of the State Fisheries Supervision Authority. Time periods also change in this country, so you can easily find yourself in an awkward position.
Spring activities:
- Starting from the first of August, fishing on rivers is not allowed, and it ends on June 30.
- From the beginning of August until the beginning of the 10th day of the first summer month, fish reservoirs and ponds are prohibited.
- At the beginning of April and until the end of the first summer month, there is no fishing from a boat using adjunct-type systems.
Also in spring and autumn there are nuances for catching crayfish, all over Ukraine. Therefore, find out in advance when the reservoir is removed and opened. To avoid any troubles.
What are the prohibitions?
However, the reason that the favorite type of permitted recreation turns out to be prohibited is not only the spawning period. There are periods when fishing from a boat is allowed in limited quantities and this is seasonal. During this period, fishing from boats is allowed, but only in a certain quantity. Reservoirs where spawning occurs are prohibited.
Prohibited during spawning.
It depends on the:
- Species of fish.
- A body of water in which spawning occurs.
- Weather conditions.
- The region where they go to fish.
Fishing from a boat opens after the end of the spawning period. Definitely, you should not go to the reservoir during spawning, since such fishing is considered poaching, and therefore there is a high probability of getting into a lot of trouble.
Seasonal restrictions are related to:
- The need to protect rare breeds.
- The fearfulness of the inhabitants of prohibited bodies of water to sharp sounds.
- Conditions for laying eggs.
What gear can you use to fish?
Do you know what date boat fishing starts? Great! However, you should remember that not all gear can be used by you in the fishing process. It is not allowed to fish using:
- Networks and their derivatives;
- Various traps excluding crayfish;
- Passive tools in habitats of salmon species;
- Pneumatic weapons;
- Fishing rods, spinning rods with more than 10 hooks per fisherman;
- Bottom seines, trawls;
- Self-catching tools with hooks;
- Catfish traps;
- Lifts, scoops larger than 1 m and a certain cell size;
- Piercing weapons.
Fishing bans in Belarus
Fishing is a wonderful form of active recreation. It’s easy to combine business with pleasure here. Many men devote all their free time to fishing. And this is not surprising, since fishing can take a break from the everyday hustle and bustle and catch fish, delighting family members. After all, you can prepare various tasty and healthy dishes from fish, or simply fry it, and also cook delicious fish soup.
When can you fish from a boat?
If you have a boat, fishing takes on completely different features. If an angler has a boat, he can fish in any part of the reservoir. If we take into account modern wild reservoirs, the banks of which are considered difficult to access, then fishing on them without a boat is simply impossible. Therefore, having a boat practically guarantees a catch. The main thing is that the weather is conducive to fishing, then not only the catch will be ensured, but also a great mood. After all, fishing is, first of all, relaxation and an opportunity to gain strength and energy.
It’s good if the boat has a motor, then fishing is more effective, especially in large bodies of water. As for small ponds, you can also use oars, especially since such movement does not scare away the fish.
When going fishing with a boat, you should remember the current prohibitions on fishing from a boat, which are established at the legislative level. At the same time, you should also know that the timing may be different every year due to weather conditions, which is associated with the migration of fish. Therefore, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with such deadlines via the Internet.
Ideal weather for fishing from a boat
At different times of the year, fish bite differently, any fisherman knows this. Everyone knows that variable winds and inconsistent atmospheric pressure negatively affect the catch.
Seasons and bite:
- Spring. It is at this time of year that fishing will be successful, because the temperature is rising and the fish begin their active life. In spring, any weather is favorable, but good camouflage is needed, because the water is almost transparent and the fish see danger. If there are strong winds and cold in the spring, then you won’t get a good catch.
- Summer. Fish are capricious at this time of year because it is hot outside. Good summer weather for fishing with short showers, thunderstorms, wind and cloudiness. Night and morning are ideal times.
- Autumn. The activity of the fish increases as the temperature drops; they begin to gorge themselves for the winter and are therefore well caught. The best time is in autumn with light wind.
- Winter. The bite will be better in sunny weather, because there will be a favorable temperature and atmospheric pressure. Different fish manifest themselves in different ways, it all depends on weather conditions. Some people love snowfall, some love the breeze, some love the sun.
Bans on fishing in Ukraine
As for Ukraine, fishing here has its own characteristics. The head of Gosrybnadzor signs the corresponding document every year. You can find out about this on the official website and find out where and how you can fish during the spawning period, or more precisely, during periods of current bans. The website provides a table with which you can determine similar deadlines that may apply to specific bodies of water.
The main dates that correspond to the ban on fishing in the spring include:
- From April 1 to June 30 – fishing on rivers.
- From April 1 to June 10 – fishing in ponds and reservoirs.
- From April 1 to June 30, fishing in accessory systems is prohibited.
The ban on catching crayfish, which applies to most reservoirs in spring and autumn:
- From April 1 to June 30 – spring fishing is prohibited.
- From August 20 to September 30 – fall fishing is prohibited.
For spinning anglers and those who like to fish with rods using one hook, fishing may be allowed in areas remote from spawning grounds.
The following are prohibited in Ukraine:
- Nonsense.
- Venterya, paths.
- Ostrogi.
- Parachutes.
- Spiders.
- Self-propelled crossings.
- Samoders.
- Fixed networks.
- Screens.
In addition, fish catch rates per person have been established. The norms depend on the number of days spent fishing. It is permissible to catch no more than 5 kg of fish per person and 30 units of crayfish. If fishing lasts 2 days, then you are allowed to take out no more than 10 kg of fish per person in any form, for example, salted, smoked or dried.
Fines in Ukraine
Recently, penalties for catching prohibited fish have been seriously increased. Therefore, before you go fishing during prohibited periods, it is worth thinking about the consequences.
Catching fish listed in the Red Book can cost 510 UAH. for a unit. At the same time, you will have to pay about 1,550 UAH for a caught paddlefish.
The amount of fines depends on the amount of damage caused to fish stocks. At the same time, you need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay for each fish separately. A fine can be imposed in the amount of up to 150 non-taxable minimum wages. So:
- For caught crucian carp or perch you will have to pay 17 UAH.
- For a caught pike – 340 UAH.
If significant damage is caused to the fish population, then you can count on criminal liability. In addition, all gear, boat and catch will be confiscated.
What to do if the boat capsizes far from the shore?
If a boat capsizes far from the shore at great depth, it first lies on its side, then turns over with its keel up. If there is no one nearby to wait for help, then, grabbing the stern or bow of the boat and using your feet, direct it to a shallow place or to the nearest shore. Do not attempt to climb onto an overturned boat, as it may capsize again, hitting or encasing you. If the boat capsized in a strong current or on a river riffle, you should hold on to the boat, swim after it and get out to the shallow bank.
Andrey Shalygin
Source