I just a purchased a new 20' center console that my son and I will begin using in Long Island Sound this spring. The boat will be kept in a slip in a marina TBD most likely in Niantic. I am considering adding a bait/fish cleaning station (the kind that goes in a rod holder) so that one of us can clean fish as we head home at the end of our trips like the party boats do.

For fish that have a minimum or slot length like fluke, black seabass, porgeys, and striped bass; Can I fillet legal length fish on my boat on the ride in?

Do I need to keep the racks on the boat? Will a picture with a tape measure or yard stick for reference suffice?

The actual length part of the regulations are clear. I appreciate that once I fillet a fish it is no longer possible to document that it was a legal fish (without a rack or picture). Please clarify when and where I can fillet my catch and if any documentation of length is needed prior to reaching my dock.

Thank you for your help,

MikeV

Thanks. That's an excellent idea. Instead of paying around 5 bucks each for small bags of aged manure, I can add nitrogen and other needed nutrients by burying the racks. What I don't know about fishing and gardening could fill several books.

Now that I think of it, when I fished with my neighbor (that was about 15 years ago) we almost always stopped at his Dad's place in Waterford to bury the fish racks in his very big garden. The garden was magnificent producing a lot of large, very tasty tomatoes along with zucchini, peas, broccoli and salad greens. That's a great, practical, eco-friendly way to go.

MikeV

Raccoons love to dig up racks, best of luck

The new boat is a Tidewater 198CC
Here are the details: https://www.tidewaterboats.com/198-cc-adventure.html

We (My son and I) will keep it at a slip somewhere (TBD) in Niantic or close by.

We are working on the slip now. We are both very much looking forward to the spring.

MikeV

Great boat, congratulations!!!