We smelt this one coming!

The following advisory was issued today by the Sault Ste. Marie office of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

SooToday.com is advised that the smelt have been running since Saturday at Gawas Bay on St. Joseph Island, and there are unconfirmed reports that they are also in streams along the Lake Superior coast.

We encourage registered SooToday.com readers to provide smelt updates using the News Response forum on our Editorials page. ************************* It is illegal to buy or sell sport-caught fish Many people like to fish for sport.

And there's nothing like a meal of fresh fish you've caught yourself. But anglers should know that it's illegal to sell or buy fish or fish parts caught for sport.

An Ontario Sport Fishing Licence is not a licence to sell what you catch.

That includes: - Dip-netted fish such as smelt, whitefish, herring and baitfish. - Fish harvested by non-angling (spearing or bow fishing) such as carp, bowfin and sucker. - Fish caught by angling such as bass, perch, walleye, pike, muskie, suckers, carp, trout, crappie, sturgeon, salmon and catfish. - Parts of fish such as roe (eggs), fins and heads. Buying or selling includes: - Barter or trade. - Offer to buy, sell, barter or trade. - Possess for the purpose of buying, selling, bartering or trading. Buying or selling fish caught by sport fishing is prohibited under Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The maximum penalty for illegal sale or purchase of sport-caught fish is a fine of up to $100,000, two years’ imprisonment, or a combination of both. The legislation protects Ontario’s fish populations by prohibiting sport fishers from harvesting fish for commercial gain. Since sport-caught fish are not subject to food safety and quality inspections, the legislation also protects the health and safety of Ontarians.

It safeguards you and your family and friends from eating fish from contaminated waters or fish that have not been handled in a clean and sanitary way. If you wish to report the illegal sale of sport-caught fish, or any other natural resources abuse, call the Ministry of Natural Resources TIPS line at 1-877-TIPS-MNR (1-877-847-7667).

You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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