re: Cleaning fish at camp - legal question

I remember well the pre-limit days. One trip out of Tiger Pass on Jan 2 of whatever year in the early 80s we had to stop fishing. We filled whatever the biggest sized box you could get back then (maybe 100 qt?) and our drink box. Could not put another Red in it. All 12 to about 20 inches, no huge ones. Luckily it was cold as hell!
Another trip we filled two or three boxes with speckled trout. We never would count them. We'd get home sometimes, call the neighbors to help clean ahd fry right out of the box. Good Times!