Section NR 20.40 - Fishing tournaments(1) APPLICABILITY. This section applies to fishing tournaments on lakes, rivers, the Great Lakes, Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters as defined in s. NR 21.02 (39), Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters as defined in s. NR 22.02 (34), and Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters as defined in s. NR 23.02 (10).(2) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) "Aquatic invasive species" has the meaning in s. NR 193.03 (3).(b) "Aquatic plant" has the meaning in s. 30.07 (1) (b), Stats.(c) "Catch and kill tournament" means a fishing tournament where fish are caught by participants, reduced to their possession, and retained as part of the participant's daily bag limit.(d) "Catch-hold-release tournament" means a fishing tournament where fish caught by participants are reduced to possession and transported, usually for purposes of recording, and live fish are then released to the water from which they came. This format was previously referred to as a "live-release" tournament.(dm) "Cull" or "culling" means the practice of releasing a live fish that was held in an angler's possession and replacing it with another fish. Live fish that are released and capable of swimming away under their own power are not considered part of the angler's daily bag limit provided the total number of fish possessed at any one time does not exceed the angler's daily bag limit. Note: Section 29.403 (1m), Stats., allows culling only during largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing tournaments authorized by the department. An angler must release the fish to be culled without unnecessary delay when keeping a new fish that would otherwise put them over their daily bag limit, and may not resume fishing or other activities until the fish to be culled is first released.
(e) "Fishing tournament" means any organized fishing activity, on any water of the state where competition is the primary purpose, and where incentives, such as money, prizes or points, are awarded.(f) "Immediate-release tournament" means a fishing tournament where fish caught by participants are not reduced to possession and transported, but are held only long enough for identification and to document length or weight or both, and released to the water from which they came.(g) "Live well" means a container designed to hold live fish on a boat.(h) "Off-site weigh-in" means a weigh-in of fish caught in a catch-hold-release tournament at a location that is not on the shoreline or adjacent to the waters listed on the fishing tournament permit.(i) "Open water fishing" means all fishing that occurs except when ice is used as a platform from which to fish.(j) "Opening weekend" means the first Saturday and consecutive Sunday in May.(k) "Organize" means to advance, conduct, direct, establish, promote or otherwise be responsible for the operation of a fishing tournament.(l) "Organizer" means a person who advances, conducts, directs, establishes, organizes, promotes or otherwise is responsible for the operation of a fishing tournament, but does not include a person who only assists in advertising or publicizing another person's fishing tournament.(m) "Permitted fishing tournament" means a fishing tournament that requires a permit from the department.(n) "Permitted fishing tournament boat days" is a measure of tournament fishing pressure for open water permitted fishing tournaments. It is calculated by multiplying the number of boats participating in an open water permitted fishing tournament by the number of days the permitted fishing tournament is held. Any part of a day shall count as one day.(o) "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, organization or body politic or corporate.(p) "Possess" for the purposes of this section means to own, control, restrain, transport or keep. Once a fish is possessed, it shall be counted towards the angler's daily bag limit pursuant to s. NR 20.05 (7). Any of the following conditions constitute possession:1. Holding a fish out of the water longer than necessary to remove hooks and measure the fish for length, weight or both.2. Placing a fish into a live well except to revive a fish or to avoid imminent boating danger.3. Holding a fish at the side of a stationary boat for longer than necessary to register and revive the fish.4. Resuming fishing by any angler in the boat prior to the release of the fish.(q) "Prizes" means money or items that are provided to a tournament participant based on their performance in a competitive fishing event. This does not include "raffle" type prizes which are given to tournament participants independent of their performance in the competitive fishing event.(r) "Traditional fishing tournament" means a fishing tournament that was issued permits 4 out of 5 years from 2004 to 2008, for the same water or waters and time period. Beginning January 1, 2009, traditional fishing tournaments shall continue to be conducted at least 4 out of 5 years for the same waterbody and time period to remain a traditional fishing tournament.(s) "Weigh-in" means a registration process for catch-hold-release tournaments by which fish are measured and released. Note: Weigh-ins on certain department-managed properties may require special event authorization from the department, pursuant to ch. NR 45.
(3) PERMIT REQUIRED. No person may carry out a fishing tournament that meets any of the criteria in pars. (a) to (f), without a permit. A person shall obtain a permit from the department to organize a fishing tournament when the waters to be fished are identified by name by the organizer and one or more of the following apply: (a) The fishing tournament involves 20 or more boats, or 100 or more participants.(b) The fishing tournament includes any trout species on waters classified as trout streams under s. NR 1.02 (7).(c) The fishing tournament is a catch-hold-release tournament with an off-site weigh-in.(d) The total prize value is $10,000 or greater.(e) Tournament participants are allowed to cull largemouth and smallmouth bass.(f) Notwithstanding the size and bag limits established in s. NR 20.20, catch-hold-release tournament participants are allowed to take a daily bag limit of up to five bass of a minimum of 14 inches in length.(3m) PERMIT EXCEPTIONS. Except as provided in s. NR 20.40 (3) (f), organizers do not need a permit under this section to organize and conduct any of the following: (a) Fishing tournaments that are statewide or regional in nature where the specific waters to be fished and landings that must be used, if any, are not identified by name.(b) Fishing tournaments that do not require identification or registration of participants prior to engaging in the tournament.(c) Fishing tournaments that fulfill all of the following:1. Continue for more than 4 days.2. Do not require participants to fish at the same time.3. Allow participants to register at any time during the tournament.4. Do not specify a weigh-in time.(3s) TOURNAMENT SELF-REGISTRATION. A person who organizes a fishing tournament that does not require a permit from the department as determined under subs. (3) and (3m) shall register the event with the department no later than 72 hours prior to the start of the event, in the manner specified by the department, and shall provide all of the following information:(a) The date or date range of the event.(b) The waterbodies that will be fished during the event unless the event is statewide or regional in nature and no specific waterbodies or landings are named.(c) The estimated number of participants.(d) The estimated number of boats, unless the event is an ice fishing tournament.(e) The fish species targeted.(f) Other information required by the department in the registration form.(4) APPLICATION. A person who wishes to organize a fishing tournament requiring a permit from the department shall apply on forms available from the department. (a) Permit applications shall specify an individual who is responsible for supervising the tournament to ensure compliance with all tournament permit conditions and regulations.(b) Applicants for a fishing tournament permit shall pay a $25.00 non-refundable permit application fee upon submission of the application when the following conditions apply: 1. The tournament format is immediate-release; or2. Total prizes provided to tournament participants are valued at less than $1,001; or3. The tournament targets salmon or trout species on Lake Michigan, Green Bay, or Lake Superior; or4. The tournament targets rough fish as defined in s. 29.001 (74), Stats.(c) Applicants for a fishing tournament permit shall pay a $50.00 non-refundable permit application fee upon submission of the application when the following conditions apply: 1. The tournament format is catch-hold-release or catch and kill; and2. Total prizes provided to tournament participants are valued at $1,001 or greater and less than $10,001.(d) Applicants for a fishing tournament permit shall pay a $200.00 non-refundable permit application fee upon submission of the application when the following conditions apply: 1. The tournament format is catch-hold-release or catch and kill; and2. Total prizes provided to tournament participants are valued at $10,001 or greater.(e) There is no fee for a fishing tournament permit where 50% or more of the participants are younger than 18 years of age or are developmentally disabled as defined under s. 51.01 (5) (a), Stats., or physically disabled and eligible for a license under s. 29.193 (3) or (3m), Stats. Note: Application forms may be obtained at no charge from department service centers and regional offices or by visiting the department website athttp://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/tournaments/.
(5) PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS. (a) The department shall accept permit applications for traditional fishing tournaments beginning on January 1 of the year preceding the tournament.(b) The department shall accept permit applications for tournaments that are not traditional fishing tournaments beginning on April 1 of the year preceding the tournament.(c) All permit applications and application fees must be received by the department at least 30 days prior to the start of the tournament. The department may review permit applications received within 30 days of the tournament start date if the applicant pays a late fee in addition to the application fee which shall be equal to the application fee specified under sub. (4). If the department is unable to review a late application, the application fee will be returned to the applicant.(d) The department shall approve or deny permit applications on a first come first served basis in compliance with the limits in subs. (7) and (8).(6) COMPLIANCE. (a) All participants in a permitted fishing tournament shall comply with all provisions of the permit.(b) If a participant fails to comply with the permit, the violating participant shall promptly be disqualified and expelled from the tournament by the organizer.(c) All organizers of a permitted fishing tournament shall comply with all permit terms and conditions and the rules of this section and shall take adequate measures to ensure that all participants comply with all provisions of the permit. The organizer of a permitted fishing tournament shall provide each participant a copy of the permit conditions and rules specific to the fishing tournament along with potential penalties for noncompliance prior to any participant being allowed to participate in the tournament.(d) Notwithstanding par. (b), the department may take other appropriate enforcement action against a participant or organizer found to be in violation of this chapter or ch. 29, Stats.(7) LIMITS ON SIZE AND NUMBER OF FISHING TOURNAMENTS. The size and number of permitted fishing tournaments allowed on a water body may not exceed the following limits except in Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, and Lake Winnebago where there are no limits on the size and number of permitted fishing tournaments. Traditional fishing tournaments may be permitted to exceed the limits established in this subsection up to the maximum level of participation or boat days associated with that tournament in the past 5 years. Bass fishing tournaments with fewer than 20 boats will not be included in the maximum daily number of boats allowed on open water, the maximum monthly number of permitted fishing tournament boat days, the maximum daily number of concurrent permitted fishing tournaments, or the maximum number of permitted fishing tournaments per month on rivers. (a) The following monthly limits on permitted fishing tournament size, number, and total boat days are based on lake acreage are outlined in the table below. LAKE OR LAKE CHAIN SIZE (ACRES) | MAXIMUM DAILY NUMBER OF BOATS ALLOWED FOR PERMITTED OPEN WATER FISHING TOURNAMENTS | MAXIMUM MONTHLY NUMBER OF PERMITTED FISHING TOURNAMENT BOAT DAYS | MAXIMUM DAILY NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS ALLOWED FOR PERMITTED ICE FISHING TOURNAMENTS | MAXIMUM DAILY NUMBER OF CONCURRENT PERMITTED FISHING TOURNAMENTS |
1. Less than 100 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 1 (ice fishing only) |
2. 100-449 | 25 | 50 | 250 | 1 |
3. 450-999 | 50 | 300 | 500 | 1 |
4. 1,000-4,999 | 125 | 1,125 | 1,000 | 2 |
5. 5,000-9,999 | 150 | 2,400 | 1,500 | 2 |
6. Larger than 10,000 | Determined by actual acreage (1 boat/50 acres) | 3,000 | No Limit | No Limit |
(b) Open water fishing tournaments on lakes or lake chains smaller than 100 acres may be permitted if the department finds that the tournament: 1. Will promote public awareness of fishing and the state's resources and conforms to the best management practices for the lake; or2. Is a traditional fishing tournament.(c) The following shall apply to fishing tournaments permitted for any combination of lakes within a chain of interconnected lakes: 1. Permitted fishing tournaments may engage in fishing activities in lake chains or connected lakes but the tournament organizer must select a lake where the primary fishing activity or weigh-in will take place.2. The availability of permits will be based on the acreage of the lake selected in subd. 1. as outlined in par. (a).(d) For boundary water lakes, the limits on the number of permitted fishing contests shall be determined based on the Wisconsin acreage.(e) For flowages and impoundments of rivers, the limits in par. (a) shall include tributaries upstream to the first dam or road crossing unless otherwise specified in the permit.(f) The following provisions apply to rivers:1. The maximum number of permitted fishing tournaments per month on the Mississippi River, Lake St. Croix, St. Croix River, Wisconsin River, Fox River and Wolf River are outlined in the following table. RIVER SEGMENT OR SECTION | MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERMITTED FISHING TOURNAMENTS PER MONTH |
1. Mississippi River: Pool 3; 5; 5A; 6; 7; 8; 9 | 4 (each pool) |
2. Mississippi River: Pool 4 | 5 |
3. Lake St. Croix | 4 |
4. Mississippi River: Pool 10; 11; 12 | 8 |
5. St. Croix River, Wisconsin River, Fox River, Wolf River (excluding Lake Winnebago system waters as defined in s. NR 20.03 (19)) | 2 (each 10 mile segment) |
2. Fishing tournament waters identified in the permit for Mississippi River pools are limited to no more than 3 pools where each pool is separated by a lock and dam.2m. Fishing tournaments permitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are authorized to operate in Wisconsin portions of Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters under the regulations specified in the Minnesota permit. Note: Under s. 29.403 (1m), Stats., a bass tournament permitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources may cull largemouth and smallmouth bass in Wisconsin portions of Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters. Culling is not allowed in Minnesota waters of Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters at the time this rule was drafted. Tournaments authorized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources may not cull in Minnesota waters unless authorized by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
3. No more than 2 permitted fishing tournaments per month, not to exceed 4 days combined, may be issued for any 10 mile segment of a river not listed in subd. 1., as defined in the permit. If any portion of river permitted overlaps with a previously permitted portion of the same river, it shall be considered the same segment. Segment boundaries shall be readily identifiable features as close to 10 miles apart as possible.4. Permitted fishing tournaments may engage in fishing activities in multiple pools but the tournament organizer must select the pool where the primary fishing activity or weigh-in will take place. The availability of permits will be based on the selected pool as outlined in subd. 1.(8) ADDITIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT PERMITS. Notwithstanding the limits in sub. (7), the department may allow one additional permit each year for fishing tournaments on lakes greater than 1,000 acres or river segments identified by the department. For additional fishing tournaments permitted under this subsection, the fishing tournament permit applicant shall demonstrate to the department that the tournament: (a) Will promote public awareness of fishing and the state's resources and conform to best management practices for the lake; or(b) Is a traditional fishing tournament.(c) The department may issue one advance tournament permit for each waterbody in each year that authorizes a tournament on that waterbody up to 3 years before the tournament is to occur when:1. The tournament sponsor can demonstrate undue hardship unless they receive an advance permit, and2. The tournament sponsor can demonstrate a substantial economic benefit to the local economy by being able to receive a tournament permit up to 3 years in advance for a specific waterbody.(9) DISPOSITION OF DEAD FISH. The department shall require each applicant to provide a written plan for the disposition of any dead fish encountered within a 48-hour period from the end of the tournament and are a result of the fishing tournament which complies with s. 23.095 (1g), Stats. No plan may include retention of any fish contrary to the requirements of department rule, except that the department may, via permit condition, authorize a tournament organizer or their designee to receive and transport trout or salmon from tournament participants, in excess of established possession limits, for immediate delivery to a food distribution service as defined in s. 29.001 (28), Stats. Note: Section 23.095 (1g), Stats., General prohibition. No person may damage or attempt to damage any natural resource within the state. Under s. 23.095 (1) (a)"Damage" means to commit a physical act that unreasonably destroys, molests, defaces, removes or wastes.
(10) GENERAL PROVISIONS AND PERMIT CONDITIONS.(a) No person may organize fishing tournaments on the same body of water with starting dates separated by less than 2 weeks unless 50% or more of the participants in the additional tournament are younger than 18 years of age or are developmentally disabled as defined under s. 51.01 (5) (a), Stats., or physically disabled and eligible for a license under s. 29.193 (3) or (3m), Stats.(b) The department may deny an application for a fishing tournament permit upon determination that the body of water, the fish or other aquatic resources may be substantially harmed by the concentration of fishing activity from the fishing tournament.(c) No person may conduct a fishing tournament on any of the following unless it is a traditional fishing tournament:1. Opening weekend of the fishing season, except that a person may conduct a fishing tournament that is not a traditional fishing tournament on opening weekend on waters with a continuous open harvest season for that species.2. 3-day Memorial Day weekend.4. 3-day Labor Day weekend.(d) The department may require the tournament organizer to make parking arrangements in addition to those normally present at location where the event is taking place for the fishing tournament participants in order to ensure reasonable public access to the water where the permitted fishing tournament is being conducted. A plan outlining the alternative parking arrangements shall be submitted to the department upon request. The department may withhold approval of a fishing tournament permit application until an adequate alternative parking plan or parking arrangements have been provided by the organizer.(e) For open water permitted fishing tournaments, participants' boats shall be identified in a uniform manner that makes them easily identifiable on the water as fishing tournament participants and the method for identification shall be provided to the department. This requirement does not apply to tournaments on the Great Lakes for trout and salmon.(f) The following provisions apply to immediate-release tournaments: 1. Participants may not reduce fish to their possession.2. Participants shall immediately initiate the official tournament registration process upon landing a fish.3. Participants shall successfully release the fish, as indicated by the capability of the fish to swim away upright under its own power, prior to resuming fishing.(g) The following provisions apply to catch-hold-release tournaments:1. No person may conduct a catch-hold-release tournament for muskellunge, northern pike, sturgeon or trout with an off-site weigh-in.2. No person may conduct a catch-hold-release tournament unless they follow the conditions related to fish handling specified on the permit.3. No person may participate in a catch-hold-release open water tournament unless their boat is equipped with a live well that is demonstrated to the tournament organizer as functioning properly prior to fishing in the fishing tournament.3m. No person may participate in a catch-hold-release ice fishing tournament unless they have a container capable of holding and transporting live fish in water.4. Except as provided in par. (gm) 4., no person may hold fish in a catch-hold-release tournament in on-shore holding tanks unless the tanks have the capacity to hold at least one gallon of water per pound of fish held and are equipped with an aeration or oxygenation system that maintains the dissolved oxygen at 5 parts per million or higher.5. No person may conduct a catch-hold-release tournament with an off-site weigh-in unless the fish holding equipment and fish handling procedures at the weigh in site are approved by the department and the approval is specified on the permit.6. The department shall include permit conditions that specify fish handling requirements during weigh-in for catch-hold-release tournaments.7. The department may include the following permit conditions related to tournament operation for permitted catch-hold-release tournaments at the point of permit issuance when it determines that environmental conditions are not conducive to survival of fish intended for release and the release may constitute unreasonable waste of natural resources or when it determines that the transport and release of fish is detrimental to the fish population under the provisions of s. 23.095 (1g), Stats.a. The department may restrict the area that may be fished by fishing tournament participants to reduce the time that fish are held in live wells, the distance fish are transported to a weigh-in site or both.b. The department may require redistribution of released fish.8. The department shall restrict the area that may be fished by participants in catch-hold-release bass and walleye tournaments on Green Bay to reduce the potential for biological harm to the bass population and to reduce the potential for unreasonable waste of walleye. Participants in catch-hold-release bass and walleye fishing tournaments with a weigh-in site north of the mouth of the Pensaukee River (N44°49'18.876", W-87°53'56.04") may not fish north of a line extending from Gills Rock (N45°17'38.9724", W-87°1'23.0376") to the Wisconsin state line and south of a line running from Brown County line (N44°40'39.6510", W-87°59'15.5004") to the Kewaunee County line (N44°40'36.8898", W-87°44'11.8026"). Participants in catch-hold-release bass fishing tournaments with a weigh-in site north of the mouth of Pensaukee River (N44°49'18.876", W-87°53'56.04") may not fish beyond 5 miles of the Green Bay shoreline on which the weigh-in site is located. Participants in catch-hold-release bass fishing tournaments with a weigh-in site north of the mouth of Pensaukee River located on the eastern shore of Green Bay may fish beyond 5 miles of the eastern shore only to access Green Bay waters within 1.5 miles surrounding Chambers Island. Participants in catch-hold-release bass and walleye fishing tournaments with a weigh-in site south of the mouth of the Pensaukee River (N44°49'18.876", W-87°53'56.04") may not fish south of the DePere Dam (N44°26'50.9928", W-88°4'3.7050") and north of a line running from the mouth of the Pensaukee River (N44°49'18.876", W-87°53'56.04") to Chaudoirs Dock (N44°44'50.28", W-87°41'56.4"). Notwithstanding these fishing area restrictions, the department may allow one bass and one walleye tournament per year on Green Bay to fish all waters of Green Bay south of a line extending from Gills Rock (N45°17'38.9724", W-87°1'23.0376") to the Wisconsin state line provided that the tournament will promote national public awareness of fishing on Green Bay and is planned to have more than 60 boats. Tournaments promoting national public awareness include, but are not limited to, events that are part of a national tour and statewide or regional championships that qualify participants for a national event. Note: Anglers are not restricted from fishing in Michigan waters, however, to minimize potential for biological harm and unreasonable waste of natural resources, the department encourages tournament organizers to restrict fishing in Michigan waters to south of a line extending due east from Rochereau Point (N45°18'13.92", W-87°26'2.436") to the Wisconsin state line.
9. To reduce the potential for unreasonable waste of natural resources, the department shall: a. Require a reduced daily bag limit of 3 walleye for catch-hold-release tournaments on all waters with a daily bag limit of 3 walleye or greater from the second Saturday in June to the first Sunday in September, unless the department determines that the temperature of the primary waterbody to be fished is expected to be less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.b. Require a reduced daily bag limit of 3 bass for catch-hold-release tournaments on all waters with a daily bag limit of 3 bass or greater from the first Saturday in July to the second Sunday in August unless the department determines that the temperature of the primary waterbody to be fished is expected to be less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit for smallmouth bass or less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit for largemouth bass. Notwithstanding these bag limit requirements, the department may allow one catch-hold-release bass tournament per year per waterbody with a 5 fish bag limit from the first Saturday in July to the second Sunday in August provided the tournament will promote national public awareness of fishing and is planned to have 60 or more boats and the primary waterbody fished will be 2000 or more acres. Tournaments promoting national public awareness include, but are not limited to, events that are part of a national tour and statewide or regional championships that qualify participants for a national event.10. Subject to the requirements in this section, the department may issue a permit for a catch-hold-release bass tournament when the season is open for harvesting bass that allows each participant in the tournament to take a daily bag limit of up to five bass of a minimum of 14 inches in length. All live bass shall be returned to the water from which they were taken as specified in the permit and no later than the day of the conclusion of the tournament.(gm) In addition to the provisions in par. (g), all of the following provisions apply to participants in catch-hold-release muskellunge tournaments:1. Participants shall use boats equipped with a functioning live well or other container large enough to hold muskellunge and equipped with a pump for aerating and exchanging freshwater that is operated continuously once a fish is placed in the live well or other container.2. Participants shall immediately transport muskellunge placed in a live well or other container to the designated weigh-in site. All transported fish must meet legal length limits for the water body being fished.3. Either multiple weigh-in sites shall be designated by the tournament organizer or the areas open to fishing limited so that muskellunge will not be transported for more than 30 minutes.4. Tournament officials or judges shall immediately register muskellunge brought to the weigh-in site. No pens, tanks, or other means of confinement may be used to hold the fish at the weigh-in site.5. Registration of muskellunge is restricted to a measurement of length. In-water measurement of the fish is recommended whenever possible.6. Muskellunge may be retained at the weigh-in site only until capable of swimming upright under its own power and shall be released from the weigh-in site.7. Participants may not leave the weigh-in site until the fish they transported to the weigh-in site has been successfully released. If the fish cannot be released alive, final disposition of the fish is the responsibility of that participant and shall not violate s. 23.095 (1g), Stats.8. A participant shall count muskellunge transported to a weigh-in site towards the participant's daily bag limit and that person may not fish for muskellunge during the remainder of that day. Note: Section 23.095 (1g), Stats., states that no person may damage or attempt to damage any natural resource within the state. "Damage" means to commit a physical act that unreasonably destroys, molests, defaces, removes, or wastes.
(h) All permits for fishing tournaments shall do the following: 1. Identify areas where competitive fishing is prohibited for the following reasons: a. To protect critical habitat, including areas designated by local ordinance for aquatic vegetation preservation or areas where habitat enhancement activity is underway.b. To protect public rights, interests or safety, including designated swimming areas, mooring areas, access areas, navigational channels, staging areas, beaches or other special use areas.2. Prohibit the use of tagged fish, except when approved by the department for any of the following reasons:a. To enhance collection of data for management purposes as part of a scientific study.b. The tagged fish are legally obtained from a licensed private fish hatchery and are planted under a stocking or introduction permit issued by the department under s. 29.736, Stats., and s. NR 19.05.c. Specific authorization is granted by the department to capture, tag and immediately release fish from the wild using lawful methods for purposes of a fishing contest.(i) Pursuant to s. NR 20.05 (7), any fish taken into possession by an individual and not released immediately shall be included as part of the individual's daily bag limit.(j) The time limitations upon the length of a fishing tournament under this section do not include fishing activities by tournament participants carried out prior to the time when the tournament begins.(k) Except for tournaments on the Great Lakes and tournaments exempt from a permit under s. NR 20.40 (3m) (c), the fishing portion of any tournament may not run for more than 10 consecutive hours each day or more than 4 consecutive days.(l) The fishing portion of tournaments on the Great Lakes is not limited in duration.(m) Upon permit approval, tournament organizers shall notify the county and city, village, or town within which the access site, weigh-in site, or headquarters for the tournament is located of the date, time, location and size of tournament.(11) AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES. (a) All tournament participants shall comply with s. 30.07, Stats., and all department rules pertaining to control of aquatic invasive species.(b) Fishing tournament organizers shall inform all tournament participants of procedures recommended by the department to clean and decontaminate boats and equipment of aquatic plants and invasive species prior to the tournament.(c) The department may include permit conditions necessary to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.(12) REPORTING. Each organizer shall report the results of the organizer's tournament and other information which the department deems necessary on forms available from the department no later than 30 days following the last day of the tournament.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 20.40
Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 01-012: am. (4) (b) and (5), r. (9), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; except (9) eff. 12-31-01; correction in (6) (c) 4. made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register September 2002 No. 561; CR 04-112: cr. (1) (am), (d), and (6m), am. (6) (d) and (f) Register June 2005 No. 594, eff. 7-1-05; CR 06-108: r. and recr. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; correction in (7) (a) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 1, Stats., Register April 2009 No. 640; corrections in (2) (b) and (11) (a) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register February 2010 No. 650; CR 10-053: am. (1) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; CR 13-079: cr. (2) (dm), am. (3) (intro.), cr. (3) (e), (3m) (intro.), am. (3m) (a), (b), cr. (3m) (c), am. (4) (b) 2., 3., (c) 2., (d) 2., r. and recr. (5), am. (7) (intro.), (a) (table), cr. (7) (f) 2m., am. (10) (g) 3., cr. (10) (g) 3m., am. (10) (g) 4., 7. (intro.), r. (10) (g) 7. c., cr. (10) (g) 8., 9., (gm) Register May 2014 No. 701, eff. 6-1-14; correction in (10) (g) 4. made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register May 2014 No. 701; correction in (10) (g) 8. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2014 No. 701.Amended by, correction in (10) 9. (gm) (intro.) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register June 2015 No. 714; CR 19-016: am. (3) (intro.), cr. (3) (f), am. (3m) (intro.), cr. (10) (g) (10), Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 19-016: am. (3) (intro.), cr. (3) (f), am. (3m) (intro.) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 19-091: am. (3m) (a), cr. (10) (h) 2. c. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4/1/2020Amended by, CR 19-078: am. (2) (a) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6/1/2020Amended by, CR 21-058: am. (2) (j), (3) (f), r. and recr. (3m) (c), am. (9), (10) (c) 1., (d), (g) 10., (k) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4/1/2022Amended by, CR 23-009: cr. (3s) Register February 2024 No. 818, eff. 4/1/2024Amended by, CR 23-058: am. (10) (c) 1. Register June 24 No. 822, eff. 7/1/2024 Reporting forms will be issued with permits.