Section NR 25.05 - Open seasons; size limits; possession and harvest limits(1) OPEN SEASONS. In the outlying waters there shall be an open season subject to other conditions established in this chapter and by statute on the various species of fish embraced within specified dates, both inclusive, as follows. During any time other than the open season no person may take, catch or kill fish or fish for fish, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter. | Species | A Green Bay | B Lake Michigan | C Lake Superior |
(a) | Lake trout | No open season | No open season | November 28 to September 30, subject to the requirements in ss. NR 25.06(1) (a), 25.07(1) (a), and 25.09(7) and subdivided into the following periods: 1. Period 1: November 28 to March 31 2. Period 2: April 1 to May 31 3. Period 3: June 1 to September 30 |
(b) | Siscowet | No open season | No open season | At all times in waters greater than 55 fathoms in depth |
(c) | Whitefish | December 1 to October 31 | December 1 to October 31 | November 28 to September 30, subdivided into the following periods: 1. Period 1: November 28 to March 31 2. Period 2: April 1 to May 31 3. Period 3: June 1 to September 30 |
(d) | Chubs | No open season | 1. In the northern chub fishing zone: a. From April 26 to January 15. b. From January 16 to April 25, only in water 45 fathoms deep or deeper. 2. In the southern chub fishing zone: a. From April 26 to January 15, only in water south of 44° 32' north latitude. b. From January 16 to the end of February, only in water 45 fathoms deep or deeper c. From March 1 to April 25, only in water south of 44° 32' north latitude which is 45 fathoms deep or deeper | At all times |
(e) | Yellow perch | 1. Southern Green Bay: a. January 1 to March 15 - no open water fishing; commercial ice fishing is the only method allowed b. March 16 to May 19 - no open season c. May 20 to June 30 - only gill nets are allowed d. July 1 to March 15 - all legal gear under this chapter is allowed 2. Northern Green Bay: a. January 1 to March 15 - no open water fishing; commercial ice fishing is the only method allowed b. March 16 to April 30 - no gill nets allowed; all other legal gear under this chapter is allowed c. May 1 to September 14 - no open sea- son d. September 15 to March 15 - all legal gear under this chapter is allowed See map for details | No open season | No open season |
(g) | Menominees (round whitefish) | At all times | At all times | At all times |
(gm) | Carp, bullheads, burbot, catfish, gizzard shad, suckers, white bass, white perch | No open season except by permit or contract issued under s. 29.417, 29.421 or 29.424, Stats. | No open season except by permit or contract issued under s. 29.417, 29.421 or 29.424, Stats | At all times |
(gn) | Smelt | At all times except trawls may be used only from June 15 to September 30 and only from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise | At all times except trawls may used only from Nov. 15 to April 20 | At all times |
(h) | Cisco | No open season | No open season | January 1 to December 31 |
(i) | Walleye, sauger | No open season | No open season | No open season |
(j) | Others | No open season | No open season | No open season |
See PDF for diagram
(2) SIZE LIMITS. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, no fish of a length or size less than that specified for each variety of any of the following varieties may be possessed or under control. The measurement of the length of a fish within the meaning of this chapter shall be taken in a straight line in a natural position without manipulation from the tip of the snout to the end of the fully extended tail fin. The measurement of length shall apply without allowance made for the shrinkage of the fish. | Species | A Green Bay | B Lake Michigan | C Lake Superior |
(a) | Lake trout | | | No size limit for gill nets and a maximum of 25 inches for entrapping nets |
(b) | Siscowet | | | No size limit |
(c) | Whitefish | 17 inches | 17 inches | 17 inches |
(d) | Yellow perch | 8 inches in northern Green Bay, 71/2 inches in southern Green Bay | 8 inches | |
(e) | Walleye | 18 inches | | |
(g) | Catfish | 16 inches | 16 inches | |
(h) | Others | No size limit | No size limit | No size limit |
(3) POSSESSION AND HARVEST LIMITS. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person may do any of the following: (a) Possess species of fish for which there is no open season.(b) While on the water, possess species of fish outside of the open season for that species.(c) Catch, take or kill more fish than authorized by his or her harvest limit, except as provided in par. (g). The harvest limit for species of fish for which an open season is provided and a quota has been established shall be the individual quota established by commercial fishing boards or the department for the person harvesting the fish.(d) Fish for a species of fish in a zone for which the person has no harvest limit.(e) At the time of landing, possess fish eggs that weigh more than 25% of the simultaneously landed dressed carcasses of fish of the species from which the eggs were taken.(f) At the time of landing, possess fish viscera that weighs more than 50% of the simultaneously landed dressed carcasses of fish of the species from which the viscera were taken.(g) Take, catch or kill more fish, by species and zone, than authorized by the total of the person's individual catch quotas and permits under the person's fleet reporting program, if the person is engaged in fleet reporting under s. NR 25.135.(h) Take catfish with a bow and arrow or crossbow or by hand under the authority of a commercial fishing license.(4) ICE FISHING. Commercial fishing through the ice in Green Bay and Lake Michigan is prohibited after March 31 during each license year.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 25.05
Cr. Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; emerg. am. (1) (d) and cr. (3), eff. 5-16-79; am. Register, October, 1979, No. 286, eff. 11-1-79; am. (1) (d), Register, May, 1981, No. 305, eff. 7-1-81; emerg., am. (2) (b), eff. 7-1-81; am. (2) (b), Register, August, 1981, No. 308, eff. 9-1-81; emerg. am. (1) (i), eff. 5-20-82; am. (1) (d) and (i), (2) (e), Register, October, 1982, No. 322, eff. 11-1-82; am. (1) and (2), Register, April, 1983, No. 328, eff. 5-1-83; emerg. am. (1) (g) and cr. (1) (gm), eff. 6-20-84; am. (1) (d), Register, January, 1985, No. 349, eff. 2-1-85; am. (1) (g) and cr. (1) (gm), Register, March 1985, No. 351, eff. 4-1-85; am. (1) (d), Register, July, 1985, No. 355, eff. 8-1-85; am. (1) (d), Register, February, 1986, No. 362, eff. 3-1-86; am. (1) (cr), (e), (g) and (gm), r. (1) (f) and (2) (f), cr. (1) (gn) and (4), Register, June, 1989, No. 402, eff. 7-1-89. emerg. am. (1) (a) and (c), eff. 4-22-86; am. (1) (a), (c), (d) and (e), Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; am. (1) (d), (e), (g) and (gm), r. (1) (f) and (2) (f), cr. (1) (gn) and (4), Register, June, 1989, No. 402, eff. 7-1-89; emerg. am. (2) (a), eff. 11-28-90; emerg. am. (1) (g), (gn) and (3), eff. 4-1-91; am. (2) (a), Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91; am. (1) (g), (gn) and (3), Register, August, 1991, No. 428, eff. 9-1-91; emerg. am. (1) (e), eff. 7-1-96; emerg. am. (1) (e), eff. 10-1-96; am. (1) (e), Register, December, 1996, No. 492, eff. 1-1-97; am. (1) (d), Register, April, 1997, No. 496, eff. 5-1-97; am. (1) (d), Register, December, 1998, No. 516, eff. 1-1-99; am. (3), Register, July, 1999, No. 523, eff. 8-1-99; am. (1) (d), Register, December, 2000, No. 540, eff. 1-1-01; CR 01-115: am. (1) (d), Register February 2002 No. 554, eff. 3-1-02; CR 01-145: r. and recr. (1) (d), Register July 2002 No. 559, eff. 8-1-02; CR 06-111: r. and recr. (1) (d) Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07; CR 08-060: am. (3) Register June 2009 No. 642, eff. 7-1-09; CR11-049: am. (1) (c) Register August 2012 No. 680, eff. 9-1-12.Amended by, CR 19-009: cr. (3) (h) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20; correction in (3) (h) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3/1/2020Amended by, correction in (3) (h) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4/1/2020Amended by, CR 19-134: am. (4) Register April 2020 No. 772, eff. 5/1/2020Amended by, EmR1923: emerg. am. (1) (a), (c), (h), eff. 12-30-19; CR 19-103: am. (1) (a), (c), (h) Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8/1/2020Amended by, CR 23-008: r. and recr. (1) (e), am. (4) Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11/1/2023See the table of Appellate Court Citations for Wisconsin appellate cases cit-ing s. NR 25.05.