Section 498.279 - Black bass and walleye angling contests; rules(1) A person, or group of persons, may conduct, sponsor and participate in any competition or contest in which prizes are offered for the amount, quality, size, weight or other physical characteristics of black bass or walleye, provided that the rules of a competition or contest are prepared and distributed by the sponsors to the contestants and are administered and enforced by the sponsors. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, such rules shall include, but are not limited to: (a) A requirement that the contestants use aerated live wells or other equipment so that all reasonable efforts are made to maintain the fish taken in a live and healthy condition.(b) A requirement that all fish caught that are in a healthy condition are immediately returned to the water where they were caught, after weighing. Black bass may be turned over to the State Department of Fish and Wildlife for restocking.(c) A requirement that bass tournament contestants use only artificial or other such prepared baits.(2) The State Department of Fish and Wildlife may waive any of the requirements described in subsection (1) of this section if the department determines that limiting a population of black bass or walleye in a body of water would benefit native fish species or the ecological health of the body of water.(3) As used in this section, "black bass" means largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, redeye bass, spotted bass and all other basses of the genus Micropterus.(4) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may adopt rules to limit the number of contests and participants, determine the location of contests and prescribe other terms and conditions regarding the conduct of contests under this section.Amended by 2023 Ch. 48,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2024.1981 c.510 §3; 1985 c.562 §1; 1987 c.299 §1; 2001 c.186 §1