Section 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. - See PDF for table

(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. - See PDF for table

(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 .

(4)   Ice fishing. Commercial fishing through the ice in Green Bay and Lake Michigan is prohibited after March 15 during each license year.

History: 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. Note: See the table of Appellate Court Citations for Wisconsin appellate cases citing s. NR 25.05 .