MN 2007 G/F bill attacks Tournaments

The annual DNR Game and Fish bill S.F. 1184 has been introduced by Sen. Dill. It contains two major attacks on tournament fishing. If we don’t respond to this, we will see major changes

1.16 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97A.015, is amended by adding a
1.17subdivision to read:
1.18 Subd. 26c. Immediately released or immediately returned to the water.
1.19″Immediately released” or “immediately returned to the water” means that a fish must not
1.20be retained longer than is needed at the site of capture to unhook, identify, measure, or
1.21photograph the fish. Placing a fish on a stringer, in a live well, or in a cooler, bucket, or
1.22other container is not “immediately released” or “immediately returned to the water.”

9.5 Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97C.081, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
9.6 Subd. 3. Contests requiring a permit. (a) A person must have a permit from the
9.7commissioner to conduct a fishing contest that does not meet the criteria in subdivision 2.
9.8Permits shall be issued without a fee. The commissioner shall charge a fee for the permit
9.9that recovers the costs of issuing the permit and monitoring the activities allowed by the
9.10permit. Notwithstanding section 16A.1283, the commissioner may, by written order
9.11published in the State Register, establish contest permit fees. The fees are not subject to
9.12the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply.
9.13(b) If entry fees are over $25 per person, or total prizes are valued at more than
9.14$25,000, and if the applicant has either:
9.15(1) not previously conducted a fishing contest requiring a permit under this
9.16subdivision; or
9.17(2) ever failed to make required prize awards in a fishing contest conducted by
9.18the applicant, the commissioner may require the applicant to furnish the commissioner
9.19evidence of financial responsibility in the form of a surety bond or bank letter of credit in
9.20the amount of $25,000.

I think we had all better get used to more restrictive tournament regulations. We have been under similar regulations down here in Iowa during June, July and August for several years where the state will not issue a walleye tournament permit during those months. You can have a tournament out of Iowa waters in those months but it has to be a catch, measure and release tournament. The Iowa DNR came up with their regulations based on the high mortality rate of walleyes when the water temps are in excess of 60 degrees. There is absolutely nothing wrong with catch, measure and release tournaments. I know that most tournament fishermen want to bring their fish in to a weigh-in but when half of the fish end up dead and floating after the weigh in it gives our sport a bad reputation.

Eyehunter

Eyehunter, I don’t disagree with you. Minnesota also has had summer catch and kill walleye restrictions. But now its looking like a no-cull rule for all species, all year round. Add to this would be fees that might put the smaller organizations out of business.

My club went to measure and release and it worked well for us, but when it comes to a larger money event paper events haven’t been very popular. I’m hoping the imaging technology will evolve to the point that we can scan fish in the boat, combine it with video of the fish beening caught and have a totally electronic weigh-in.

I think they are just clarifying some rules for C&R waters on that first statement, I could be wrong but the rule used to be kinda vague. It doesn’t say anything in there about culling or not….. which by the way I read the current rules is illegal anyway