MN Fishing Question Out of Season

So I got in a good discussion today with a friend who casually fishes. He was asking me if he could fish for out of season fish for just catch and release.

I told him “no” and that it was against the law. He then told me that he read the complete MN regs book and it never mentions this. I then scanned it again as I do quite often and couldn’t anything that clearly stated this.

Is this stated clearly anywhere in the regs? Did I just miss it? What if I am new to fishing, and I read the complete reg book, would I know I can’t target, then catch and release out of season fish?

After my discussion with my bud, I am very intrigued to hear if anyone knows of this written in stone, Let me know thanks!

Never mind found it (its hidden pretty well):

What fishing methods are illegal?
• Intentionally fishing for a species during its closed season.
• Using an artificial light to lure, attract or spot fish. However, you may use a lighted artificial
lure. Batteries used in lighted fishing lures must not contain mercury.
• Leaving your fishing rod or any type of line with hooks attached unattended.
• Using explosives, firearms, chemicals (not including fish scents), spring devices or electricity
to take fish.
• Taking fish by hand (noodling) or by snagging.

It would be interesting to get the story directly from a CO, but my guess would be that the vast majority of tickets issued for out of season fishing come after the CO observes the angler repeatedly catching a species with no catch of a legal/in-season fish and no change in location or tactics.

It also seems likely to me that many fishing out of season tickets are issued because the angler actually kept the out of season fish, so they basically provided the evidence used against them.

It’s very difficult for me to see someone getting ticketed for catching an occasional bass or walleye while bobber fishing for crappie, but if I suddenly was catching several in a row without a catch of a legal fish, I’d be changing my tactics or location.

Grouse