Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024
Subpart 1.
Angling hours.
Angling hours on all streams and rivers from Lake Superior
upstream to posted boundaries, including Lake Superior tributaries with no
posted boundaries, are from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset
during the open season; provided that angling hours on the St. Louis River in
St. Louis and Carlton Counties and the Pigeon River in Cook County are
continuous during the open season except as provided by Minnesota Statutes,
section
97C.415,
subdivision 1.
Angling hours for all species on all inland waters are
continuous during the open season, except as provided by Minnesota Statutes,
section
97C.415,
subdivision 1, and except for certain waters which are subject to experimental
or special regulations.
Subp.
2. [Repealed,
L
2003 c 28 art 1
s
20]
Subp.
3. [Repealed,
L
2003 c 28 art 1
s
20]
Subp.
4.
Importation, transportation, or stocking of live
fish.
Except as provided in parts 6212.2600, subpart 3, and
6262.0600, subpart 4, and Minnesota Statutes, sections
17.4985,
subdivision 3; 97C.505, subdivision 1; 97C.515, subdivision 3; 97C.525,
subdivision 1; and 97C.821, a person may not import, transport, or stock in any
waters of the state live fish eggs, fish spawn, or immature or adult fish of
any species without a permit issued by the commissioner. An angling license
does not authorize a person to import, transport, or stock live
fish.
Subp. 5.
Possession of fish while on state waters.
A. Fish that are taken by angling and not
immediately released into the water after capture are considered to be in
possession. Once a limit of fish has been reduced to possession, no culling or
live well sorting (the act of replacing one fish with another one) of that
species is allowed.
B. A person
shall not angle for, including catch-and-release, or reduce to possession any
species during its closed season.
C. Once a person or persons fishing as a
party as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section
97C.317,
retain a daily limit for a species, all fish of that species that are
subsequently taken must be immediately released into the water after
capture.
D. While on or fishing in
state waters with size restrictions that differ from statewide regulations,
including experimental waters, special management waters, boundary waters, or
any other waters with size restrictions, all fish for which the different size
restrictions apply must be undressed and measurable when in a persons
possession, regardless of where taken, except under the following conditions:
1) when a watercraft is docked or moored to
shore or when on the ice and a person is in the act of preparing and using the
fish for a meal; or
2) when a
person is on an experimental or special management water and the fish were
lawfully taken, have been packaged and labeled by a licensed fish packer, are
to be prepared for a meal while on the ice or shore of that water body, and do
not otherwise exceed the statewide possession limits.
When fish are consumed under subitem (1), the angler must
maintain the carcass of a fish with size limits in such a way that the carcass
may be readily unpacked, unwrapped, and separated so that the carcass may be
examined, measured, and counted to ensure compliance with size restrictions for
that day, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section
645.45.
E. It is unlawful for a person to
have in possession, regardless of where taken, any fish in excess of or outside
of the limits for that water body when fishing in that water. A person must
immediately return to the water any fish that is taken by angling that is in
excess of or outside the limits. This item does not apply to a person who is on
an experimental or special management water and the fish were lawfully taken,
have been packaged and labeled by a licensed fish packer, are to be prepared
for a meal while on the ice or shore of that water body, and do not otherwise
exceed the statewide possession limits.
F. A person who is in transit on the water,
taking the most direct route back to the persons lodging or docking, and not
fishing, may possess fish outside of or in excess of the limits for that water
body, if the species were legally taken from connected waters.
Subp. 6.
Angling
tackle.
A. An angler may have up to
three single or multiple hooks on a line used as a single tackle configuration
attached to the end of a fishing line. The total configuration from the first
hook to the last hook must be nine inches or less. Live, artificial, preserved,
or dead bait is allowed. This configuration is not considered an artificial
bait or fly.
B. An angler may have
one additional single or multiple hook on a line as part of an artificial bait
as long as it is within three inches of the artificial bait.
C. Except for a single artificial bait or
three artificial flies, an angling rig with more than one hook is not allowed
on designated trout streams and lakes.
Subp. 7.
Spawn bags.
Spawn bags may be bought or sold only if the bags are made
with:
A. fish eggs from a licensed
aquaculture facility; or
B. fish
eggs that are:
1) legally taken from a source
outside Minnesota that has been certified disease-free; and
2) preserved and labeled as required under a
bait preservation permit. Records must be maintained as required for bait
preservation permits.
Subp. 8. [Repealed,
L
2003 c 28 art 1
s
20]
Statutory Authority: MS s
14.388;
84.027;
84D.05;
84D.09;
84D.10;
84D.11;
84D.13;
86B.121;
97A.031;
97A.045;
97A.401;
97A.418;
97A.445;
97A.505;
97A.510;
97A.551;
97C.001;
97C.005;
97C.041;
97C.085;
97C.205;
97C.315;
97C.325;
97C.345;
97C.355;
97C.395;
97C.401;
97C.415; and
others at 19 SR 6
