29.4035 Bass fishing tournament pilot program.
29.4035
29.4035 Bass fishing tournament pilot program.29.4035(1)
(1) In this section, "live well" means a container that is used to hold live fish and that meets standards established by the department by rule.29.4035(2)
(2) The department shall establish a bass fishing tournament pilot program under which the department shall issue 4 permits per year. The department shall issue at least one permit per year under this section for a bass fishing tournament that authorizes participants to fish for, and cull, both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The remaining permits issued under this section shall authorize participants to fish for both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, but to cull only largemouth bass. The department shall confer with the advisory board appointed under 2003 Wisconsin Act 249, section 6, to determine who shall be issued a permit under this section.29.4035(3)
(3) Notwithstanding s. 29.055, a permit issued under this section authorizes a person to conduct a bass fishing tournament in which participants may take bass in excess of the daily bag limit if all of the following apply:29.4035(3)(a)
(a) Each boat in the tournament is equipped with a live well.29.4035(3)(b)
(b) A participant either immediately releases the bass into the water from which it was taken or holds the bass in a live well.29.4035(3)(c)
(c) The bass held in a live well by a participant at any one time does not exceed the daily bag limit.29.4035(3)(d)
(d) Each bass when released by a participant into the water from which it was taken is able to swim away in a healthy condition.29.4035(4)
(4) The department, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Bass Federation, shall conduct research and collect data for the purpose of evaluating the pilot program under this section. The department shall report its findings to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) on or before December 31, 2006.29.4035(5)
(5) This section does not apply after December 31, 2006.29.4035 - ANNOT.
History: 2003 a. 249.