Fishing with your limit

[papabear]

I wonder what the survival rate is for fish that are culled out of live wells. If the DNR doesnt allow tournaments to release fish at certain times because the fish are less likely to survive what are the odds a fish rlaeased out of a live well by a fisherman will survive. just my $.02

[TNFL]

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However, in WI as stated, you are not allowed to sort/cull at all.. You decide once you catch a fish if you are going to put it in the well...

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Do WI tourney strictly enforce it or is it a wink wink if you get caught it your fault kind of thing?

[Long Gray Line]

Everyone take a look at the regs again, it seems to me the key phrase is "reduced to possession". "In hand" is not "in possession". Once an action is taken (put in the livewell, on a stringer, in a bucket...) showing intent to keep the fish, it has been "reduced to possession". Any shade tree lawyer would be able to argue this one. Of course, would it work out on the water.......

[nofishfisherman]

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Daily and possession limits are the same unless otherwise noted. Fish

are in an angler’s possession whether on hand, in cold storage, in

transport, or elsewhere.

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This is word for word what the regs state. Seems kind of vague to me. "On Hand" (In the boat) is considered possession but it doesn't say whether "In Hand" is also considered to be "On Hand".

It then goes on to say the following.

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Once a daily or possession limit of fish has been reached, no culling or

live-well sorting is allowed.

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It says no live well sorting or culling after a limit is reached so that would seem to indicate you can still fish for walleye if you already have your limit as long as you release them. If they would go so far to put that section in the regs why wouldn't they also just say once you have a limit you must stop fishing for that spieces if it is in fact illegal.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

CO's checked us with a limit of eyes fishing this weekend and never said a word about stopping. We kept catching and releasing.

[Scott K]

I think culling is wrong and should be illegal. If you thought you were going to keep it , and put it in your live well and its been in there for 2 hours then catch one 2 " bigger,you then throw out the half dead one in your livewell to make room for the 2" bigger fish. Sounds stupid to me! You pretty much gave that other one to the birds!

[nofishfisherman]

If its in the live well or on a stringer it should stay there for sure. If you catch on fish expecting to catch more and at the end of the day you still have just that one fish don't just release it becuase you don't want to clean it. Most likely its not going to make it, even if it looks strong it doesn't have alot of hope left. Ususally I will either just clean it and make a meal for one, or I will see if anyone around me is interested in taking it assuming they don't have a limit. Most of the time if you are not catching alot neither is any one else so they might be grateful to get another fish to help make a meal for the family.