Wisconsin regulators approve new rules for fishing tournaments

From the WI State Journal

...The new permit system is designed to combat crowding at landings and on water bodies as well as reduce the number of fish that die in catch-and-release tournaments, said Mike Staggs, director of the DNR's fisheries bureau. The fees would go toward paying for the permit program's administration, estimated at about $33,000 per year, Staggs said.

The Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the DNR, adopted the regulations on an unanimous voice vote after a two-hour hearing.

Steve Hjort of Oregon, Wis., conservation director for the Wisconsin Bass Federation, told the board the fees will hurt local bass clubs. The federation also will have to pull money from its youth and conservation programs to cover its fees, Hjort said.

He suggested the board require tournament anglers to purchase a $10 stamp instead.

"We can do better than this," Hjort said. "Our youth and conservation projects are going to be the first to go."

Chris Jones of Neenah told the board he works as a director for the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail, a nonprofit, faith-based tournament series. The regulations would add $2,000 in expenses to the six tournaments he runs in Wisconsin, he said.

"Two thousand dollars for a nonprofit guy like me, that's a lot of money," Jones said, although he didn't answer board members' questions about how much money he gets from revenue sources such as entry fees.

...The board amended the rules again to remove the three-fish limit, but added a provision that allows the DNR to impose such limits whenever conditions warrant