NR 20.40 Note Note: Weigh-ins on certain department-managed properties may require special event authorization from the department, pursuant to ch. NR 45.

NR 20.40(3) (3) Permit required. No person may carry out a fishing tournament that meets any of the criteria in pars. (a) to (f), without a permit. A person shall obtain a permit from the department to organize a fishing tournament when the waters to be fished are identified by name by the organizer and one or more of the following apply:

NR 20.40(3)(a) (a) The fishing tournament involves 20 or more boats, or 100 or more participants.

NR 20.40(3)(b) (b) The fishing tournament includes any trout species on waters classified as trout streams under s. NR 1.02 (7).

NR 20.40(3)(c) (c) The fishing tournament is a catch-hold-release tournament with an off-site weigh-in.

NR 20.40(3)(d) (d) The total prize value is $10,000 or greater.

NR 20.40(3)(e) (e) Tournament participants are allowed to cull largemouth and smallmouth bass.

NR 20.40(3)(f) (f) Notwithstanding the size and bag limits established in s. NR 20.20, catch-hold-release tournament participants are allowed to take a daily bag limit of up to five bass of a minimum of 14 inches in length.

NR 20.40(3m) (3m) Permit exceptions. Except as provided in s. NR 20.40 (3) (f), organizers do not need a permit under this section to organize and conduct any of the following:

NR 20.40(3m)(a) (a) Fishing tournaments that are statewide or regional in nature where the specific waters to be fished and landings that must be used, if any, are not identified by name.

NR 20.40(3m)(b) (b) Fishing tournaments that do not require identification or registration of participants prior to engaging in the tournament.

NR 20.40(3m)(c) (c) Fishing tournaments that fulfill all of the following:

NR 20.40(3m)(c)1. 1. Continue for more than 4 days.

NR 20.40(3m)(c)2. 2. Do not require participants to fish at the same time.

NR 20.40(3m)(c)3. 3. Allow participants to register at any time during the tournament.

NR 20.40(3m)(c)4. 4. Do not specify a weigh-in time.

NR 20.40(3s) (3s) Tournament self-registration. A person who organizes a fishing tournament that does not require a permit from the department as determined under subs. (3) and (3m) shall register the event with the department no later than 72 hours prior to the start of the event, in the manner specified by the department, and shall provide all of the following information:

NR 20.40(3s)(a) (a) The date or date range of the event.

NR 20.40(3s)(b) (b) The waterbodies that will be fished during the event unless the event is statewide or regional in nature and no specific waterbodies or landings are named.

NR 20.40(3s)(c) (c) The estimated number of participants.

NR 20.40(3s)(d) (d) The estimated number of boats, unless the event is an ice fishing tournament.

NR 20.40(3s)(e) (e) The fish species targeted.

NR 20.40(3s)(f) (f) Other information required by the department in the registration form.

NR 20.40(4) (4) Application. A person who wishes to organize a fishing tournament requiring a permit from the department shall apply on forms available from the department.

NR 20.40(4)(a) (a) Permit applications shall specify an individual who is responsible for supervising the tournament to ensure compliance with all tournament permit conditions and regulations.

NR 20.40(4)(b) (b) Applicants for a fishing tournament permit shall pay a $25.00 non-refundable permit application fee upon submission of the application when the following conditions apply:

NR 20.40(4)(b)1. 1. The tournament format is immediate-release; or

NR 20.40(4)(b)2. 2. Total prizes provided to tournament participants are valued at less than $1,001; or

NR 20.40(4)(b)3. 3. The tournament targets salmon or trout species on Lake Michigan, Green Bay, or Lake Superior; or