NR 20.40(4)(c)1.1. The tournament format is catch-hold-release or catch and kill; and NR 20.40(4)(c)2.2. Total prizes provided to tournament participants are valued at $1,001 or greater and less than $10,001. NR 20.40(4)(d)(d) Applicants for a fishing tournament permit shall pay a $200.00 non-refundable permit application fee upon submission of the application when the following conditions apply: NR 20.40(4)(d)1.1. The tournament format is catch-hold-release or catch and kill; and NR 20.40(4)(d)2.2. Total prizes provided to tournament participants are valued at $10,001 or greater. NR 20.40(4)(e)(e) There is no fee for a fishing tournament permit where 50% or more of the participants are younger than 18 years of age or are developmentally disabled as defined under s. 51.01 (5) (a), Stats., or physically disabled and eligible for a license under s. 29.193 (3) or (3m), Stats. NR 20.40(5)(a)(a) The department shall accept permit applications for traditional fishing tournaments beginning on January 1 of the year preceding the tournament. NR 20.40(5)(b)(b) The department shall accept permit applications for tournaments that are not traditional fishing tournaments beginning on April 1 of the year preceding the tournament. NR 20.40(5)(c)(c) All permit applications and application fees must be received by the department at least 30 days prior to the start of the tournament. The department may review permit applications received within 30 days of the tournament start date if the applicant pays a late fee in addition to the application fee which shall be equal to the application fee specified under sub. (4). If the department is unable to review a late application, the application fee will be returned to the applicant. NR 20.40(5)(d)(d) The department shall approve or deny permit applications on a first come first served basis in compliance with the limits in subs. (7) and (8). NR 20.40(6)(a)(a) All participants in a permitted fishing tournament shall comply with all provisions of the permit. NR 20.40(6)(b)(b) If a participant fails to comply with the permit, the violating participant shall promptly be disqualified and expelled from the tournament by the organizer. NR 20.40(6)(c)(c) All organizers of a permitted fishing tournament shall comply with all permit terms and conditions and the rules of this section and shall take adequate measures to ensure that all participants comply with all provisions of the permit. The organizer of a permitted fishing tournament shall provide each participant a copy of the permit conditions and rules specific to the fishing tournament along with potential penalties for noncompliance prior to any participant being allowed to participate in the tournament. NR 20.40(6)(d)(d) Notwithstanding par. (b), the department may take other appropriate enforcement action against a participant or organizer found to be in violation of this chapter or ch. 29, Stats. NR 20.40(7)(7) Limits on size and number of fishing tournaments. The size and number of permitted fishing tournaments allowed on a water body may not exceed the following limits except in Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, and Lake Winnebago where there are no limits on the size and number of permitted fishing tournaments. Traditional fishing tournaments may be permitted to exceed the limits established in this subsection up to the maximum level of participation or boat days associated with that tournament in the past 5 years. Bass fishing tournaments with fewer than 20 boats will not be included in the maximum daily number of boats allowed on open water, the maximum monthly number of permitted fishing tournament boat days, the maximum daily number of concurrent permitted fishing tournaments, or the maximum number of permitted fishing tournaments per month on rivers. NR 20.40(7)(a)(a) The following monthly limits on permitted fishing tournament size, number, and total boat days are based on lake acreage are outlined in the table below. NR 20.40(7)(b)(b) Open water fishing tournaments on lakes or lake chains smaller than 100 acres may be permitted if the department finds that the tournament: NR 20.40(7)(b)1.1. Will promote public awareness of fishing and the state’s resources and conforms to the best management practices for the lake; or NR 20.40(7)(c)(c) The following shall apply to fishing tournaments permitted for any combination of lakes within a chain of interconnected lakes: NR 20.40(7)(c)1.1. Permitted fishing tournaments may engage in fishing activities in lake chains or connected lakes but the tournament organizer must select a lake where the primary fishing activity or weigh-in will take place. NR 20.40(7)(c)2.2. The availability of permits will be based on the acreage of the lake selected in subd. 1. as outlined in par. (a). NR 20.40(7)(d)(d) For boundary water lakes, the limits on the number of permitted fishing contests shall be determined based on the Wisconsin acreage. NR 20.40(7)(e)(e) For flowages and impoundments of rivers, the limits in par. (a) shall include tributaries upstream to the first dam or road crossing unless otherwise specified in the permit.
