These regulations pertain to the fishing season from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Certain species have limited seasons. Consult the particular fish species in question for more information.

Daily bag limit or possession limit is the number of fish permitted to be taken or held in a specified time period.

• Daily refers to the number of fish you may have in one 24 hour period.
• Possession refers to the number of fish you may have after the first day.

• They are most effective at spreading the harvest among more anglers.

These limits would have to be more restrictive to be effective at controlling the overall harvest of a fish species, because most anglers do not catch the daily limit.

Consult the particular species for specific regulations.

It is prohibited to sort, cull, high-grade or replace any fish already in possession. Participants in permitted black bass tournaments are exempted. Any fish taken into possession by holding in a live well, on a stringer, or in other fish holding devices is part of the daily bag limit. Once the daily bag limit of a particular species is reached, fishing for that species is permitted as long as all fish of that species caught are immediately released.

In order for you to transport or have in your possession any fish on any waters of the state you need to be able:

• to readily identify the fish species by a portion of skin at least one-square inch including scales left on all fish or fillet
• to determine the length of fish when length limits apply

• from the bank
• from the shoreline
• while wading
• by boat

This regulation prevents people from cleaning undersized fish as they catch them, avoiding being caught with illegal fish.

Total length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail with the fish laid flat, mouth closed, and tail lobes pressed together.