New Illinois Tournament Regulations

I have been hearing all sorts of horror stories about the new regulations. Took a bit, but I found the new regulations, link below.
NOTE: Link opens a pdf file from the state of Illinois
http://www.ifishillinois.org/regulat...hing_Guide.pdf

First thing I noticed was Culling, then ALL hook and line tournaments MUST be Catch and Release.


CULLING
It is illegal to replace a smaller fish held in possession with a larger fish unless: the smaller fish is counted toward the daily limit or released within the confines of a bona-fide catch-and-release fishing tournament which requires the participants to have a boat live well with a pump constantly adding fresh or recirculating water.

TOURNAMENTS AND DERBIES (HOOK AND
LINE & BOWFISHING)
During fishing contests or events of any type (tournament, fish-off, or derby), the fish taken by the participants must be released into the waters from which they were taken immediately after the weigh-in, except of bowfishing tournaments where all fish legally taken by bowfishermen must be utilized or disposed of properly in accordance with ad rule 810. See sections 810.90 and 810.95 for specific regulatioms for tournaments.



IF I understand this correctly, all 7 Crappie must go back in the lake, even though I am allowed a 15 or 25 Crappie creel limit. Creel size depends on lake. I can catch 15 Crappie, weigh and release 7 and go home with 8? :scratchhead

Reading it again. It doesn't say I have to release the 7 biggest fish. Per the culling rule I can count the smaller fish as part of my creel limit as long as I am fishing a tournament. Does that mean I can weight the 7 biggest and release the 7 smallest? :dono

Stupid rules.

The only time you can cull is in a tournament is the way I understand it. Any other time it is illegal

The way I read it is that you can cull as long as you count all fish that are ever put in your livewell towards your daily limit. If you decide to throw a fish back after it has been in your livewell that's one less fish you can take home.
:banghead Illinois rule making at its finest.

Does it suprise you? Future convicts run this state.

Theres nothing like having someone who has no clue and probably could care less. make rules and regs. on things they more than likely dont even do.

Hanr3 you missed a couple of key points in the law.
TOuRNaMeNTS
During fishing contests or events of any type
(tournament, fish-off, or derby), the fish taken by
the participants must be released into the waters
from which they were taken immediately after the
weigh-in. This does not prohibit an individual from
keeping or transporting his own daily limit.

The culling rule has always been in place as far as I know and that doesn't mean for tournaments that is for everyday fishing.

POACHERS all of ya.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wilbur

POACHERS all of ya.

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I like mine sunny side up lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clfarms1

Hanr3 you missed a couple of key points in the law.
TOuRNaMeNTS
During fishing contests or events of any type
(tournament, fish-off, or derby), the fish taken by
the participants must be released into the waters
from which they were taken immediately after the
weigh-in. This does not prohibit an individual from
keeping or transporting his own daily limit.

The culling rule has always been in place as far as I know and that doesn't mean for tournaments that is for everyday fishing.

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Read that again.
During fishing contests or events of any type (tournament, fish-off, or derby), the fish taken by the participants must be released into the waters from which they were taken immediately after the weigh-in.
Nothing in this sentence say's you can keep any fish.
I have a feeling this was written for Bass tournaments, however it doesn't make that distinction either.

If this is interpreted as written. You must have a tournament permit for any head to head (fish-off) competition in the boat. Bet I'm the first to catch a fish qualifies as a tournament per the rules. Same with I caught more fish than you? That being the case, you have to throw all your fish back in the lake once your done fishing too.

I read it as you can keep your fish. but if you dont , then they must be released back where they came from

That may be the way your interpreting it, but that's not what it says. MUST BE RELEASED. No other way to interpret that statement.

When I look for the 2015 Fishing rules on the IDNR site it still shows the last version. It would appear the new rules and regulations have not be released yet. Hopefully what I have is an advanced copy to filter out confusing language before its finalized and published.

IDNR also has new registration forms for 2015.
EVERY participant MUST fill out a waver form for IDNR and it MUST be in the IDNR hands at least 20 days prior to the tournament. However the permit must be in their hands at least 60 days in advance. You can skip the waver form only if the club has a $2,000,000 dollar liability policy (about $300-$400 per year).

These new rules have the biggest impact on the local clubs. They are making it next to impossible for local fishing club's to have tournaments.

I would say Hanr3 is right. With stuff like this (laws, code, regulations, etc) those inforcing it read the black and white of the text only, there is no gray area. Just from the words written, if youre in a tournament ALL fish must be released back into the water they were caught in IMMEDIATELY agter weigh in. It says nothing about keeping anything towards your daily bag limit.

I read it as there is no keeping fish caught during a tournament.

:)I usually don't do tourneys but I also think this REG is stupid. I actually didn't know about this culling thing. Even though I know now, I will still toss back a smaller keeper for a bigger keeper! I've never seen the people who would enforce this anyway and prob never will!! With that said, I prob be paying my fine sometime soon........:)