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WI Natural Resources Board October 2018 Webcast

WI Natural Resources Board October 2018 Webcast. Background. Catfish are considered a gamefish in Wisconsin 2017 Wisconsin Act 297 established that catfish may now be harvested by: Bow and arrow Crossbow By hand

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WI Natural Resources Board October 2018 Webcast

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  1. WI Natural Resources BoardOctober 2018 Webcast AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Catfish Emergency Rule Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  2. Background • Catfish are considered a gamefish in Wisconsin • 2017 Wisconsin Act 297 established that catfish may now be harvested by: • Bow and arrow • Crossbow • By hand • Bow, crossbow and hand harvest could be detrimental to catfish during vulnerable times of year (spawning and overwintering)  rule-making necessary • Scope statement for rules approved by NRB on Sept. 26 AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  3. Catfish Vulnerability to Harvest • Overwintering – catfish return to the same overwintering site multiple years, form large groups and become lethargic • Spawning – catfish spawn using bank cavities and woody habitat; male guarding behavior increases vulnerability to hand grabbing • At night – catfish could be vulnerable to bow/crossbow harvest when in shallow water AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  4. Bow/Crossbow Fishing • Statewide regulation: season runs concurrent with rough fish spearing season - continuous in most cases • Use of bows/crossbows for rough fish is covered under the spearing season in administrative code • Flathead catfish: daily bag 1, no size limit • Channel catfish: daily bag 5, no size limit AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  5. Bow/Crossbow Fishing • Anglers will follow pre-existing length limits and season closures on specific waters. • Specific catfish bowfishing dates and size limits follow existing seasons in Columbia, Dane, Green Lake, Marquette and Sauk counties, Winnebago system waters and other Green Bay tributaries, streams, rivers, and ditches • Anglers can use these methods on boundary waters within Wisconsin unless spearing restrictions are in place. AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  6. Handfishing • Statewide regulation: season runs June 1 – Aug. 31 • Flathead catfish: daily bag 1, no size limit • Channel catfish: daily bag 5, no size limit • Gear may not include: • Equipment that aids in the removal of catfish (ropes, poles, nets, hooks, etc.) • Spawning boxes/artificial attraction devices • Breathing devices/SCUBA gear AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  7. Handfishing • Anglers will follow pre-existing length limits and season closures on specific waters. • June 1 – August 31 season dates are more restrictive than hook and line season dates = used for all waters • Size limits apply for some waters AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  8. Commercial Harvest • Proposed rules would NOT allow commercial harvest of catfish by bow/arrow, crossbow or by hand • Catfish would be susceptible to commercial overharvest by hand during winter AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  9. Rough Fish • Ensure that language is consistent across chapters of administrative code allowing rough fish to be harvested with bow and arrow, crossbow or by hand. • These methods are already allowed on most waters in Wisconsin. AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

  10. WI Natural Resources Board AGENDA ITEM # 2.B.3, Meredith Penthorn, Fisheries Management policy specialist

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