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Tournament Permit Requirements

Many of you have asked when you need to get a permit for your tournaments. Here are the specific requirements.

It is The Federations policy to adhere to all state rules and regulations.

These Permits are free.

When by the criteria listed, you are required to have a permit for your tournament you need to apply for one.

Do I need a fish tournament permit?

Section NR 20.40 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, establishes a permit system for sport fishing tournaments that meet the following criteria:

1. The event is an organized fishing activity
2. On any water of the state, at any time
3. Competition is the primary intent
4. Prizes (for competition) are awarded valued in total at more than $500
5. Participants number more than 40 individuals or 20 boats
6. The waters to be fished are named
7. All participants are required to fish the same dates.

If the answer to all of these criteria is yes, then a tournament fishing permit is required. Contact the DNR fisheries biologist who manages the affected waters for a copy of Fishing Tournament Permit Application and Permit (form 3600-208).

If the answer to any of these criteria is no, a tournament fishing permit is not required. However, you may still wish to obtain a permit to:

• authorize you to possess fish in excess of the legal possession limit while re-distributing fish back to the water body after the weigh-in, or
• register your tournament with the department on a voluntary basis.

Permit Application and Reporting Procedures

1. Obtain the Fishing Tournament Permit Application and Permit (form 3600-208) from the appropriate DNR Fisheries Biologist in the county where you plan to hold the tournament.
2. Complete the application and return all four copies to the appropriate DNR Fisheries Biologist no sooner than one calendar year before and no later than 30 days before the starting date of the tournament.
3. Receive approved permit from DNR Fisheries Biologist.
4. Within 30 days following the tournament, report the results using the back of the Fishing Tournament Permit Application and Permit (form 3600-208) to the appropriate DNR Fisheries Biologist.

General Conditions Applicable to Permitted Tournaments

1. No person may sponsor more than one tournament on the same body of water with starting dates separated by less than two weeks. (Alternate week-ends or alternate specific week days are permissible.)

2. Use of tagged fish is prohibited, except when specifically approved by the Department to enhance collection of data for management purposes as part of a scientific study, or when tagged fish are legally obtained from a licensed private fish hatchery and are planted under a stocking permit issued by the Department.

3. No person may sponsor a fishing tournament for a particular species of fish on the opening week-end of fishing season for that species on any water subject to the opening. (A change in the bag limit or size limit for a particular species constitutes a change in the season and is subject to this provision.)

4. Except for tournaments on the Great Lakes, a fishing portion of any tournament may run for no more than 10 consecutive hours each day nor more than three consecutive days. The fishing portion of Great Lakes Tournaments is not limited.

5. Any fish taken into actual possession by an individual and not released immediately shall be included as part of the individual's daily bag limit (see Section NR 20.05(7) Wisconsin Administrative Code). An angler may possess a fish by common methods such as live well fish cradle, etc. only so long as is necessary to confirm it is legal. Any fish that is transported must be considered part of the angler's daily bag limit. Angling while detaining a fish is prima facia evidence that the fish has been reduced to the daily bag limit.)

6. Each sponsor must report the results of the tournament using the back of the Fishing Tournament Permit Application and Permit no later than 30 days after the tournament.

Additional Permit Conditions

1. The permit shall identify areas where competitive fishing is prohibited to protect critical habitat or where habitat enhancement is underway. The Department has identified sensitive habitat areas in water bodies for protection from aquatic plant removal. In addition, there may be areas protected by local ordinance. These should form the basis for this permit condition.

2. The Department shall identify areas where competitive fishing is prohibited to protect public rights, interests or safety, including designated swimming areas, mooring areas, access areas, navigational channels staging areas, beaches or other special use areas.

3. The permit shall specify the method of fish holding and release of fish for tournaments where fish are reduced to possession, usually for purposes of recording, and live fish are then released to the water from which they came.

4. The Department reserves the authority to require other than live fish release, contingent upon the weather conditions and water temperatures until the day prior to the start of the tournament. This provision is intended to prevent the release of live fish under conditions where to do so would constitute malicious waste of a natural resource under the provisions of Wisconsin State Statutes, Section 23.09.

Note: The information provided on this web page is for general orientation purposes only. Do not rely solely on the information provided on these web pages. Please contact Patrick Schmalz, Fisheries Biologist, 608/266-8170 for more information on this topic.