Catch and release.....illegal???

[RedRiverJay]

I noticed a change in the North Dakota fishing regulations from the prior booklet.  Catch and release of common carp is not allowed.  Just curious if this is the situation in other states.    Below is the link.  Search for "carp."

https://gf.nd.gov/fishing/regulations-guide

[Dale Holmes]

Searching for carp didn't do it for me. But scrolling through the regulations one can find:

"What happens if I catch an ANS fish species?

Class III ANS, such as common carp or silver carp, can be kept for consumption if legally harvested. However, they cannot be released alive back into a waterbody after they have been harvested. All other ANS are illegal to possess and should be left where found. If you find something you believe to be an ANS or a new population, report it to the Department through the online reporting form on the Department’s website, or by emailing or calling the Department."

ANS=Aquatic Nuisance Species

[(NY) team sorano]

Think we need some of the heavy hitters to create club lakes like they do in europe.  pay a fee, carp fish all day catch and release.  

[TXMulti-Species]

"After a fish is caught on hook and line, it is legal to return all fish to the water at the site of capture if done in no longer than the time needed to unhook, measure and/or photograph the fish immediately after being caught. Fish returned to the water should show no evidence of bleeding, be handled carefully, and not thrown or dropped. All fish released from bridges and wing walls (e.g. Garrison Dam Tailrace) must be done immediately after being placed in a fish basket/open container to ensure fish survival."

[RedRiverJay]

On 6/24/2018 at 7:42 PM, TXMulti-Species said:

"After a fish is caught on hook and line, it is legal to return all fish to the water at the site of capture if done in no longer than the time needed to unhook, measure and/or photograph the fish immediately after being caught. Fish returned to the water should show no evidence of bleeding, be handled carefully, and not thrown or dropped. All fish released from bridges and wing walls (e.g. Garrison Dam Tailrace) must be done immediately after being placed in a fish basket/open container to ensure fish survival."

 

Many thanks for posting that.  It points out a contradiction in ND fishing regulations. 

[TXMulti-Species]

7 hours ago, RedRiverJay said:

Many thanks for posting that.  It points out a contradiction in ND fishing regulations. 

No problem, anything if it'll save a couple golden beauties.

[Ryan Ware]

I think the difference is ANS vs non ANS.   I'll bet that ""After a fish is caught on hook and line, ...." refers to non ANS species.   

[Manosteel]

That is crazy...leave the carp alone!  (well not the silver or bigheads)

 

common carp are not invasive like they are, they have been here for well over a hundred years, prob close to 200.

 

If they use that logic sort of logic, then start killing all the brown trout as well...they are NOT native North American species either

[flyrod]

Yes, in Pennsylvania the common carp is a naturalized species just like Brown Trout and a few others. They are perfectly fine being properly handled and released just as you would when returning a brown trout to fight again another day!

[(TN) Cannonball]

You might point out that the US government was one of the main instigators for the introduction of the common carp in the US.

[(CT) Savayman]

Interesting that you can qualify for a Whopper Catch & Release Award for Carp (scroll down to Non Game Fish).

I agree the ANS section is confusing. I wonder if they meant to write Big Head or other carp species?

https://gf.nd.gov/fishing/regulations-guide#whopper

[KingKool]

I would venture to guess that the vast majority of people that catch carp in ND (or any other state for that matter) release them soon after capture - regardless of what the "rules" state. Those that do not, most like have little to no impact on the carp population as a whole. 

[michaelpthompson]

On 6/24/2018 at 6:42 PM, TXMulti-Species said:

"After a fish is caught on hook and line, it is legal to return all fish to the water at the site of capture if done in no longer than the time needed to unhook, measure and/or photograph the fish immediately after being caught. "

On 6/24/2018 at 12:50 PM, Dale Holmes said:

Class III ANS, such as common carp or silver carp, can be kept for consumption if legally harvested. However, they cannot be released alive back into a waterbody after they have been harvested.

I wonder if the difference is in the definition of the term "harvested"? The main regulation clearly says "all fish," not all non-ANS fish. If you release immediately, has that fish been "harvested"? I didn't see a definition in the regs, but in the context of the description of catch and release, it would appear likely that "harvested" means killed, or at least placed in a livewell, on a stringer, in a cooler, or some other such method of taking the fish. Immediate release would not seem to be the same as harvested. At least to me. 

And I see additional evidence of the legality of immediate release since Savayman pointed out you can get a Whopper Catch & Release Award for a carp.