Filed as: Game, Fish and Parks Commission on amendment of administrative rules
South Dakota anglers will now be able to legally keep one muskellunge or tiger musky (a muskellunge-northern pike cross) measuring 45 inches or longer per day, with a possession limit of two, instead of the previous catch-and-release-only rule for these fish. The state is also allowing muskellunge fishing to transition from a protected species status to a harvestable game fish with size and bag limits. Additionally, the rules remove the Eskimo curlew and Least Tern from the state's endangered bird list (the Whooping crane remains listed), streamline pathogen-testing requirements for aquatic species used in farming and hatcheries, and add the golden mussel to South Dakota's aquatic invasive species list while restricting fishing tournaments on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and July Fourth weekends.
AI-generated from the proposed rule text — verify against the official documents.
Rules concerning fishing and threatened/endangered species will be addressed.
No specific cites listed — see the package documents.
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