Minnesota Legislature
HF 2843
as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/17/2016 09:15am
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; providing for northern pike management; requiring
rulemaking; requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section
97C.401, subdivision 2.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97C.401, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Walleyedeleted text begin ; northern pikedeleted text end .
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a person
may have no more than one walleye larger than 20 inches deleted text begin and one northern pike larger
than 30 inchesdeleted text end in possession.
(b) deleted text begin The restrictions indeleted text end Paragraph (a) deleted text begin dodeleted text end new text begin doesnew text end not apply to boundary waters.
Sec. 2. new text begin RULEMAKING; NORTHERN PIKE.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner of natural resources shall amend Minnesota Rules, part
6262.0200, subpart 1, item G, to establish the daily and possession limits for northern pike
in management zones according to paragraphs (b) to (e).
new text end
new text begin
(b) The northeastern management zone includes all inland waters lying east
and north of U.S. Highway 53 from International Falls to Duluth. In the northeastern
management zone, the daily and possession limit for northern pike is two. When taking
northern pike by angling in the northeastern management zone, only one over 40 inches in
length may be in possession, and all northern pike from 30 to 40 inches in length must be
immediately returned to the water. When taking northern pike by dark house spearing,
only one over 26 inches in length may be in possession.
new text end
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(c) The north central management zone includes all inland waters lying west and
south of U.S. Highway 53 from International Falls to Duluth and north of a line described
as follows: from the South Dakota border, along State Highway 7 to State Highway 22,
thence south on State Highway 22 to U.S. Highway 212, thence east on U.S. Highway
212 to State Highway 41, thence south on State Highway 41 to the near or north bank
of the Minnesota River, thence along the near banks of the Minnesota and Mississippi
Rivers to the Wisconsin border. The north central management zone does not include
waters of the Minnesota or Mississippi Rivers where those waters create the southern
boundary of the zone. In the north central management zone, the daily and possession
limit for northern pike is ten.
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(1) When taking northern pike by angling in the north central management zone,
only two over 26 inches in length may be in possession, and all northern pike from 22
to 26 inches must be immediately returned to the water.
new text end
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(2) When taking northern pike by dark house spearing in the north central
management zone:
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(i) only two northern pike over 26 inches in length and no northern pike from 22 to
26 inches in length may be in possession; or
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(ii) only one northern pike from 22 to 26 inches in length and one northern pike over
26 inches in length may be in possession.
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(d) The southern management zone includes all inland waters lying south of a line
described as follows: from the South Dakota border, along State Highway 7 to State
Highway 22, thence south on State Highway 22 to U.S. Highway 212, thence east on U.S.
Highway 212 to State Highway 41, thence south on State Highway 41 to and including
the waters of the Minnesota River, thence along the Minnesota River to and including the
waters of the Mississippi River to the Wisconsin border. In the southern management
zone, the daily and possession limit for northern pike is two. The minimum size for
northern pike taken by angling or dark house spearing in the southern management zone is
24 inches in length.
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(e) The restrictions in paragraphs (b) to (d) do not apply in boundary waters.
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(f) The commissioner may use the good cause exempt rulemaking procedure under
Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388, subdivision 1, clause (3), to adopt rules under this
section, and Minnesota Statutes, section 14.386, does not apply, except as provided under
Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388.
new text end
new text begin
(g) No later than January 15, 2027, the commissioner must report on the success of
the northern pike regulations, together with recommendations on whether to keep or change
the regulations. The report must be submitted to the senate and house of representatives
committees having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources policy and finance.
new text end