Ind. Admin. Code tit. 312, r. 9-6-3 – Fish sorting restrictions and the prohibition of waste

Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an individual must not sort and release a fish taken previously in the day in order to replace the fish with another where the same bag limit applies to both fish.

(b) A fish may be released without counting toward the daily bag limit only if the fish is as follows:

(1) Alive and in apparent good health.
(2) Capable of swimming away normally under its own power.
(3) Returned to the water from which it was taken before the end of the day.
(4) In a place where the immediate escape of the fish is not prevented.

(c) The intentional waste or destruction of any species of fish taken under this rule is prohibited unless the species is required by law to be killed. An individual must not mutilate and return a fish to the water. This section does not apply if a fish is required by law to be released or is lawfully used as bait.

(d) Offal or filth resulting from catching, curing, cleaning, or shipping fish in or near state waters must be burned, buried, or otherwise disposed in a sanitary manner that:

(1) does not pollute the water; and
(2) is not or does not become detrimental to public health or comfort.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-6-3; filed May 12, 1997, 10:00 a.m.: 20 IR 2715; filed Dec 26, 2001, 2:40 p.m.: 25 IR 1537; readopted filed Jul 28, 2003, 12:00 p.m.: 27 IR 286; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; filed Jul 6, 2010, 1:55 p.m.: 20100804-IR-312090616FRA; readopted filed May 20, 2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20140618-IR-312140017RFA; readopted filed Sep 18, 2019, 1:16 p.m.: 20191016-IR-312190325RFA; readopted filed Mar 25, 2025, 9:50 a.m.: 20250423-IR-312240574RFA)