SD GF&P clarifies changes made to possession limit law this year


With spring finally in the air, area fishermen will be anxious to get their boats in the water. However, it will be a little while until they can use the main boat ramp at the West Pollock Recreation Area, as there was still ice in the dock area last week. However, that will change quickly as temperatures in the 50s and 60s are forecast. As of Monday there was still ice on the main channel of the river, but that should also begin to break up in the near future.

With spring finally in the air, area fishermen will be anxious to get their boats in the water. However, it will be a little while until they can use the main boat ramp at the West Pollock Recreation Area, as there was still ice in the dock area last week. However, that will change quickly as temperatures in the 50s and 60s are forecast. As of Monday there was still ice on the main channel of the river, but that should also begin to break up in the near future.

With the ice receding on the river many fishermen are anxious to get out in the boat so they can get back to fishing.

However there are changes in the possession limit law this year that have created a lot of confusion that needs to be clarified, according to Trevor Laine of Mobridge, GF&P Conservation Officer. “I have been hearing rumors lately including statements such as there is no longer a daily limit of fish, and that possession limits only apply to nonresidents,” he stated. “These statements are false and misleading, so I want to make sure everyone understands what has changed.”

While the law changed how many fish you can have at home, the daily limits have not changed. A person may have an unlimited number of fish at their permanent residence, as long as they are caught following daily harvest limit laws (ex. four walleyes).

The key wording in that statement is “at their permanent residence,” Laine said. “What that means is that if someone has a cabin, seasonal home, camper, tent, motel room, etc. they can only have a normal possession limit (ex. 8 walleyes) at one time while they are away from their home. The same goes for transporting fish at any time, the old possession limit still applies.”

An individual that has a cabin as mentioned above could legally transport their daily, or two day possession limit of fish back to their permanent residence, and once there have an unlimited amount. The individual could make as many trips as they like, as long as they only keep one daily limit per day of fishing.

This law applies whether the person is a resident of South Dakota or a nonresident. It also applies to fish taken from all inland waters of South Dakota, not just the Missouri River.

“So the short answer to this is if you are storing the fish in the freezer of your permanent home, not a seasonal location, you can have as many as you would like.” Laine added. “If you are travelling somewhere for a week or weekend the law remains the same and a two day possession limit is still in effect.”

“With that being said, I want to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the river this summer,” Laine said. “The fishing outlook looks like it should be a good year, so have fun and stay safe. I will see you on the water.”

For more information or any further questions, contact the Mobridge Game, Fish and Parks office at (605) 845-7814.

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