RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Commission has voted to keep existing catch-and-release regulations for muskellunge, also known as muskies, after strong opposition from anglers.
The state had proposed allowing anglers to keep one muskie per day if it measured at least 45 inches long. Wildlife officials said the change could increase interest in muskie fishing, but opponents argued it would reduce the number of trophy-sized fish available for future anglers.
More than 650 people signed a petition against the proposal, and conservation groups and muskie organizations also spoke out in opposition. Supporters of the current rules said releasing large fish allows multiple anglers the opportunity to catch them over time.
After reviewing public comments and biological data, the commission removed the harvest proposal from a broader package of rule changes, leaving South Dakota’s catch-and-release requirement for muskies unchanged.
The muskie program in South Dakota dates back to 1975 and currently manages populations in five stocked lakes across the state.
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