We review sportfishing regulations in Minnesota and across North America and discuss potential visions for the future of sportfishing regulations. Creel limits are ubiquitous across North America and they have been generally set arbitrarily with little biological justification. Anglers may not accept reductions in creel limits that actually decrease total harvest. Length-based regulations are now common and most North American sport fish management agencies had numerous water-specific length-based regulations. The future of fishing regulations could continue to get more complex but there are substantial shortcomings to this future. We present four visions of the future of freshwater recreational fishing, and we pose the question “Does the fact we are managing a pleasure sport mean that we need to rethink our fisheries management philosophy?” Future management of sport fish may rely less on biology and more on social science as we learn to optimize angler satisfaction. Although biology should be the basis for future management, other aspects of the fishing experience besides the number and size of fish caught could be managed. We will need to manage “how people fish” and understand “why people fish” to improve the angling experience. Since many of us chose this profession for nobler reasons than pleasure or sport management, we have difficulties addressing the social issues of fishing quality.
Catch and Release Muskie Fishing – Let Them Go – Let Them Grow