NR 25.06(1)(a)2.2. ‘WI-2.’ The department shall utilize the WI-2 lake trout population model for calculating the department recommendation for the total allowable commercial and home use harvest of lake trout. The recommendation for the total allowable commercial harvest for WI-2 shall be calculated at least every 3 years using the output from the population model. The population model shall use the following quantitative data for lake trout: commercial and recreational harvest; commercial and recreational fishing effort; adult lake trout index in spring fishery-independent survey; juvenile lake trout index in summer fishery-independent survey; age compositions of lake trout in commercial, recreational, and fishery-independent surveys; length at age; weight at age; maturity schedule; and sea lamprey mortality estimates. An appropriate exploitation rate based on recent harvest trends shall be applied to the model estimates, and the department may also account for mortality and presence of hatchery-origin fish in the system to reach the total allowable catch recommendation.

NR 25.06(1)(a)2.b.b. For 2024 through the open season ending September 30, 2026, the number of lake trout harvested by non-tribal licensed commercial fishers from waters of WI-2 may not exceed 7,500 lake trout and the number of lake trout to be harvested by the Red Cliff and Bad River bands, including both commercial and tribal home use fishers, from the waters of WI−2 may not exceed 44,500 lake trout.

NR 25.06 NoteNote: If the Red Cliff and Bad River bands do not reach an agreement on the method of allocating the tribal quota between them, the department may divide the quota 50% for the Bad River band and 50% for the Red Cliff band, or by any other equitable method.

NR 25.06(1)(b)(b) Harvest of fish from Lake Superior for home use by Lake Superior Chippewas. Members of the Bad River and Red Cliff bands of Lake Superior Chippewas may harvest species of fish for which there is an open season during said season, under home use permits issued by their respective tribal councils.

NR 25.06(1)(b)1.1. Home use permits will be issued to the heads of households only, and only one permit will be issued to an individual.

NR 25.06(1)(b)2.2. Permittees are restricted to the use of no more than 350 feet of gill net and sale of fish pursuant to these permits is prohibited. These fishing activities shall be restricted to waters adjacent to the reservations of the Bad River and Red Cliff bands, and during the closed season for lake trout no part of any net may extend beyond one-quarter mile from the shoreline of those waters.

NR 25.06(1)(b)3.3. In no instance may a boat fish both commercial and home use nets at the same time. If such home use nets are fished by a commercial licensee, those nets must be labeled as home use and must be marked in the same manner as required for commercial nets under s. NR 25.09.

NR 25.06(1)(b)4.4. Permittees shall limit the use of gill nets to mesh sizes of 2 3/₄ inch stretch measure or smaller, and 4 1/₂ inch stretch measure or larger.

NR 25.06(1)(b)5.5. All game fish harvested under permits issued under this section shall be tagged in accordance with sub. (3). The Bad River and Red Cliff bands shall provide quarterly home use harvest reports on forms supplied by the department.

NR 25.06(1)(c)(c) Cisco. The total allowable annual harvest of cisco by state and tribal fishers during the open season in Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior may not exceed 1,794,000 round weight pounds, as determined by the department and tribes and:

NR 25.06(1)(c)1.1. The total allowable state harvest of cisco in the waters of Lake Superior may not exceed 897,000 round weight pounds in a calendar year. A portion of the state allowable harvest shall be reserved for recreational harvest and assessment purposes.

NR 25.06(1)(c)2.2. The total harvest of cisco by state licensed commercial fishers may not exceed 890,000 round weight pounds.

NR 25.06(1)(c)3.3. The total harvest of cisco by state recreational fishers and from department assessment activities shall not exceed 7,000 round weight pounds.

NR 25.06(1)(c)4.4. The total allowable harvest by the Red Cliff and Bad River bands, including both commercial and tribal home use fishers in the waters of Lake Superior, may not exceed 897,000 round weight pounds in a calendar year.

NR 25.06(2)(a)1.1. The total allowable commercial harvest for any license year may not exceed 3,600,000 pounds.

NR 25.06(2)(a)2.2. No more than 600,000 pounds of the total allowable commercial harvest for any license year may be taken in the northern chub fishing zone.

NR 25.06(2)(a)3.3. No more than 3,000,000 pounds of the total allowable commercial harvest for any license year may be taken in the southern chub fishing zone.

NR 25.06(2)(a)4.4. The department reserves 100,000 pounds of the total allowable annual commercial harvest of chubs to be used for special assessment.

NR 25.06(2)(b)(b) Yellow perch. The total allowable annual commercial harvest of yellow perch in Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay shall be determined by the natural resources board based on recommendations from the department.