A Wisconsin angler who believed yellow perch could be kept year-round learned an expensive lesson after a Department of Natural Resources officer found a single perch in his cooler during a routine inspection.
The encounter was featured by the YouTube channel Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife, whose host explained that Wisconsin’s general inland fishing rules can be misleading if anglers do not also check regulations for the specific body of water they plan to fish.
Yellow perch generally have a continuous season on Wisconsin inland waters, the channel host said, but Green Bay tributaries follow a different schedule. For those waters, the perch season was closed when the angler went fishing.
By the time the case was over, that one fish had resulted in $271.85 in fines and court costs.
Officer Finds One Perch in the Cooler
The encounter began when a Wisconsin DNR officer stopped at the Suamico boat launch to conduct resource inspections.
The officer approached the angler and asked how fishing had gone.
“Pretty slow,” the man replied. “I caught one perch.”
The conversation was relaxed at first, with the two briefly talking about the cold weather and wind before the officer asked to see the angler’s fishing license.
When asked whether there were any fish in the cooler, the angler again said there was only one.
The officer looked inside and confirmed that it was a yellow perch.
Then came the question that changed the tone of the encounter.
“Do you know perch is closed right now?” the officer asked.
“No,” the angler responded. “I thought it was open year round.”
The officer explained that while the angler’s understanding might apply under Wisconsin’s general rules, the bay and major Green Bay tributaries had a closed period for yellow perch.
The man appeared genuinely surprised.
“Oh, jeez,” he said. “No, I didn’t know that.”
A Local Rule Made the Difference
The Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife host used the encounter to highlight how fishing regulations can change from one body of water to another.
According to the officer, the Suamico River is considered a major Green Bay tributary.
The officer later pulled up the regulation book and showed the angler the applicable section, explaining that yellow perch on those tributary waters were open from May 20, 2025, through March 15, 2026.
The angler had been fishing on April 30, putting him several weeks ahead of the opening date.
“I guess I read the handbook,” he told the officer. “It say year round.”
The officer did not accuse him of deliberately breaking the law, and the channel host later said the violation appeared to be an honest mistake.
Still, intent did not change the regulation.
This is the kind of rule that can easily catch someone off guard because the general statewide regulation sounds simple until a local exception changes it. For anglers who travel between lakes, rivers and tributaries, that means knowing the species is not always enough; the location matters just as much.
Officer Tries to Save the Fish
After learning the perch had been caught about half an hour earlier, the officer attempted to release it back into the water.
“I don’t know if he’s going to make it,” the angler said.
The officer carried the fish toward the boat launch and tried to return it, but the perch did not survive.
Later, he explained that it would not simply be thrown away.
The officer gave the angler a seizure receipt showing that the fish had been taken into DNR possession and said seized fish can sometimes be donated after the legal process is completed.
He mentioned Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary as one possible destination, explaining that confiscated animals or fish may be used to feed raptors and other birds.
“The perch isn’t going to go to waste,” the officer told him.
That small detail makes the encounter more interesting because the officer tried to correct the violation without treating the fish itself as disposable evidence. Even though it could not be successfully released, there was still an effort to make some use of it.
Citation Issued Despite Apparent Mistake
The officer told the angler that the area was well known for perch fishing and that he had received complaints about people keeping perch during the closed season.
That was one reason he was patrolling the location.
“Unfortunately, I’m going to have to write you a citation today for it,” the officer said.
He explained that it would be a DNR ticket handled in Brown County and that the court appearance was not mandatory.
The angler would have the option to plead guilty, not guilty or no contest once the citation arrived by mail.
The man did not argue much with the officer, although he was clearly disappointed.
“Don’t make me happy, but what you going to do, you know?” he said near the end of the encounter.
He also reiterated that he believed he had been fishing legally.
“I thought I was okay,” the angler said.
The officer thanked him for being respectful before the two went their separate ways.
One Fish Ultimately Cost More Than $270
According to the Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife host, the angler was charged with possession of gamefish during a closed season.
The violation was noncriminal.
He later pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $271.85 in fines and costs, which the channel said he paid the same day.
For one relatively small yellow perch, that is a painful price, particularly when the footage gives little indication that the angler had intentionally set out to violate the law.
But that is also what makes this case useful as a warning.
The difference between a legal fishing trip and a citation came down to a body-of-water-specific rule that the angler apparently had not noticed.
Host Says Anglers Must Check Before Fishing
The channel host closed the video by saying the man seemed honestly surprised to learn that keeping the perch was prohibited.
Still, he emphasized that anglers are responsible for knowing the regulations before they start fishing.
With smartphones, internet access, apps and printed regulation guides readily available, the host argued there are now several ways to verify whether a fish can legally be kept.
His advice was simple: if someone catches a fish and is unsure whether it is legal to possess, take a picture and release it.
That may seem overly cautious, but this case shows why it can be the cheaper choice.
The angler had a valid fishing license, cooperated with the officer and kept only one perch, yet none of that erased the local seasonal restriction. A single fish, caught only a few weeks before the season opened, still ended with a $271.85 bill.
For anyone fishing unfamiliar water, the lesson is straightforward: checking the statewide rules is only the first step. The specific lake, river or tributary can have its own exceptions, and missing just one of them can turn an ordinary day on the water into a surprisingly expensive one.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.
