Frank,Reed what I posted again.For Tournaments all fish must be legal size,you will measure some fish that are under size,you should be able to tell those that are not even close to 40 inches and water release them..I did not say for regular fishing. That is what I was explained was the rules for the PMTT and the Chautauqua Bait Fish Tournaments by Paul McKewn when he was ahead of NY DEC Region 9.Also if a legal size fish over 40" dies while releasing You must take possession and your done fishing for the day you have your limit of 1 (one) per day creel.For smallmouth bass they wrote rules allowing 1(one) bass of trophy size can be in the livewell and can be culled out for a bigger one,but only one can be in the livewell during the Trophy Bass Catch & Release Season.We do not have a year round open trophy season for Muskies, therfore possession is any fish out of the water if under legal size,to be unhooked and imeadiately released.