Okay ... With the science input from Salmo G provided, I think we'll put this to bed.

A last comment from me ... while many think the law is stupid, I've worked with it for ten years in AK and it's not the end of the world.

I think it's a case of a few bad apples spoiling the rest. I'll tell you, I've seen some atrocious handling over the years ... saw one grabbed by the gills yesterday and thrown up on the bank until it was found out that it was a nate and not legal and then thrown back in.

I think it's more of a tool of giving enforcement some options when gross mishandling occurs ... I don't think you're going to see any tix if the fish is 1/2 inch of the water for a pic opportunity. But for those that let 'em flop around the boat for a bit or drag them up into the rocks ... you can now get one and you probably deserve it anyhow