Back in the old days, Game Department rules were that the limit (trout, steelhead) was the number you could catch. C&R beyond the set limit was a violation.

This actually meant that if you were fishing steelhead in the spring you had to both punch the fish and count it to the 2 fish limit even if it was a kelt. Had many conversations with wardens about this and how the handled it in the field. The bios tried to get this changed but leadership opposed it; gotta cycle more folks through.