What is the purpose of the bag limit for fish?

The purpose of the bag limit for fish is to regulate the number of fish that an angler can keep during a specific time period. This regulation ensures sustainable fishing practices by preventing overfishing and maintaining healthy fish populations in water bodies. By limiting the catch, fisheries management can help ensure that fish populations remain viable for future generations and that ecosystems are preserved.

While the bag limit may have an indirect effect on practices like catch and release, its primary function is focused on controlling the amount of fish removed from the environment. It does not directly promote different fishing techniques or increase competition among anglers, which further supports the idea that its core goal is to manage fish populations responsibly.