Section 509.040 - Small or immature salmon protected; exceptions; rules(1) Any person who takes any immature salmon of any variety less than 20 inches in length, or any mature salmon of any variety less than 15 inches in length, by any means other than angling, shall immediately return such salmon alive to the water.(2) It is unlawful to: (a) Take, buy, sell or possess immature salmon less than 20 inches or mature salmon less than 15 inches in length, taken in any waters of this state, at any time or in any manner except by angling.(b) Take, molest, kill or injure, in any manner at any time, or expose for sale or have in possession, except for the purpose of propagation when authorized by law, any spawning salmon.(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section it is lawful to take precocious salmon commonly called jack salmon less than 15 inches in length from the waters of this state, except the Pacific Ocean and to buy, sell or possess such salmon.(4) To further protect immature salmon the State Fish and Wildlife Commission may establish by rule a minimum size for any species of salmon which is greater than 20 inches. Amended by 1965 c.570 §97