State Rep. Joseph Pavlov today announced House passage of his bill to simplify Michigan’s fishing laws and protect anglers who are following the rules.

“Our great State of Michigan is full of incredible natural resources,” said Pavlov (R-Smiths Creek). “Many Michiganders, like myself, enjoy fishing as a way to provide high quality food for our homes and families.”

Pavlov said the issue his bill addresses is straightforward.

“Fishermen throughout the state take great pride in following the law and preserving our natural resources. However, the current storage limit often forces many of these fishermen to break the law without even knowing.”

He pointed to a common, real-world example.

“Let’s say there is a fisherman who wants to go out on the St. Clair River a few times a week. He follows the daily catch limit every time and decides to freeze his fish to eat later. Before long, he could have 20, 30, 40 or more fish in his home that he legally harvested. But just by having them in his home, he’s breaking the law.”

Pavlov said the current system creates confusion without stopping bad actors.

“Possession alone doesn’t reveal when those fish were taken. The storage limit sounds like a safeguard, but it doesn’t prevent abuse. We should not solve law enforcement problems by taking away the rights of law-abiding citizens.”

House Bill 4733 restores consistency in how fish possession limits are applied, allowing anglers to store legally caught, processed fish at home while maintaining daily catch limits and conservation protections.

“This bill restores common sense to the system,” Pavlov said. “My bill ensures that fishermen can catch their fish and eat them too.”

House Bill 4733 passed with strong bipartisan support in an 85–20 vote and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.