No species of fish that has a length limit restriction shall be filleted or altered to restrict the determination of length while on any body of water, except as follows:

If fish are to be consumed or filleted on the water, the fillets may be removed, but the head, vertebrae, and tail must be retained and remain intact to determine legal length. (Added 1991, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 943, eff. Jan. 5, 1991.)