Its a fine line with releasing native caught captive aquatics.

Id call your local DNR office and find out.

I wouldnt keep a blue in anything under 1000 gallons. We have a replica of the fish on the wall at work( it was donated to us after all, dead or alive every angler deserves to see that fish) . we wont accept any fish from donation or employee caught if its over 30# due to the shape of the 9k gallon warm water game tank.

I dont think YOU will have a problem, i mean the dnr doesnt know any better, next flood that does this call em and notify them you have them in your pond from the recent flooding. I highly doubt you will have an issue since its a pond that is natural I am presuming? old farm pond perhaps?

I know if they are ever in a tank other then for rehab they cannot be returned to the wild due to possibilities of tropical disease outbreak due to the tank itself. I think they mean the tank might have housed other fish at one point in time that wernt native game fish. It can be like letting two snakeheads go wild in north american waters.