and you almost hit the nail on the head
the regs. summary doesn't give enough detail but the long winded full regs. do and if you handle a fish took long ie: taking many photos or leaving the fish on the deck while you are doing something else or putting it on a stringer or livewell they will say that fish is now in your possession at that point they can charge you if it's OOS or a fish in the release slot or a fish with 0 limit...
if it's a legal fish even if you release it it can count against your limit. because they have determined you had it in your possession now if the fish floats to the surface, that is even more charges if it's OOS...but the taking of the photo is not a chargeable act ... taking to long as to imply possession of the fish is a chargeable offense
and in defense of taking photos they have stated that taking photos of muskie with a 0 limit license is perfectly legal....unless the fish dies , then it goes back to the charge because you kept it long enough to have possession of the fish