Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-82.2 - Commercial taking

Fish may be taken for commercial purposes, from the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers subject to the following regulations.

(1) Permissive catch. Except for channel catfish, flathead catfish and shovelnose sturgeon which may not be taken from the Missouri River, it shall be lawful to take with licensed commercial fishing gear the following species: carp, smallmouth buffalo, largemouth buffalo, black buffalo, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black bullhead, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, freshwater drum, northern redhorse, silver redhorse, spotted sucker, white sucker, river carpsucker, quillback, highfin carpsucker, white amur, bighead carp, silver carp, shovelnose sturgeon, longnose gar, shortnose gar, bowfin, gizzard shad, goldeye, and mooneye.

(2) Size limits. Fish less than a minimum length or longer than the maximum length shall be returned to the water unharmed. The minimum total length for all catfish is 15 inches. The minimum fork length for shovelnose sturgeon, measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail, is 27 inches. No shovelnose sturgeon longer than 34 inches fork length may be harvested from waters of the Mississippi River bordering Wisconsin. No shovelnose sturgeon less than 27 inches fork length may be possessed in Iowa waters.

(3) Permitted gear. Hoop nets, trap nets (fyke nets), gill nets, trammel nets, slat nets (basket traps), seines, and trotlines (setlines) may be used by licensed commercial fishers.

(4) Mesh size restrictions.

a. Hoop nets. An escape hole with a minimum diameter of 11/2 inches all directions shall be provided within 12 inches beyond the last hoop to the tail-line.

b. Trap nets. An escape hole with a minimum diameter of 11/2 inches all directions shall be provided within 12 inches beyond the last hoop to the tail-line.

c. Gill nets. The webbing shall have a mesh size not less than 31/2 inches square measure.

d. Trammel nets. The webbing shall have a mesh size not less than 2 inches square measure.

e. Seines. There are no mesh size restrictions.

f. Slat nets. An escape hole with a minimum diameter of 11/2 inches all directions shall be provided in the end opposite the throat.

(5) Gear attendance. All commercial gear shall be lifted and emptied of catch at the following time intervals, except during periods of inclement weather. Inclement weather is defined as that threatening to life, health, or safety.

a. Hoop nets shall be attended at least once every 96 hours and slat nets at least once every 48 hours during open water conditions. Hoop nets shall be attended at least once every 20 days during ice cover conditions.

b. Trap nets and trotlines shall be attended at least once every 24 hours.

c. Gill nets and trammel nets shall be attended at least once every 24 hours during open water conditions, and at least once every 96 hours during ice cover conditions.

(6) Report of catch. Licensed commercial fishers must comply with the reporting requirements as set forth in Iowa Code section 482.14.

(7) Duplicate operator's license. An owner making a request for a duplicate operator's license will be issued one only after records show the owner has purchased a limit of five operator's licenses. The duplicate helper's license will be issued to one individual and is not transferable. The issuing fee is $1.

(8) Seasons. There is a continuous open season for commercial fishing of all species listed in 82.2(1) except there is a closed season for shovelnose sturgeon from May 16 through October 14. No shovelnose sturgeon may be harvested from gear set prior to midnight on October 15.

(9) Special shovelnose and bowfin regulations. Shovelnose sturgeon and bowfin must remain intact until the fish reach the final processing facility or business. For the purposes of this subrule, final processing facility does not include vessels or vehicles.

(10) Closed areas. The use of entanglement gear, including gill and trammel nets, is prohibited from that area extending 600 feet downstream of the 900 foot existing closed areas (Iowa Code section 482.9, subsection 2) located below each of the locks and dams on the Mississippi River.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-82.2