Md. Code Regs. 08.02.05.13 - Weakfish and Spotted Sea Trout
A. Minimum
Size.
(1) A recreational angler may not catch or
possess spotted sea trout less than 14 inches in total length.
(2) A recreational angler may not catch or possess
weakfish less than 13 inches in total length.
(3) A person licensed to catch fish for commercial
purposes may not catch or possess spotted sea trout less than 14 inches in total
length.
(4) A person licensed to catch
fish for commercial purposes may not catch or possess weakfish less than 12 inches
in total length.
B.
Recreational Catch Limits. Except for a person licensed to catch finfish for sale, a
person may not catch or possess more than one weakfish and four spotted sea trout
per day.
C. Commercial Harvest of
Weakfish.
(1) Atlantic Ocean, Its Coastal Bays,
and Their Tidal Tributaries.
(a) A person may not
catch, possess, or land more than 100 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever
is longer;
(b) The weight of the
weakfish may not exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the
vessel; and
(c) Harvest of weakfish with
hook and line is prohibited.
(2) Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries.
(a) Hook and Line.
(i) The open commercial season for harvesting
weakfish with hook and line is August 1 through September 30.
(ii) A person may not catch, possess, or land more
than 50 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer.
(iii) No bycatch of weakfish is permitted outside
of the open commercial season.
(b) All Other Gears.
(i) A person may not catch, possess, or land more
than 50 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer.
(ii) The weight of the weakfish catch may not
exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the vessel.
D. Commercial
Harvest of Spotted Sea Trout. A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 150
pounds of spotted sea trout per day or trip, whichever is longer.
E. Net Mesh Size Restrictions.
(1) Trawls. A person may not use a trawl with mesh
less than 3-3/8 inches square or 3-3/4 inches diamond stretched mesh size to catch
weakfish or spotted sea trout.
(2) Gill
Nets. A person may not use a gill net with stretched mesh size less than 3 inches to
catch weakfish or spotted sea trout.
F. Public Notice. The Secretary:
(1) May modify, open, or close a season by
publishing notice in a daily newspaper of general circulation at least 48 hours in
advance, stating the effective hour and date; and
(2) Shall make a reasonable effort to disseminate
public notice through various other media so that an affected person has reasonable
opportunity to be informed.
Notes
Regulations .13 as an emergency provision effective October 19, 1994 (21:23 Md. R. 1929); original emergency text superseded and .13 as an emergency provision effective February 3, 1995 (22:4 Md. R. 231); emergency text superseded and .13 as an emergency provision effective March 31, 1995 (22:8 Md. R. 594); emergency status extended at 22:21 Md. R. 1613
Regulation .13 amended effective February 26, 1996 (23:4 Md. R. 272)
Regulation .13A, B amended as an emergency provision effective June 9, 2003 (30:13 Md. R. 850); amended permanently effective August 18, 2003 (30:16 Md. R. 1073)
Regulation .13C amended as an emergency provision effective November 1, 1996 (23:24 Md. R. 1675); emergency status expired January 1, 1997
Regulation .13D, E amended as an emergency provision effective October 10, 1997 (24:22 Md. R. 1549); amended permanently effective April 6, 1998 (25:7 Md. R. 526)
Regulation .13 amended as an emergency provision effective April 9, 2010 (37:10 Md. R. 718); amended permanently effective June 28, 2010 (37:13 Md. R. 851)
Regulation .13 amended effective 41:7 Md. R. 421, eff.
Regulation .13B amended effective October 8, 2007 (34:20 Md. R. 1736)
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