| (a) Gulf net restrictions.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no
trawls may have a mesh size smaller than 8-3/4 inches in length between
the two most widely separated knots in any consecutive series of five
stretched meshes after the trawl has been used.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
presence of a shrimp trawl (excluding doors) not stored within the
confines of the hull of a vessel in outside water during the closed
periods provided by subsection (d) of this section is prima facie
evidence of a violation of this section.
(3) Electro-trawls. In outside waters beyond 5 nautical
miles, an electro-trawl having an applied voltage of no more than
three volts may be used for taking shrimp.
(4) Number of trawls:
(A) There are no restrictions on the number of trawls
that may be used in outside waters except as provided in this section;
(B) No more than two trawls may be used in the outside
waters from shoreline out to three nautical miles except as provided
in this section.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in
the outside waters from shoreline out to three nautical miles, the
main trawl:
(A) must have doors at least 3 feet long as measured
along the door centerline from leading tip to the trailing edge of
the door; and
(B) must not exceed any of the following dimensions,
as measured along an uninterrupted corkline from leading tip of door
to leading tip of door including any and all add-on devices or attachments
to the corkline:
Attached Graphic
(b) Bag and possession limits. During the gulf open
season there are no bag and possession limits on shrimp.
(c) Size limits. Shrimp of any size may be retained
when caught lawfully in the outside waters.
(d) Gulf shrimping seasons. The outside waters are
open to shrimping except:
(1) The Southern Shrimp Zone from the shoreline out
to 5 nautical miles is closed to shrimping from February 16 to the
start date of the summer Gulf closure.
(2) Night: The outside waters from the shoreline out
to 5 nautical miles is closed to night shrimping (30 minutes after
sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise).
(3) Summer closed season:
(A) The outside waters are closed from 30 minutes after
sunset on May 15 to 30 minutes after sunset July 15.
(B) The commission may change the opening and closing
dates to provide an earlier, later, or longer closed season not to
exceed 75 days, and delegates to the executive director the authority
to open and close the season as provided in Parks and Wildlife Code, §77.062,
not to exceed 60 days.
(C) The department will provide 72 hours public notice
prior to a change in the closing date, and 24 hours public notice
prior to reopening the season.
(4) The outside waters from the shoreline out to 5
nautical miles are closed from December 1 through February 15 the
following year unless taking seabobs in the Northern Zone.
(5) Seabob season:
(A) Seabobs may be taken:
(i) during daylight hours only (30 minutes before sunrise
to 30 minutes after sunset);
(ii) during the gulf open season; and
(iii) during the winter closed season (in the North
Zone only).
(B) No person catching seabobs may catch or have on
board a boat any other species of shrimp which exceed 10%, in weight
or number, of the entire catch.
(C) Not more than one trawl may be used for taking
Seabobs, except a try net may also be used.
(D) Net restrictions.
(i) Try nets.
(I) A trawl used as a try net may not exceed 12 feet
in width as measured from the trailing edge of one door to the trailing
edge of the other door.
(II) Try net trawl doors may not exceed 450 square
inches each.
(ii) Main trawl
(I) Trawl width may not exceed any of the following
dimensions, as measured along an uninterrupted corkline from leading
tip of door including any and all add-on devices or attachments to
the corkline:
Attached Graphic
(II) Mesh size: trawls used for seabobs must have a
mesh size of 6-1/2 inches in length between the two most widely separated
knots in a consecutive series of five stretched meshes after the trawl
has been used.
(e) A vessel that is required under the provisions
of Parks and Wildlife Code, §77.034 to obtain a commercial gulf
unloading license shall, at all times the vessel is in state waters,
store all trawls and trawl doors within the confines of the hull of
the vessel. For the purposes of this subsection, "within the confines
of the hull" means within a line perpendicular to and projected upwards
from the gunwales of the vessel.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §58.161 adopted to be effective October 3, 1996, 21 TexReg 9176; amended to be effective October 10, 2000, 25 TexReg 10157; amended to be effective January 2, 2002, 26 TexReg 11004; amended to be effective March 21, 2007, 32 TexReg 1579; amended to be effective October 7, 2018, 43 TexReg 6662 |
