Ariz. Admin. Code § R12-4-314 - Possession, Transportation, or Importation of Aquatic Wildlife

A. The Commission may prescribe legal sizes for possession of aquatic wildlife through Commission Order.

B. A person who possesses a valid Arizona fishing license may possess live aquatic wildlife lawfully taken on the waters where taken, but the person shall not transport the aquatic wildlife alive from the waters where taken except that:

1. A person may transport live baitfish listed in subsection C(1);

2. A person may transport live waterdogs except in the portion of Santa Cruz County lying east and south of State Highway 82 or the portion of Cochise County lying west of the San Pedro River and south of State Highway 82; and

3. Any crayfish taken on waters within Yuma or La Paz Counties may be transported alive for use as live bait in that portion of La Paz County west of Highway 95 and south of Interstate 10, Yuma County, and on the Colorado River from the Palo Verde Diversion Dam downstream to the Southern international boundary with Mexico.

C. A person who possesses a valid Arizona fishing license may import, transport, or possess live baitfish, crayfish, or waterdogs for personal use as live bait only as follows:

1. A person may possess or transport only the following live baitfish for personal use as live bait:

a. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas),

b. Golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas),

b. Goldfish (Carassius auratus),

c. Longfin Dace (Agosia chrysogaster)

d. Sonora Sucker (Catostomus insignis),

e. Speckled Dace (Rhynicthys osculus), and

f. Desert Sucker (Catostomus clarki).

2. A person may import for personal use live baitfish listed in subsection (C)(1) from:

a. California or Nevada, or

b. From any other state with accompanying documentation certifying that the fish are free of Furunculosis.

3. A person may import, transport, or possess live waterdogs for personal use as bait, except in the portion of Santa Cruz County lying east and south of State Highway 82 or the portion of Cochise County lying west of the San Pedro River and south of State Highway 82.

4. A person shall not import, transport, or move live crayfish between waters for personal use as live bait except as allowed in 12 A.A.C. 4, Article 4, or except as allowed in subsection (B)(3).

D. A person shall attach water-resistant identification to any unattended live boxes or stringers holding fish and ensure the identification bears the person's:

1. Name,

2. Address, and

3. Fishing license number.

E. A person who uses a crayfish net or a minnow trap shall raise and empty the trap daily and shall attach water-resistant identification to any unattended traps and ensure the identification bears the person's:

1. Name,

2. Address, and

3. Fishing license number.

F. A person shall not knowingly disturb the crayfish net, live box, minnow trap, or stringer of another unless authorized to do so by the owner.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R12-4-314

Amended effective May 3, 1976 (Supp. 76-3). Amended effective April 22, 1980 (Supp. 80-2). Former Section R12-4-63 renumbered as Section R12-4-314 without change effective August 13, 1981 (Supp. 81-4). Amended subsection (B) effective December 31, 1984 (Supp. 84-6). Amended effective December 30, 1988 (Supp. 88-4). Correction, former Historical Note should read "Amended effective January 1, 1989, filed December 30, 1988" (Supp. 89-2). Amended effective January 1, 1993; filed December 18, 1992 (Supp. 92-4). Section repealed by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 850, effective April 3, 2004 (Supp. 04-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 25 A.A.R. 1048, effective 6/1/2019.