31 Tex. Admin. Code § 58.161 - Shrimping in Outside Waters
(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:
(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:
(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.
Notes
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