Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations - Gulf States Marine ...

Menhaden
Legal Gear - Purse Seine: Cannot be used to take
finfish other than menhaden or herring like species.
Use is otherwise prohibited in inside or outside waters
as delineated in LA. R.S. 56:495.
Regular Menhaden Season: The season for the taking
of menhaden as well as processing of menhaden
shall be from the third Monday in April through Nov.
1. The menhaden season shall apply to all waters seaward
of the inside-outside line described in R.S.
56:495 including waters in the Federal Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ), and in Chandeleur and Breton
Sounds LAC 76:VII.307.D. All other inside waters
and passes are permanently closed to menhaden fishing.
Menhaden Bait Season: runs from after the close of
the regular menhaden season until Dec. 1. If the quota
has not been reached by Dec. 1, then, beginning on
April 1 of the following year, bait gulf menhaden may
be taken until LDWF determines that the quota (3,000
metric tons) has been met. Any menhaden taken pursuant
to this special season shall be sold only for use as
bait. The Secretary shall grant special permits for the
taking of menhaden during the special bait season.
Anyone legally harvesting menhaden cannot possess
more than 5 percent, by weight, of any species other
than menhaden and herring-like species.
Mullet, Striped
Mullet Permit: The commercial fisherman (captain)
is required to qualify and purchase a mullet permit to
commercially harvest mullet. Mullet permit required
in addition to other licenses, qualifications exist.
Qualifying criteria for Mullet Permit are:
1. applicant must have possessed a valid saltwater
gill net license during two of the years 1993, 1994
or 1995.
2. applicant must provide positive proof, in the form
of state and federal income tax returns, including
Schedule C of the federal 1040 form, submitted in
accordance with procedures established by the
commission, that the applicant has derived more
than fifty percent of his income earned from the
capture and sale of seafood species in at least two
of the three years, 1993, 1994 or 1995.
Legal Gear - Mullet Strike Net: Mullet may only be
taken commercially with a mullet strike net. One and
three-fourth inches square or three and one-half inches
stretched mesh (minimum). No mullet strike net in use
can exceed 1,200 feet in length or be unattended by the
licensee thereof. Mullet strike nets may only be used
in state waters for the legal taking of striped mullet
with a special mullet permit during the commercial
season.
Commercial season: From the third Monday in
October until the third Monday in the following
January. No commercial harvest of mullet is allowed
outside this season. Mullet strike nets may be used
Monday through Friday from sunrise to sunset. Only
one mullet strike net may be in use from any vessel at
any time. A commercial fisherman must have in possession
a valid LDWF mullet permit in his name for
legal harvest and sale. Mullet strike nets must be
tagged with an LDWF issued tag. No other fish may
be possessed when mullet fishing.
Strike net gear licenses are non-transferable.
Pompano, Florida
Pompano Permit: A commercial fisherman is required
to obtain a pompano permit to commercially harvest
and sell pompano using a pompano strike net in Breton
and Chandeleur sounds during the pompano season.
Legal Gear - Pompano Strike Net: In addition to
other legal gears, Florida pompano can be harvested
with pompano strike nets in seasons and areas described
below. Two and one-half inches square or five inches
stretched mesh (minimum). No pompano strike net in
use shall exceed 2,400 feet in length or be unattended
by the licensee thereof. Pompano strike nets may only
be used for the legal taking of pompano in the waters
in excess of seven feet in depth and beyond 2,500 feet
from land within the Chandeleur and Breton Sound
areas described in R.S. 56:406(A)(2). Pompano strike
nets may be used from Aug. 1 - Oct. 31 of each year.
Reef Fish
To commercially harvest or sell certain reef fish
species listed below (triggerfishes, amberjacks, wrasses,
snappers, groupers and tilefishes) whether taken
within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana,
fishermen must possess a permit issued by the National
Marine Fisheries Service for the Gulf of Mexico Reef
Fish Resources. Contact:
National Marine Fisheries Service,
Southeast Regional Office
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 824-5305
(For permit related inquiries 727-824-5326)
For a person on board a vessel to fish for or possess
Gulf Reef fish in the Gulf EEZ, the vessel must
possess on board and such person must use the gear as
specified below:
1. Non-stainless steel circle hooks - required when
fishing with natural baits for reef fish
2. Dehooking device - at least one device is required
and must be used to remove hooks embedded in
Gulf reef fish with minimum damage.
A. The hook removal device must be constructed
to allow the hook to be secured and the barb
shielded without re-engaging during the
removal process.
B. The dehooking end must be blunt and all edges
rounded.
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