§ 4-713. Haul seines
West's Annotated Code of MarylandNatural ResourcesEffective: October 1, 2020
Effective: October 1, 2020
MD Code, Natural Resources, § 4-713
§ 4-713. Haul seines
(a) A person who fishes with haul seine equipment shall possess a tidal fish license to catch finfish.
(b) Haul seines shall be limited to a depth or width of 15 feet graduating to a width of 22 feet at the bunt or back. A haul seine may not have a length of its bunt or back greater than 100 feet, which is a “hung” measure.
(c) A person may not use a seine exceeding 50 feet in length and 5 feet in width to catch minnows in the tidal waters of the State.
(d) If the haul seine is used in the Chesapeake Bay, the length of brail line used on either end of the haul seine may not exceed 1500 feet. If the haul seine is used in the rivers and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, the maximum length of brail line may not exceed 750 feet.
(e) A person may not drag or haul any seine with two or more vessels or boats propelled by power, or use any haul seine more than 1800 feet in length. A power winch anchored in a vessel or boat, not propelled by power, may be used if the winch boat is anchored in 4 feet depth of water or less.
(f) A person may not empty a seine on the shore or beach, or in any water less than 12 inches deep so as to leave the small fish to perish. A person always shall empty the seine in waters of sufficient depth to enable the small fish to return to the waters for growth.
(g) A person may not haul any seine in waters covering leased oyster ground unless the permission of the lessee is obtained.
(h)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection, a person may not fish with a haul seine during the period from 12:01 a.m. Saturday until sunrise on Monday in the tidal waters of the State.
(ii) Except in areas where it is prohibited by the Department, a person may set a haul seine at a distance greater than one-third the distance across a river, creek, cove, or inlet in any of the tributary waters of Baltimore County or Harford County only to catch carp and catfish, notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle regarding the distance across which a haul seine may be set. A person may not set the haul seine to impede or obstruct navigation or block in any way the main channel of the river, creek, cove, or inlet. Any person who catches fish of a variety other than carp or catfish in any haul seine shall return them immediately to the water unharmed. A person always shall attend a haul seine for catching carp or catfish. Any person whose haul seine is found more than one-third the distance across the waters where it is set without a person in attendance is guilty of violating this subsection.
Credits
Added by Acts 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., c. 4, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1974, c. 864, § 3; Acts 1987, c. 472; Acts 1994, c. 184, § 1, eff. May 2, 1994; Acts 2014, c. 45, § 5; Acts 2016, c. 8, § 1, eff. March 14, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 85, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 117, § 1, eff. June 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 259, § 1, eff. June 1, 2016; Acts 2017, c. 62, § 1, eff. April 11, 2017; Acts 2020, c. 464, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2020; Acts 2020, c. 465, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2020.
Formerly Art. 66C, §§ 263, 265.
MD Code, Natural Resources, § 4-713, MD NAT RES § 4-713
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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