2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
7
• Beam Trawl – A trawl, without wings, the
mouth of which is held open by a rigid
beam of wood or metal.
• Otter Trawl – A funnel-shaped trawl, with
wings, the mouth of which is held open
by floats and weights and spread by trawl
doors fastened to the wings.
Trotline: A non-metallic main fishing line
with more than five hooks attached and with
each end attached to a fixture.
Turtle Excluder Device (TED): A device
installed in a shrimp trawl forward of the
cod end (tail bag) for the purpose of excluding sea turtles from the net. NOTE: TEDs
are required in certain trawls. (See Page
40 — APPROVED TED DESIGNS or federal
regulation CFR Part 223 §223.207 for TED
specifications).
Umbrella Net: A non-metallic mesh net that
is suspended horizontally in the water by
multiple lines attached to a rigid frame.
Wildlife Resources: Any wild animal, wild
bird, or aquatic life.
POTENTIALLY HARMFUL EXOTIC FISH,
SHELLFISH AND AQUATIC PLANTS
The importation, sale, transportation and
release of exotic fish, shellfish, or aquatic
plants designated harmful or potentially
harmful by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Commission are prohibited except by special
permit from the department. The list of
potentially harmful species may be obtained
by calling (800) 792-1112 or visit:
www.tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/
exotic/prohibited_aquatic.phtml.
FRESH WATER AND SALT WATER DEVICES, MEANS AND METHODS
ONLY DEVICES AND RESTRICTIONS LISTED MAY BE
USED TO TAKE OR ATTEMPT TO TAKE AQUATIC LIFE
A person may fish with multiple poles or other
devices, except as provided in this guide. In
Fresh Water it is UNLAWFUL to fish with more
than 100 hooks on all devices combined.
Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD):
BRDs are required in certain trawls (See Page
37 — SHRIMP for trawl design restrictions).
Cast Net:
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and
other aquatic animal life.
• May not be greater than 14 feet in diameter.
• In SALT WATER, NONGAME fish and other
aquatic animal life may be taken for bait
purposes only.
Circle Hook: It is UNLAWFUL to fish for red
snapper using any kind of hook other than a
circle hook when using natural bait.
Crab Trap: See Pages 41-43 — CRAB for crab
trap design restrictions.
Dip Net:
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and
other aquatic animal life.
• May be used to aid in the landing of fish
caught by other legal devices.
• In SALT WATER, NONGAME fish and other
aquatic animal life may be taken for bait
purposes only.
Gaff:
• May only be used to aid in the landing of
fish caught by other legal devices, means,
or methods.
• Fish landed with a gaff may not be below
the minimum, above the maximum, or
within a protected length limit.
Gear Tag: The GEAR TAG must be legible,
contain the name and address of the person
using the device and the date the device was
set out (See Page 5 — DEFINITIONS).
Gig: May be used to take NONGAME fish only.
Handfishing:
• The use of ANY other fishing device while
handfishing (including but not limited to
gaff, pole hook, trap, spear or stick) is
UNLAWFUL.
• No person may intentionally place a trap
(including such devices as boxes, barrels
or pipes) in public fresh water for the
purpose of taking catfish by handfishing.
• May be used to take channel catfish and
blue catfish in FRESH WATER only.
• For handfishing under a commercial
license, flathead catfish may not be
retained or possessed.
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7
• Beam Trawl – A trawl, without wings, the
mouth of which is held open by a rigid
beam of wood or metal.
• Otter Trawl – A funnel-shaped trawl, with
wings, the mouth of which is held open
by floats and weights and spread by trawl
doors fastened to the wings.
Trotline: A non-metallic main fishing line
with more than five hooks attached and with
each end attached to a fixture.
Turtle Excluder Device (TED): A device
installed in a shrimp trawl forward of the
cod end (tail bag) for the purpose of excluding sea turtles from the net. NOTE: TEDs
are required in certain trawls. (See Page
40 — APPROVED TED DESIGNS or federal
regulation CFR Part 223 §223.207 for TED
specifications).
Umbrella Net: A non-metallic mesh net that
is suspended horizontally in the water by
multiple lines attached to a rigid frame.
Wildlife Resources: Any wild animal, wild
bird, or aquatic life.
POTENTIALLY HARMFUL EXOTIC FISH,
SHELLFISH AND AQUATIC PLANTS
The importation, sale, transportation and
release of exotic fish, shellfish, or aquatic
plants designated harmful or potentially
harmful by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Commission are prohibited except by special
permit from the department. The list of
potentially harmful species may be obtained
by calling (800) 792-1112 or visit:
www.tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/
exotic/prohibited_aquatic.phtml.
FRESH WATER AND SALT WATER DEVICES, MEANS AND METHODS
ONLY DEVICES AND RESTRICTIONS LISTED MAY BE
USED TO TAKE OR ATTEMPT TO TAKE AQUATIC LIFE
A person may fish with multiple poles or other
devices, except as provided in this guide. In
Fresh Water it is UNLAWFUL to fish with more
than 100 hooks on all devices combined.
Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD):
BRDs are required in certain trawls (See Page
37 — SHRIMP for trawl design restrictions).
Cast Net:
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and
other aquatic animal life.
• May not be greater than 14 feet in diameter.
• In SALT WATER, NONGAME fish and other
aquatic animal life may be taken for bait
purposes only.
Circle Hook: It is UNLAWFUL to fish for red
snapper using any kind of hook other than a
circle hook when using natural bait.
Crab Trap: See Pages 41-43 — CRAB for crab
trap design restrictions.
Dip Net:
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and
other aquatic animal life.
• May be used to aid in the landing of fish
caught by other legal devices.
• In SALT WATER, NONGAME fish and other
aquatic animal life may be taken for bait
purposes only.
Gaff:
• May only be used to aid in the landing of
fish caught by other legal devices, means,
or methods.
• Fish landed with a gaff may not be below
the minimum, above the maximum, or
within a protected length limit.
Gear Tag: The GEAR TAG must be legible,
contain the name and address of the person
using the device and the date the device was
set out (See Page 5 — DEFINITIONS).
Gig: May be used to take NONGAME fish only.
Handfishing:
• The use of ANY other fishing device while
handfishing (including but not limited to
gaff, pole hook, trap, spear or stick) is
UNLAWFUL.
• No person may intentionally place a trap
(including such devices as boxes, barrels
or pipes) in public fresh water for the
purpose of taking catfish by handfishing.
• May be used to take channel catfish and
blue catfish in FRESH WATER only.
• For handfishing under a commercial
license, flathead catfish may not be
retained or possessed.
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