46 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 REGULATIONS SUMMARY
FISHING REGULATIONS
Legal Devices and Restrictions
Crab Line: A baited line with no hook attached.
• No restrictions.
Umbrella Net (sometimes called crab net): A non-metallic mesh net that is suspended horizontally in the water by multiple lines attached to a rigid frame.
• It is unlawful to use an umbrella net to take GAME fi sh. Umbrella nets may be used to take
nongame fi sh and other aquatic animal life, including crabs, crayfi sh, and shrimp.
• May not have within the frame an area that exceeds 16 square feet.
Folding Panel Traps:
• Only crabs may be taken.
• Overall surface area (including panels) may not exceed 16 square feet.
Crab Traps:
• Only six crab traps at a time may be fi shed for non-commercial purposes.
• May only remove crab traps from the water or remove crabs from crab traps during the
period from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Tag Requirements: Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG, valid for 10 days (see pg. 28) and
attached within six inches of the buoy or pier to which the trap is tied.
• Construction and Design Restrictions:
- May not exceed 18 cubic feet.
- Must be equipped with at least two escape vents in each crab-retaining chamber and
located on the outside trap walls.
- Escape vents must be at least 2-3/8 inches in diameter.
- Must be marked with a white fl oating buoy not less than 6 inches in height, 6 inches in
length, and 6 inches in width, bearing a 2-inch wide center stripe of contrasting color,
attached to the crab trap.
- Buoys or fl oats may not be made of plastic bottle(s) of any color or size.
- Must be equipped with a degradable panel. A trap is considered to have a degradable
panel if one of the following methods is used in construction of the trap:
• the trap lid tie-down strap is secured to the trap at one end by a simple loop of
untreated jute twine (comparable to Lehigh brand #530), sisal twine (comparable
to Lehigh brand #390) or untreated steel wire with a diameter of 20 gauge or
smaller. The trap lid must be secured so that when the twine or wire degrades, the lid
will no longer be securely closed; or
• the trap contains at least one sidewall, not including the bottom panel, with a
rectangular opening no smaller in either dimension than 3 inches by 6 inches. Any
obstruction placed in this opening may not be secured in any manner EXCEPT it may
be laced, sewn, or otherwise obstructed by a single length of untreated jute twine
(comparable to Lehigh brand #530), sisal twine (comparable to Lehigh brand #390)
or untreated steel wire with a diameter of 20 gauge or smaller knotted only at each
end and not tied or looped more than once around a single mesh bar. When the twine
or wire degrades, the opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer be obstructed;
or
• the obstruction may be loosely hinged at the bottom of the opening by no more than
two untreated steel hog rings and secured at the top of the obstruction in no more
than one place by a single length of untreated jute twine (comparable to Lehigh brand
#530), sisal twine (comparable to Lehigh brand #390) or untreated steel wire with a
diameter of 20 gauge or smaller. When the twine or wire degrades, the obstruction will
hinge downward and the opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer be obstructed.
• Placement and Location Restrictions:
- May not place a crab trap or portion thereof closer than 100 feet from any other crab
trap, EXCEPT when traps are secured to a pier or dock.
- May not fi sh a crab trap in public fresh waters.
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FISHING REGULATIONS
Legal Devices and Restrictions
Crab Line: A baited line with no hook attached.
• No restrictions.
Umbrella Net (sometimes called crab net): A non-metallic mesh net that is suspended horizontally in the water by multiple lines attached to a rigid frame.
• It is unlawful to use an umbrella net to take GAME fi sh. Umbrella nets may be used to take
nongame fi sh and other aquatic animal life, including crabs, crayfi sh, and shrimp.
• May not have within the frame an area that exceeds 16 square feet.
Folding Panel Traps:
• Only crabs may be taken.
• Overall surface area (including panels) may not exceed 16 square feet.
Crab Traps:
• Only six crab traps at a time may be fi shed for non-commercial purposes.
• May only remove crab traps from the water or remove crabs from crab traps during the
period from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Tag Requirements: Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG, valid for 10 days (see pg. 28) and
attached within six inches of the buoy or pier to which the trap is tied.
• Construction and Design Restrictions:
- May not exceed 18 cubic feet.
- Must be equipped with at least two escape vents in each crab-retaining chamber and
located on the outside trap walls.
- Escape vents must be at least 2-3/8 inches in diameter.
- Must be marked with a white fl oating buoy not less than 6 inches in height, 6 inches in
length, and 6 inches in width, bearing a 2-inch wide center stripe of contrasting color,
attached to the crab trap.
- Buoys or fl oats may not be made of plastic bottle(s) of any color or size.
- Must be equipped with a degradable panel. A trap is considered to have a degradable
panel if one of the following methods is used in construction of the trap:
• the trap lid tie-down strap is secured to the trap at one end by a simple loop of
untreated jute twine (comparable to Lehigh brand #530), sisal twine (comparable
to Lehigh brand #390) or untreated steel wire with a diameter of 20 gauge or
smaller. The trap lid must be secured so that when the twine or wire degrades, the lid
will no longer be securely closed; or
• the trap contains at least one sidewall, not including the bottom panel, with a
rectangular opening no smaller in either dimension than 3 inches by 6 inches. Any
obstruction placed in this opening may not be secured in any manner EXCEPT it may
be laced, sewn, or otherwise obstructed by a single length of untreated jute twine
(comparable to Lehigh brand #530), sisal twine (comparable to Lehigh brand #390)
or untreated steel wire with a diameter of 20 gauge or smaller knotted only at each
end and not tied or looped more than once around a single mesh bar. When the twine
or wire degrades, the opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer be obstructed;
or
• the obstruction may be loosely hinged at the bottom of the opening by no more than
two untreated steel hog rings and secured at the top of the obstruction in no more
than one place by a single length of untreated jute twine (comparable to Lehigh brand
#530), sisal twine (comparable to Lehigh brand #390) or untreated steel wire with a
diameter of 20 gauge or smaller. When the twine or wire degrades, the obstruction will
hinge downward and the opening in the sidewall of the trap will no longer be obstructed.
• Placement and Location Restrictions:
- May not place a crab trap or portion thereof closer than 100 feet from any other crab
trap, EXCEPT when traps are secured to a pier or dock.
- May not fi sh a crab trap in public fresh waters.
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