Sec. 08.02.05.13. Weakfish and Spotted Sea Trout

A. Minimum Size.

(1) A recreational angler may not catch or possess spotted sea trout less than 14 inches in total length.

(2) A recreational angler may not catch or possess weakfish less than 13 inches in total length.

(3) A person licensed to catch fish for commercial purposes may not catch or possess spotted sea trout less than 14 inches in total length.

(4) A person licensed to catch fish for commercial purposes may not catch or possess weakfish less than 12 inches in total length.

B. Recreational Catch Limits. Except for a person licensed to catch finfish for sale, a person may not catch or possess more than one weakfish and four spotted sea trout per day.

C. Commercial Harvest of Weakfish.

(1) Atlantic Ocean, Its Coastal Bays, and Their Tidal Tributaries.

(a) A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 100 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer;

(b) The weight of the weakfish may not exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the vessel; and

(c) Harvest of weakfish with hook and line is prohibited.

(2) Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries.

(a) Hook and Line.

(i) The open commercial season for harvesting weakfish with hook and line is August 1 through September 30.

(ii) A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 50 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer.

(iii) No bycatch of weakfish is permitted outside of the open commercial season.

(b) All Other Gears.

(i) A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 50 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer.

(ii) The weight of the weakfish catch may not exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the vessel.

D. Commercial Harvest of Spotted Sea Trout. A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 150 pounds of spotted sea trout per day or trip, whichever is longer.

E. Net Mesh Size Restrictions.

(1) Trawls. A person may not use a trawl with mesh less than 3-3/8 inches square or 3-3/4 inches diamond stretched mesh size to catch weakfish or spotted sea trout.

(2) Gill Nets. A person may not use a gill net with stretched mesh size less than 3 inches to catch weakfish or spotted sea trout.

F. Public Notice. The Secretary:

(1) May modify, open, or close a season by publishing notice in a daily newspaper of general circulation at least 48 hours in advance, stating the effective hour and date; and

(2) Shall make a reasonable effort to disseminate public notice through various other media so that an affected person has reasonable opportunity to be informed.