Catching Spot In Traps Is Illegal

[reds]

Originally Posted by B-Faithful

I was at the dnr meeting. Any fish trap or pot is classified as commercial gear (as are nets)... You must have a TFL to trap fish in pots. Capt O'brien did bring up the fact that this may give a competitive advantage to the charter capts who also carry TFL's. (many maryland charter capts also carry commercial fishing lisences, while others do not).

I do not think there are many recs who are running spot traps but if they are, it is illegal. Hook and line only for spot unless you have a TFL

I dont think a pen can be classified as a trap. A pen is nothing but an in water livewell.

Capt O'brien does not carry a TFL, but that was his choice. A tfl is $310 a year while Capt O'brien's license is but $50. So the unfair advantage he speaks of is not so unfair.

And yes there are a great deal of recs who catch Spot with traps and in the past the DNR has looked the other way.

Spot are not a bait fish by regulation, therefore the pens are a gray area. One of the things the ASMFC wants the DNR to look into is a daily limit. A daily limit will make the pens illegal if over one limit is kept unless you have a commercial finfish license.

[crabby and son]

Originally Posted by reds

Capt O'brien does not carry a TFL, but that was his choice. A tfl is $310 a year while Capt O'brien's license is but $50. So the unfair advantage he speaks of is not so unfair.

And yes there are a great deal of recs who catch Spot with traps and in the past the DNR has looked the other way.

Spot are not a bait fish by regulation, therefore the pens are a gray area. One of the things the ASMFC wants the DNR to look into is a daily limit. A daily limit will make the pens illegal if over one limit is kept unless you have a commercial finfish license.

As the market for spot increases by the popularity of live lining, I feel a daily limit might not be a bad idea. There is just a TON of 2" spot in the bay right now............Gary

[hippie]

Someone said hook and line is the only legal way for recs. to catch their spot. What about a cast net. I would always throw it and the more spot the better. Since the spot are not protected as to size, daily creel limit or a seasonal time limit how can they be protected via hook and line only? Thank you, Bob

[Skip]

IMHO - there should not be any live Spot sold as bait.
Here's my opinion on why: If it takes less then an hour or so to get enough Spot for livelining - most anglers will do it.

If it takes 2-3 hours - some still will but most will not.

If it takes 4-5 hours to get enough Spot - very few will.

If it takes over 5 hours - doubt any sane angler would invest that much time.

Instead - they will troll or cast or chum.
Most liveliners have a back up plan if the Spot are tough to catch.

Hook and line catching them almost has a built in time limit. They get scarce - anglers stop trying for them.

I know first hand some legal commercial Spot potters who take over 2,500 of them a week. They sell for $10.00 a dozen - almost a dollar each.

In Delaware - some shops sell them for $20.00 a dozen - just shy of $2.00 each.

[reds]

Originally Posted by Skip

IMHO - there should not be any live Spot sold as bait.
Here's my opinion on why: If it takes less then an hour or so to get enough Spot for livelining - most anglers will do it.

If it takes 2-3 hours - some still will but most will not.

If it takes 4-5 hours to get enough Spot - very few will.

If it takes over 5 hours - doubt any sane angler would invest that much time.

Instead - they will troll or cast or chum.
Most liveliners have a back up plan if the Spot are tough to catch.

Hook and line catching them almost has a built in time limit. They get scarce - anglers stop trying for them.

I know first hand some legal commercial Spot potters who take over 2,500 of them a week. They sell for $10.00 a dozen - almost a dollar each.

In Delaware - some shops sell them for $20.00 a dozen - just shy of $2.00 each.

Some rec fishermen choose to buy bait rather then spend the time trying to catch it legally. If the commercial fishermen are using illegal gear then they need to be ticketed. I also know first hand of commercial spot catchers who catch and sell legally.

$1.00 a piece sounds like a bait shop price..... $ .50 is more the norm off the boat.

[Fish Nut]

Skip, the aquaculture of spot is going extremely well these days. I Think Keith at All tackle was looking into purchasing spot form the aquaculture company. The price would have to be around a 1.00 – 2.00 a fish to make a profit and account for losses in stock. I already pay 10.00 a dozen for blood worms why waist time catching spot when you invest the 10.00 toward a dozen spot that are raised in aquaculture. Should spot traps be used in the bay by recs or commercials? It all depends on the numbers and the population. These critters grow fast and are pretty good a replenishing themselves. The only concern I have herd so far is that they reach sexual maturity in year 2 or three of there life cycle. I would hope that any captain holding a commercial licenses potting spot for bait or resale would have to report the landing to DNR.

Imposing a daily limit is a feel good regulation at this point. is there a problem with the spot population on the east coast?


Cast nets are legal in Maryland, the specifics on mesh and such is on the DNR web site.

[onefishnfool]

Originally Posted by Fish Nut

Cast nets are legal in Maryland, the specifics on mesh and such is on the DNR web site.

Cast nets are legal to catch "bait" fish. Don't get caught with a "hook and line only" fish in that net.

[CaptMikeS]

Mike - thanks for the info.