Finfish, other than sablefish and hagfish, may be taken under a general trap permit if all of the following criteria are also met:
(a) Every person aboard the vessel possesses a valid general trap permit that has not been suspended or revoked.
(b) If nearshore species are present, at least one person aboard the vessel possesses a valid nearshore fishery permit and a nearshore fishery trap endorsement that has not been suspended or revoked.
(c) If deeper nearshore species are present, at least one person aboard the vessel possesses a valid deeper nearshore species fishery permit that has not been suspended or revoked.
(d) During the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, finfish traps that are left in the water shall be unbaited with the door secured open. If, for reasons beyond the control of the permittee, all trap doors cannot be secured open prior to one hour after sunset, the permittee shall immediately notify the department.
(e) Popups shall not be used on buoy lines attached to finfish traps, and shall not be possessed aboard a vessel when taking finfish under a general trap permit.
(f) Trap destruction devices used on finfish traps shall conform to the current regulatory requirements for those devices pursuant to Section 9003 and as adopted by the commission.
(g) No finfish traps shall be set within 750 feet of any pier, breakwall, or jetty in District 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 19A, 19B, 20, 20A, 20B, or 21.
(h) No more than 50 finfish traps may be used in state waters along the mainland shore.
(i) The mesh of any finfish trap used pursuant to this section shall measure not less than two inches by two inches.
(j) The following fish shall not be used as bait in finfish traps:
(1) Lobster.
(2) Crabs of the genus cancer, except rock crab, yellow crab, and red crab, as identified in Section 8282, which may be used as bait under the authority of a rock crab trap permit issued pursuant to Section 8282.
(3) Any other finfish or invertebrate to which a minimum size limit applies that is used or possessed in a condition so that its size can not be determined.
(k) Lobster may be possessed aboard or landed from any vessel on which finfish are also present, if every person aboard the vessel has a valid lobster permit that has not been suspended or revoked and complies with Article 5 of Chapter 2 of the Fish and Game Code, this article, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 431, Sec. 23. Effective January 1, 2005.)