(A) A person may fish or use the following in the salt waters of this State solely for recreational purposes without being commercially licensed:
(1) shrimp seines;
(2) hand-operated tongs, rakes except bull rakes, and forks except seed forks, used to harvest shellfish;
(3) hook and line or rod and reel;
(4) minnow traps, drop nets, and dip nets;
(5) cast nets; however, the use must comply with all other provisions of law;
(6) no more than two crab traps;
(7) no more than two trotlines with a cumulative total of not more than fifty hooks or baits;
(8) no more than ten bush or pole lines with single hooks or baits.
(B) A person may use a lawful gill net for other than commercial purposes without a commercial saltwater fishing license.
(C) A person may use lawful minnow traps to take fish for a commercial purpose for use as bait without a commercial saltwater fishing license.
(D) No person may retrieve any unattended recreational equipment used pursuant to this section unless the owner is present. A person may retrieve equipment with the written permission of the owner, but no fish may be retained.
(E) A person who violates this section by fishing or using equipment in excess of the numbers allowed in this section or in violation of subsection (D) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 2; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 11.