<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".13" citation="COMAR 08.02.05.13" title_num="08" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="05" heading="Weakfish and Spotted Sea Trout.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Minimum Size.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A recreational angler may not catch or possess spotted sea trout less than 14 inches in total length.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A recreational angler may not catch or possess weakfish less than 13 inches in total length.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A person licensed to catch fish for commercial purposes may not catch or possess spotted sea trout less than 14 inches in total length.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A person licensed to catch fish for commercial purposes may not catch or possess weakfish less than 12 inches in total length.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>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.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Commercial Harvest of Weakfish.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Atlantic Ocean, Its Coastal Bays, and Their Tidal Tributaries.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 100 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The weight of the weakfish may not exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the vessel; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Harvest of weakfish with hook and line is prohibited.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Hook and Line.</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The open commercial season for harvesting weakfish with hook and line is August 1 through September 30.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 50 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>No bycatch of weakfish is permitted outside of the open commercial season.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>All Other Gears.</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 50 pounds of weakfish per day or trip, whichever is longer.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The weight of the weakfish catch may not exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the vessel.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>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.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Net Mesh Size Restrictions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Public Notice. The Secretary:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>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</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shall make a reasonable effort to disseminate public notice through various other media so that an affected person has reasonable opportunity to be informed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>