Section 30. Prohibitions

A. It shall be unlawful for any person licensed under the provisions of 4VAC20-995-20 A 1 or 2 as a commercial hook-and-line fisherman to do any of the following unless otherwise specified:

1. Fail to be on board the vessel when that vessel is operating in a commercial hook-and-line fishing capacity.

2. Have more than three crew members, who need not be registered commercial fishermen, on board provided that:

a. Crew members shall be registered with the commission on an annual basis and in advance of any fishing in any year; except that one crew member per vessel need not be registered;

b. The maximum number of crew members registered at any one time shall be 15; and

c. Any crew registration list submitted by any commercial hook-and-line fisherman may be revised once per year.

3. Fail to display prominently the commercial hook-and-line license plates, as provided by the commission, on the starboard and port sides of the vessel.

4. Fish within 300 yards of any bridge, bridge-tunnel, jetty or pier from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Sunday.

5. Fish within 300 yards of any fixed fishing device.

6. Harvest black drum within 300 yards of the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge-Tunnel at any time.

7. Fish recreationally on any commercial hook and line vessel during a commercial fishing trip.

8. Use any hydraulic fishing gear or deck-mounted fishing equipment.

9. Use any fishing rod and reel or hand line equipped with more than six hooks.

10. Fish commercially with hook and line aboard any vessel licensed as a charter boat or head boat while carrying customers for recreational fishing.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to use a commercial hook and line within 300 feet of any bridge, bridge-tunnel, jetty, or pier during Thanksgiving Day and the following day or during any open recreational striped bass season in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, except during the period midnight Sunday through 6 a.m. Friday.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 14, Issue 05, eff. December 1, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 18, eff. May 1, 1999; Volume 17, Issue 05, eff. October 30, 2000; Volume 27, Issue 08, eff. December 1, 2010.

Statutory Authority

§§ 28.2-201 and 28.2-204.1 of the Code of Virginia.