Section 6.23 - Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus Mordax) Restrictions(1)Definitions. Coastal Waters means those waters as established by M.G.L. c. 130, § 1.
Rainbow Smelt means that species of fish known as Osmerus mordax.
(2)Possession Limits. It is unlawful for any fisherman to fish for and retain more than 50 smelt taken from coastal waters of the Commonwealth per 24-hour day.(3)Prohibitions. It is unlawful for any person: (a) to fish for and retain smelt in any other manner than by hook-and-line as established by M.G.L. c. 130, § 35.(b) to fish for and retain smelt between March 15th and June 15th as established by M.G.L. c. 130, § 34.(c) to fail to release immediately any smelt unlawfully taken back into the waters from which they were taken.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1290, eff. 5/1/2013.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1324, eff. 10/21/2016.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1336, eff. 4/7/2017.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1345, eff. 8/11/2017.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1350, eff. 8/11/2017.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1363, eff. 4/20/2018.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1370, eff. 7/27/2018.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1391, eff. 5/17/2019.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1405, eff. 11/29/2019.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1416, eff. 5/1/2020.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1469, eff. 4/29/2022 (EMERGENCY).Amended by Mass Register Issue 1469, eff. 5/13/2022.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1476, eff. 8/19/2022.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1481, eff. 10/28/2022.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1500, eff. 7/21/2023.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1520, eff. 4/26/2024.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1522, eff. 5/2/2024 (EMERGENCY).Amended by Mass Register Issue 1526, eff. 7/19/2024.