Section 58.161 - Shrimping in Outside Waters(a) Gulf net restrictions. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no trawls may have a mesh size smaller than 8-3/4 inches in length between the two most widely separated knots in any consecutive series of five stretched meshes after the trawl has been used.(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the presence of a shrimp trawl (excluding doors) not stored within the confines of the hull of a vessel in outside water during the closed periods provided by subsection (d) of this section is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.(3) Electro-trawls. In outside waters beyond 5 nautical miles, an electro-trawl having an applied voltage of no more than three volts may be used for taking shrimp.(4) Number of trawls: (A) There are no restrictions on the number of trawls that may be used in outside waters except as provided in this section;(B) No more than two trawls may be used in the outside waters from shoreline out to three nautical miles except as provided in this section.(5) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the outside waters from shoreline out to three nautical miles, the main trawl:(A) must have doors at least 3 feet long as measured along the door centerline from leading tip to the trailing edge of the door; and(B) must not exceed any of the following dimensions, as measured along an uninterrupted corkline from leading tip of door to leading tip of door including any and all add-on devices or attachments to the corkline: Attached Graphic
(b) Bag and possession limits. During the gulf open season there are no bag and possession limits on shrimp.(c) Size limits. Shrimp of any size may be retained when caught lawfully in the outside waters.(d) Gulf shrimping seasons. The outside waters are open to shrimping except:(1) The Southern Shrimp Zone from the shoreline out to 5 nautical miles is closed to shrimping from February 16 to the start date of the summer Gulf closure.(2) Night: The outside waters from the shoreline out to 5 nautical miles is closed to night shrimping (30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise).(3) Summer closed season: (A) The outside waters are closed from 30 minutes after sunset on May 15 to 30 minutes after sunset July 15.(B) The commission may change the opening and closing dates to provide an earlier, later, or longer closed season not to exceed 75 days, and delegates to the executive director the authority to open and close the season as provided in Parks and Wildlife Code, § 77.062, not to exceed 60 days.(C) The department will provide 72 hours public notice prior to a change in the closing date, and 24 hours public notice prior to reopening the season.(4) The outside waters from the shoreline out to 5 nautical miles are closed from December 1 through February 15 the following year unless taking seabobs in the Northern Zone.(5) Seabob season: (A) Seabobs may be taken: (i) during daylight hours only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset);(ii) during the gulf open season; and(iii) during the winter closed season (in the North Zone only).(B) No person catching seabobs may catch or have on board a boat any other species of shrimp which exceed 10%, in weight or number, of the entire catch.(C) Not more than one trawl may be used for taking Seabobs, except a try net may also be used.(D) Net restrictions. (i) Try nets. (I) A trawl used as a try net may not exceed 12 feet in width as measured from the trailing edge of one door to the trailing edge of the other door.(II) Try net trawl doors may not exceed 450 square inches each.(ii) Main trawl (I) Trawl width may not exceed any of the following dimensions, as measured along an uninterrupted corkline from leading tip of door including any and all add-on devices or attachments to the corkline: Attached Graphic
(II) Mesh size: trawls used for seabobs must have a mesh size of 6-1/2 inches in length between the two most widely separated knots in a consecutive series of five stretched meshes after the trawl has been used.(e) A vessel that is required under the provisions of Parks and Wildlife Code, § 77.034, to obtain a commercial gulf unloading license shall, at all times the vessel is in state waters, store all trawls and trawl doors within the confines of the hull of the vessel. For the purposes of this subsection, "within the confines of the hull" means within a line perpendicular to and projected upwards from the gunwales of the vessel.31 Tex. Admin. Code § 58.161
The provisions of this §58.161 adopted to be effective October 3, 1996, 21 TexReg 9176; amended to be effective October 10, 2000, 25 TexReg 10157; amended to be effective January 2, 2002, 26 TexReg 11004; amended to be effective March 21, 2007, 32 TexReg 1579; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 40, October 5, 2018, TexReg 6662, eff. 10/7/2018