Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources

Rule R657-13

Taking Fish and Crayfish

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 34167
Filed: 10/25/2010 03:17:44 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is being amended pursuant to Regional Advisory Council and Wildlife Board meetings conducted annually for taking public input and reviewing the Division of Wildlife Resources' (DWR) fish and crayfish management program.

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed revisions clarify in rule that motorized aquatic vehicles may be used to take protected aquatic wildlife; prohibit the transportation of any species of baitfish from any water formally declared AIS infested or subject to a closure order or control plan; allow for the use of cast nets in the noncommercial take of nongame fish; and clarify that crayfish may be taken with hooks on two lines provided that the angler is in possession of a second pole permit.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 23-14-19
• Section 23-14-18

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

These amendments only clarify existing rule with the exception of the transportation of baitfish from an infected water therefore, DWR determines that these amendments do not create a cost or savings impact to the state budget or DWR's budget, since the changes will not increase workload and can be carried out with existing budget.

local governments:

Since this amendment only clarifies regulations already in place this should have little to no effect on the local government. This filing does not create any direct cost or savings impact to local governments because they are not directly affected by the rule. Nor are local governments indirectly impacted because the rule does not create a situation requiring services from local governments.

small businesses:

This amendment clarifies current rule, therefore, this rule does not impose any additional financial requirements on small businesses, nor generate a cost or savings impact to small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

This amendment clarifies current rule, therefore, this rule does not impose any additional financial requirements on persons, nor generate a cost or savings impact to other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

DWR determines that these amendments do not create a cost or savings impact to individuals who participate in spearfishing.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The amendments to this rule do not create an impact on businesses.

Michael R. Styler, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources
1594 W NORTH TEMPLE
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3154

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Staci Coons at the above address, by phone at 801-538-4718, by FAX at 801-538-4709, or by Internet E-mail at stacicoons@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

12/15/2010

This rule may become effective on:

12/22/2010

Authorized by:

James Karpowitz, Director

R657. Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources.

R657-13. Taking Fish and Crayfish.

R657-13-1. Purpose and Authority.

(1) Under authority of Sections 23-14-18 and 23-14-19 of the Utah Code, the Wildlife Board has established this rule for taking fish and crayfish.

(2) Specific dates, areas, methods of take, requirements and other administrative details which may change annually and are pertinent are published in the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking fish and crayfish.

 

R657-13-11. Restrictions on Taking Fish and Crayfish.

(1) Artificial light is permitted while angling, except when underwater spearfishing. However artificial light is permitted while underwater spearfishing for burbot in Flaming Gorge.

(2) A person may not obstruct a waterway, use a chemical, explosive, electricity, poison, crossbow, firearm, pellet gun, or archery equipment to take fish or crayfish, except as provided in Subsection R657-13-14(1)(c) and Section R657-13-20.

(3) A person may not take protected aquatic wildlife by snagging or gaffing, except at Lake Powell where a gaff may be used to land striped bass. It is unlawful to possess a gaff at waters, except at Lake Powell.

(4) Chumming is prohibited on all waters, except as provided in Section R657-13-20.

(5) The use of a float tube or a boat, with or without a motor, [for fishing is unlawful]to take protected aquatic wildlife is permitted on [some]many public waters. However,[B]boaters should be aware that other agencies may have additional restrictions on the use of float tubes, boats, or boats with motors on some waters.

(6) Nongame fish and crayfish may be taken only as provided in Sections R657-13-14 and R657-13-15.

 

R657-13-12. Bait.

(1) Use or possession of corn, hominy, or live baitfish while fishing is unlawful.

(2) Use or possession of tiger salamanders (live or dead) while fishing is unlawful.

(3) Use or possession of any bait while fishing on waters designated artificial fly and lure only is unlawful.

(4) Use or possession of artificial baits which are commercially imbedded or

covered with fish or fish parts while fishing is unlawful.

(5) Use or possession of bait in the form of fresh or frozen fish or fish parts while fishing is unlawful, except as provided below and in Subsections (7) and (8).

(a) Dead Bonneville cisco may be used as bait only in Bear Lake.

(b) Dead yellow perch may be used as bait only in: Deer Creek, Echo, Fish Lake, Gunnison, Hyrum, Johnson, Jordanelle, Mantua, Mill Meadow, Newton, Pineview, Rockport, Starvation, Utah Lake, Willard Bay and Yuba reservoirs.

(c) Dead white bass may be used as bait only in Utah Lake and the Jordan River.

(d) Dead shad, from Lake Powell, may be used as bait only in Lake Powell. Dead shad must not be removed from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

(e) Dead fresh or frozen salt water species including sardines and anchovies may be used as bait in any water where bait is permitted.

(f) Dead mountain sucker, white sucker, Utah sucker, redside shiner, speckled dace, mottled sculpin, fat head minnow, Utah chub, and common carp may be used as bait in any water where bait is permitted.

(6) Commercially prepared and chemically treated baitfish or their parts may be used as bait in any water where bait is permitted.

(7) The eggs of any species of fish caught in Utah, except prohibited fish, may be used in any water where bait is permitted. However, eggs may not be taken or used from fish that are being released.

(8) Use of live crayfish for bait is legal only on the water where the crayfish is captured. It is unlawful to transport live crayfish away from the water where captured.

(9) Manufactured, human-made items that may not be digestible, that are chemically treated with food stuffs, chemical fish attractants, or feeding stimulants may not be used on waters where bait is prohibited.

(10) On any water declared infested by the Wildlife Board with an aquatic invasive species, or that is subject to a closure order or control plan under R657-60, it shall be unlawful to transport any species of baitfish (live or dead) from the infested water for use as bait in any other water of the State. Baitfish are defined as those species listed in sections (5)(b),(5)(c),(5)(f) and (8).

 

R657-13-14. Taking Nongame Fish.

(1)(a) Except as provided in Subsections (b) and (c), a person possessing a valid Utah fishing or combination license may take nongame fish for personal, noncommercial purposes during the open fishing season set for the given body of water.

(b) A person may not take any species of fish designated as prohibited in Section R657-13-13.

(c) Nongame fish may not be taken in the following waters, except carp may be taken by angling, archery, spear, or underwater spearfishing:

(i) San Juan River;

(ii) Colorado River;

(iii) Green River (from confluence with Colorado River upstream to Colorado state line in Dinosaur National Monument);

(iv) Green River (from Colorado state line in Brown's Park upstream to Flaming Gorge Dam, including Gorge Creek, a tributary entering the Green River at Little Hole);

(v) White River (Uintah County);

(vi) Duchesne River (from Myton to confluence with Green River);

(vii) Virgin River (Main stem, North, and East Forks).

(viii) Ash Creek;

(ix) Beaver Dam Wash;

(x) Fort Pierce Wash;

(xi) La Verkin Creek;

(xii) Santa Clara River (Pine Valley Reservoir downstream to the confluence with the Virgin River);

(xiii) Diamond Fork;

(xiv) Thistle Creek;

(xv) Main Canyon Creek (tributary to Wallsburg Creek);

(xvi) [South Fork of] Provo River (below Deer Creek Dam);[ and]

(xvii) Spanish Fork River;

(xviii) Hobble Creek (Utah County); and

(xix) Snake Valley waters (west and north of US-6 and that part of US-6 and US-50 in Millard and Juab counties).

(2) Nongame fish, except those species listed in Section R657-13-13, may be taken by angling, traps, bow and arrow, liftnets, dipnets, cast nets, seine, spear or underwater spearfishing in the waters specified in Subsection R657-13-9(4).

(3) Seines shall not exceed 10 feet in length or width.

(4) Cast nets must not exceed 10 feet in diameter.

(5) Lawfully taken nongame fish shall be either released or killed immediately upon removing them from the water, however, they may not be left or abandoned on the shoreline.

 

R657-13-15. Taking Crayfish.

(1) A person possessing a valid Utah fishing or combination license may take crayfish for personal, noncommercial purposes during the open fishing season set for the given body of water.

(2) Crayfish may be taken by hand or with a trap, pole, liftnet, dipnet, handline, or seine, provided that:

(a) game fish or their parts, or any substance unlawful for angling, is not used for bait;

(b) seines shall not exceed 10 feet in length or width;

(c) no more than five lines are used, and no more than one line may have hooks attached[ (], - except when an angler possesses a valid second pole permit in which case two hooked lines may be used. On unhooked lines, bait is tied to the line so that the crayfish grasps the bait with its claw[)]; and

(d) live crayfish are not transported from the body of water where taken.

 

KEY: fish, fishing, wildlife, wildlife law

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [December 10, 2009]2010

Notice of Continuation: October 11, 2007

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23-14-18; 23-14-19; 23-19-1; 23-22-3