DAR File No. 38906

Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources

Rule R657-13

Taking Fish and Crayfish

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 38906
Filed: 10/14/2014 08:05:41 AM

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:

This rule revision modifies the definition of "permanent residence" to allow for an at-home possession limit to be altered; it also provides language to allow for the use of crossbows and adds dead striped bass as a bait to be used in Lake Powell only.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 23-14-18
• Section 23-14-19

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This amendment allows Utah anglers to hold processed or frozen fish at their homes without it being included in their possession limit, it also adds crossbows as a legal angling method and allows for the use of dead striped bass as bait at Lake Powell. 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 adds opportunity to anglers this should have little to no effect on local governments. 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 provides additional opportunity to anglers, 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 provides additional opportunity to anglers, 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 fishing in Utah because it provides additional opportunity to anglers.

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:

12/01/2014

This rule may become effective on:

12/08/2014

Authorized by:

Gregory Sheehan, 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.

 

R657-13-2. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 23-13-2.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Aggregate" means the combined total of two or more species of fish or two or more size classes of fish which are covered by a limit distinction.

(b) "Angling" means fishing with a rod, pole, tipup, handline, or trollboard that has a single line with legal hooks, baits, or lures attached to it, and is held in the hands of, or within sight (not to exceed 100 feet) of, the person fishing.

(c)(i) "Artificial fly" means a fly made by the method known as fly tying.

(ii) "Artificial fly" does not mean a weighted jig, lure, spinner, attractor blade, or bait.

(d) "Artificial lure" means a device made of rubber, wood, metal, glass, fiber, feathers, hair, or plastic with a hook or hooks attached. Artificial lures, including artificial flies, do not include fish eggs or other chemically treated or processed natural baits or any natural or human-made food, or any lures that have been treated with a natural or artificial fish attractant or feeding stimulant.

(e) "Daily limit" means the maximum limit, in number or amount, of protected aquatic wildlife that one person may legally take during one day.

(f) "Bait" means a digestible substance, including worms, cheese, salmon eggs,

marshmallows, or manufactured baits including human-made items that are chemically treated with food stuffs, chemical fish attractants or feeding stimulants.

(g) "Camp" means, for the purposes of this rule, any place providing temporary

overnight accommodation for anglers including a camper, campground, tent, trailer, cabin, houseboat, boat, or hotel.

(h) "Chumming" means dislodging or depositing in the water any substance not attached to a hook, line, or trap, which may attract fish.

(i) "Commercially prepared and chemically treated baitfish" means any fish species or fish parts which have been processed using a chemical or physical preservation technique other than freezing including irradiation, salting, cooking, or oiling and are marketed, sold or traded for financial gain as bait.

(j) "Dipnet" means a small bag net with a handle that is used to scoop fish or crayfish from the water.

(k) "Filleting" means the processing of fish for human consumption typically done by cutting away flesh from bones, skin, and body.

(l) "Fishing contest" means any organized event or gathering where anglers are awarded prizes, points or money for their catch.

(m) "Float tube" means an inflatable floating device less than 48 inches in any dimension, capable of supporting one person.

(n) "Free Shafting" means to release a pointed shaft that is not tethered or attached by physical means to the diver in an attempt to take fish while engaged in underwater spearfishing.

(o) "Gaff" means a spear or hook, with or without a handle, used for holding or lifting fish.

(p) "Game fish" means Bonneville cisco; bluegill; bullhead; channel catfish; crappie; green sunfish; largemouth bass; northern pike; Sacramento perch; smallmouth bass; striped bass, trout (rainbow, albino, cutthroat, brown, golden, brook, lake/mackinaw, kokanee salmon, and grayling or any hybrid of the foregoing); tiger muskellunge; walleye; white bass; whitefish; wiper; and yellow perch.

(q) "Handline" means a piece of line held in the hand and not attached to a pole used for taking fish or crayfish.

(r) "Immediately Released" means that the fish should be quickly unhooked and released back into the water where caught. Fish that must be immediately released cannot be held on a stringer, or in a live well or any other container or restraining device.

(s) "Lake" means the standing water level existing at any time within a lake basin. Unless posted otherwise, a stream flowing inside or within the high water mark is not considered part of the lake.

(t) "Length measurement" means the greatest length between the tip of the head or snout and the tip of the caudal (tail) fin when the fin rays are squeezed together. Measurement is taken in a straight line and not over the curve of the body.

(u) "Liftnet" means a small net that is drawn vertically through the water column to take fish or crayfish.

(v) "Motor" means an electric or internal combustion engine.

(w) "Nongame fish" means species of fish not listed as game fish.

(x) "Permanent residence" means, for the purposes of this rule only, the domicile an individual claims pursuant to Utah Code 23-13-2(13).

(y) "Possession limit" means, for purposes of this rule only, two daily limits, including fish[ at home,] in a cooler, camper, tent, freezer, livewell or any other place of storage, excluding fish stored in an individual's permanent residence.

([y]z) "Protected aquatic wildlife" means, for purposes of this rule only, all species of fish, crustaceans, or amphibians.

([z]aa) "Reservoir" means the standing water level existing at any time within a reservoir basin. Unless posted otherwise, a stream flowing inside or within the high water mark is not considered part of the reservoir.

([aa]bb) "Seine" means a small mesh net with a weighted line on the bottom and float line on the top that is drawn through the water. This type of net is used to enclose fish when its ends are brought together.

([bb]cc) "Setline" means a line anchored to a non-moving object and not attached to a fishing pole.

([cc]dd) "Single hook" means a hook or multiple hooks having a common shank.

([dd]ee) "Snagging" or "gaffing" means to take a fish in a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily into its mouth.

([ee]ff) "Spear" means a long-shafted, sharply pointed, hand held instrument with or without barbs used to spear fish from above the surface of the water.

([ff]gg) "Tributary" means a stream flowing into a larger stream, lake, or reservoir.

([gg]hh)(i) "Trout" means species of the family Salmonidae, including rainbow, albino, cutthroat, brown, golden, brook, tiger, lake (mackinaw), splake, kokanee salmon, and grayling or any hybrid of the foregoing.

(ii) "Trout" does not include whitefish or Bonneville cisco.

(ii) "Underwater spearfishing" means fishing by a person swimming, snorkeling, or diving and using a mechanical device held in the hand, which uses a rubber band, spring, pneumatic power, or other device to propel a pointed shaft to take fish from under the surface of the water.

 

R657-13-9. Underwater Spearfishing.

(1) A person possessing a valid Utah fishing or combination license may engage in underwater spearfishing, only as provided in this Section.

(2) The following waters are open to underwater spearfishing from January 1 through December 31 for all species of game fish, unless specified otherwise by individual water:

(a) Big Sand Wash Reservoir (Duchesne County);

(b) Brown's Draw Reservoir (Duchesne County);

(c) Causey Reservoir (Weber County);

(d) Deer Creek Reservoir (Wasatch County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(e) East Canyon Reservoir (Morgan County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(f) Echo Reservoir (Summit County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(g) Electric Lake (Emery County);

(h) Fish Lake (Sevier County), except underwater spearfishing for any game fish is closed from September 16 to the first Saturday in June the following year;

(i) Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Daggett County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(j) Grantsville Reservoir (Tooele County);

(k) Ken's Lake (San Juan County);

(l) Lake Powell (Garfield, Kane and San Juan Counties), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(m) Newcastle Reservoir (Iron County), except underwater spearfishing is closed for all species of game fish other than wipers and rainbow trout;

(n) Pineview Reservoir (Weber County), except underwater spearfishing is closed for:

(i) largemouth and small mouth bass from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June; and

(ii) tiger musky year round.

(o) Porcupine Reservoir (Cache County);

(p) Recapture Reservoir (San Juan County);

(q) Red Fleet Reservoir (Uintah County);

(r) Rockport Reservoir (Summit County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(s) Sand Lake (Uintah County);

(t) Smith-Moorehouse Reservoir (Summit County);

(u) Starvation Reservoir (Duchesne County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(v) Steinaker Reservoir (Uintah County), except underwater spearfishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is closed from April 1 through the fourth Saturday in June;

(w) Willard Bay Reservoir (Box Elder County); and

(x) Yuba Reservoir (Juab and Sanpete Counties).

(3) Nongame fish, excluding prohibited species listed in Section R657-13-13, may be taken by underwater spearfishing:

(a) in the waters listed in Subsection (2) and at Blue Lake (Tooele County) for tilapia and pacu only; and

(b) during the open angling season set for a given body of water.

(4) The waters listed in Subsections (2) and (3)(a) are the only waters open to underwater spearfishing for game or nongame fish, except carp may be taken by means of underwater spearfishing from any water open to angling during the open angling season set for a given body of water.

(5)(a) Underwater spearfishing is permitted from official sunrise to official sunset only, except burbot may be taken by underwater spearfishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Daggett County) between official sunset and official sunrise.

(b) No other species of fish may be taken with underwater spearfishing techniques at Flaming Gorge Reservoir or any other water in the state between official sunset and official sunrise.

(6)(a) Use of artificial light is unlawful while engaged in underwater spearfishing, except artificial light may be used when underwater spearfishing for burbot at Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Daggett County).

(b) Artificial light may not be used when underwater spearfishing for fish species other than burbot at Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

(7) Free shafting is prohibited while engaged in underwater spearfishing.

(8) The daily limit and possession limit for underwater spearfishing is the same as the daily limit and possession limit applied to anglers using other techniques in the waters listed in Subsections (2) and (3)(a), and as identified in the annual Utah Fishing Guidebook issued by the Utah Wildlife Board.

 

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 or while [bow ]fishing for carp with a bow, crossbow, or spear statewide.

(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(2) and Section R657-13-20.

(3)(a) A person may not possess a gaff while angling, or take protected aquatic wildlife by snagging or gaffing, except:

(i) a gaff may be used at Lake Powell to land striped bass; and

(ii) snagging may be used at Bear Lake to take Bonneville cisco.

(b) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(a)(ii) and Section R657-13-21, a fish hooked anywhere other than the mouth must be immediately released.

(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, to take protected aquatic wildlife is permitted on many public waters. However, 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 striped bass, from Lake Powell, may be used as bait only in Lake Powell.

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

([f]g) 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) As provided in this Section, 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.

(2)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), nongame fish may be taken by angling, traps, bow and arrow, liftnets, dipnets, cast nets, seine, or spear in any water of the state with an open fishing season.

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

(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) Provo River (below Deer Creek Dam);

(xvii) Spanish Fork River;

(xviii) Hobble Creek (Utah County);

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

(xx) Raft River (from the Idaho state line, including all tributaries);

(xxi) Weber River; and

(xxii) Yellow Creek.

(c) Nongame fish, may be taken by underwater spearfishing in the waters and under the conditions specified in Section R657-13-9.

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

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

(5) Except as provided in Section R657-13-21, 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.

 

R657-13-16. Possession and Transportation of Dead Fish and Crayfish.

(1)(a) At all waters except Strawberry Reservoir, Scofield Reservoir, Panguitch Lake, Jordanelle Reservoir and Lake Powell, game fish may be dressed, filleted, have heads and/or tails removed, or otherwise be physically altered after completing the act of fishing or reaching a fish cleaning station, camp, or principal means of land transportation. It is unlawful to possess fish while engaged in the act of fishing that have been dressed or filleted. This shall not apply to fish that are processed for immediate consumption or to fish held from a previous day's catch.

(b) Trout and/or salmon taken at Strawberry Reservoir, Scofield Reservoir and Panguitch Lake, and smallmouth bass taken at Jordanelle may not be filleted and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit.

(c) Fish may be filleted at any time and anglers may possess filleted fish at any time at Lake Powell.

(2) A legal limit of game fish or crayfish may accompany the holder of a valid fishing or combination license within Utah or when leaving Utah.

(3) A person may possess or transport a legal limit of game fish or crayfish for another person when accompanied by a donation letter.

(4)(a) A person may not :

(i) take more than one daily limit of game fish in any one day; or ;

(ii) possess more than one daily limit of each species or species aggregate, unless the additional fish are:

(A) from a previous days catch;

(B) eviscerated; and

(C) within the possession limit for each species or species aggregate.

(b ) Fish kept at the angler's permanent residence do not count towards an angler's possession limit for that species or species aggregate.

(c) A person may possess a full possession limit of Bonneville cisco without eviscerating the fish from a previous days catch.

(5) A person may possess or transport dead fish on a receipt from a registered commercial fee fishing installation, a private pond owner, or a short-term fishing event. This receipt shall specify:

(a) the number and species of fish;

(b) date caught;

(c) the certificate of registration number of the installation, pond, or short-term fishing event; and

(d) the name, address, telephone number of the seller.

 

R657-13-21. Catch-and-Kill Regulations.

(1) The Wildlife Board may designate in proclamation and guidebook waters where anglers are required to kill specified aquatic animal species that are caught.

(2) A person shall immediately kill any a[w]quatic animal caught in a water identified by th[t]e Wildlife Board in proclamation or guidebook as catch-and-kill for that species.

(a) An aquatic animal killed subject to a catch-and-kill regulation may be:

(i) retained and consumed by the angler; or

(ii) disposed of:

(A) in the water where the aquatic animal was caught;

(B) at a fish cleaning station;

(C) at the angler's [place of]permanent residence; or

(D) at another location where disposal is authorized by law.

(3) A person may not release a live aquatic animal subject to a catch-and-kill regulation in the water it was caught or in any other water in the state.

 

KEY: fish, fishing, wildlife, wildlife law

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [July 8, ]2014

Notice of Continuation: October 1, 2012

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