Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 22 - MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES
Part 6 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR LIVE-BAIT RELATED ACTIVITIES
Chapter 04 - GEAR REGULATIONS
Rule 22-6-04-4.1

A. A live bait catcher boat shall be licensed to catch live bait shrimp for only one live bait dealer, unless specifically permitted to do so as provided for in this Part. Once a live bait boat has been inspected and licensed to catch shrimp for a specific licensed live bait dealer that boat and captain must continue to work for that dealer until the following license period. The only exception to this is when a dealer has their license revoked or is otherwise out of business. The captain and live bait catcher boat may transfer to work for another live bait camp with the prior approval of the Executive Director or his designee and if they were not convicted of any violations that resulted in or contributed to the revocation of the live bait camp license. These are the only circumstances in which a live bait captain and catcher boat will be allowed to change camps during the course of the season and begin to work for another camp.

B. It shall be unlawful for any live bait catcher boat to tow a net in excess of twenty- five (25) minutes, including the time it takes to put out or pick up a trawl.

C. It shall be unlawful for live bait catcher boats east of Bayou Caddy to pull or have on board a trawl with measurements in excess of sixteen (16) feet along the headrope or in excess of twenty-two (22) feet along the footrope for the purpose of catching bait shrimp in Mississippi waters. It shall further be unlawful for live bait catcher boats working in Hancock County south and west of Bayou Caddy to pull or have on board a trawl with measurements in excess of twenty-five (25) feet along the headrope or in excess of thirty-two (32) feet along the footrope for the purpose of catching bait shrimp in Mississippi waters.

D. It shall be unlawful for live bait catcher boats to use boards greater than four (4) feet in length.

E. Live bait catcher boats must be clearly marked by displaying in an easily visible position, on both port and starboard sides, in block letters at least six (6) inches high by at least one-half (1/2) inch wide and of a contrasting color to that of the vessel, the words: "LIVE BAIT" and the name of the camp similarly displayed.

F. It shall be unlawful for any live bait catcher boat to use in excess of one (1) trawl. It shall be further unlawful for any live bait catcher boat to use any test or try trawl.

G. Live bait catcher boats shall be equipped with shaded holding tanks with aeration capabilities and a water circulating system aboard. Said holding tanks aboard the live bait catcher boat must be of either circular or raceway type with adequate water flow, provided, however, that rectangular shaped tanks already in use may continue to be used when boards are placed in the corners to prevent live shrimp from congregating. Provisions for aerating said holding tanks shall be provided to ensure optimal survival of the bait shrimp. A pump capable of drawing water from near the bottom where the shrimp are caught shall also be on board. A "wet" or recirculating sorting tank shall be required to separate shrimp from incidental catch. Other types of on-board holding tanks or systems may be permitted if it can be shown that they are at least as adequate as those described above. The Executive Director or his designee shall determine the capability of such holding tanks aboard to hold shrimp or fish in a live condition, as well as the capability of any pumps or aeration systems prior to the issuance of a permit for their operation.

H. It shall be unlawful for any live bait catcher boat to have in excess of thirty (30) pounds of dead shrimp on board at any time.

I. It shall be unlawful to possess mullet north of the CSX railroad while engaged in minnow fishing.

J. The designated captain of the live bait catcher boat may not operate said boat without having in his immediate possession a valid live bait catcher boat license issued by the Executive Director or his designee and their Captains' license issued by the MDMR.

K. Trawling hours for live bait catcher boats shall begin no earlier than thirty (30) minutes before official sunrise and end no later than official sunset each day, unless otherwise specified by the MDMR or state statute.

L. Live bait catcher boat operators may retain other fish caught incidental to catching bait shrimp, and such fish may be sold as chum or bait provided they meet all minimum commercial size requirements as established by Mississippi Statute and Parts as well as all other applicable regulations as established by the MDMR and state statute. If the live bait camp desires to sell crabs caught while engaged in fishing for live bait, the live bait dealer must possess a valid commercial crab license issued by the MDMR and abide by all crabbing regulations as established by the MDMR and state statute. All other incidental catch not intended for sale as bait or chum must be returned to the water as soon as possible in order to ensure survival.

M. It shall be unlawful for a live bait dealer or live bait catcher boat captain or operator to refuse to sell any shrimp legally caught or possessed for bait use.

N. It shall further be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell, offer for sale, barter, trade, dispense or otherwise dispose of live bait shrimp from a live bait catcher boat to recreational fishermen in amounts exceeding five hundred (500) live bait shrimp per person per day.

O. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to wash, pull, or have any part of a trawl in waters of the State of Mississippi that are closed to live bait shrimping or closed to that particular type or size of trawl.