.06 Commercial — Finfish Trotlines.

A. An individual may not set or fish a finfish trotline within 100 feet of another individual's set trotline.

B. The length of a finfish trotline is measured along the baited portion of the line.

C. Except as provided in §H of this regulation, a finfish trotline:

(1) May not exceed 1,200 feet in length;

(2) May not be baited with live bait; and

(3) Shall only be rigged with circle hooks with a minimum size of 5/0.

D. Float Requirements.

(1) A finfish trotline shall have a float of the same color, size, and shape attached to each end.

(2) Floats that have a round or spherical shape shall be at least 12 inches in diameter.

(3) Floats that do not have a round or spherical shape shall be at least 12 inches long and 7 inches wide.

(4) Floats shall be marked with the owner's commercial license number.

E. Depth Requirements.

(1) During the period from June 16 through the end of February, a finfish trotline shall be set:

(a) At least 10 feet below the surface of the water, in waters that are at least 10 feet deep at mean low tide; or

(b) On the bottom of the water body in which they are set, in waters that are less than 10 feet deep at mean low tide.

(2) During the period from March 1 through June 15, finfish trotlines shall be set on the bottom of the water body in which they are set.

F. Area Restrictions. Except as provided in §H of this regulation, a finfish trotline:

(1) Shall only be set in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries; and

(2) May not be set in the Chesapeake Bay south of the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge, including Pocomoke Sound and Tangier Sound.

G. An individual shall be appropriately licensed to catch finfish under Natural Resources Article, §4-701 or 4-701.2, Annotated Code of Maryland, and permitted in accordance with this regulation in order to use a finfish trotline.

H. Shortlines.

(1) Definition.

(a) In this section, the following term has the meaning indicated.

(b) Term Defined. “Shortline” means a type of finfish trotline which meets the requirements of this section.

(2) A shortline may not exceed 1,500 feet in length.

(3) Hook Requirements. In addition to the hook requirements in §C of this regulation:

(a) A shortline may not have more than 50 hooks; and

(b) Any hook used on a shortline shall be corrodible.

(4) A maximum of two shortlines are allowed per vessel.

(5) Any vessel using a shortline shall:

(a) Practice the protocols and possess the federally required release equipment for pelagic and bottom longlines for the safe handling, release, and disentanglement of sea turtles and other nontarget species; and

(b) Have all captains and vessel owners federally certified in using handling and release equipment.

(6) Allowed Area. A shortline may only be used in the Atlantic Ocean.