Section 250-RICR-90-00-3.29 - Winter Flounder3.29.1RecreationalA. Minimum size: Twelve inches (12").B. Season: March 1 through December 31.C. Possession limit: Two (2) fish per person per day in Rhode Island waters.3.29.2CommercialA. Minimum Size: Twelve inches (12").B. Season: January 1 through December 31.C. Possession limit: Fifty (50) pounds per vessel per day.3.29.3Taking of Winter flounder prohibitedA. The harvest or possession of winter flounder is prohibited in Narragansett Bay north of the Colregs line; Potter Pond; Point Judith Pond and the Harbor of Refuge.B. With the exception of the use of gillnets and fyke nets, the taking of winter flounder is prohibited from one (1) hour after sunset until one (1) hour before sunrise in the following areas: 1. In all coastal salt ponds, (with the exception of Point Judith Pond and the Harbor of Refuge where the harvest or possession of winter flounder is prohibited).2. In all coastal salt pond channels.4. In Little Narragansett Bay and the Pawcatuck River north and east of a line extending from Napatree Point in the town of Westerly to the northwestern end of Sandy Point Island in the state of Connecticut.5. Gillnets and fyke nets may not be hauled in these areas from one (1) hour after sunset to one (1) hour before sunrise.3.29.4Minimum mesh sizeA. Bottom trawl nets: Six inches (6") diamond mesh or six and one half inches (6 1/2") square mesh applied throughout the body and extension of the net, or any combination thereof, and six and one half inches (6 1/2") diamond mesh or six and one half inches (6 1/2") square mesh applied to the cod end of the bottom trawl nets.B. Gill nets: Six and one half inches (6 1/2") diamond mesh or six and one half inches (6 1/2") square mesh applied throughout the net. Vessels may utilize commercial fishing gear with mesh smaller than the sizes referenced in this Section provided they do not possess any winter flounder.1. For vessels greater than forty-five feet (45') in length overall, a diamond mesh cod end is defined as the first fifty (50) meshes counting from the terminus of the net, and a square mesh cod end is defined as the first one hundred (100) bars counting from the terminus of the net.2. For vessels forty-five feet (45') or less in length overall, a diamond mesh cod end is defined as the first twenty-five (25) meshes counting from the terminus of the net, and a square mesh cod end is defined as the first fifty (50) bars counting from the terminus of the net.C. Vessels possessing trawl devices while harvesting winter flounder in excess of the possession limits specified herein may have nets onboard the vessel that have a mesh size less than the minimum size specified in the Regulations provided that the net is stowed and not available for immediate use.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-90-00-3.29
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