Section 50-5-1305 - Blue crabs; commercial taking at night prohibited; penalties(A) Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful for a commercial saltwater fisherman licensed to set, move, fish, retrieve, or remove catch from traps which may be used to take blue crabs; or to transport aboard a vessel more than twenty-four blue crabs or parts or products thereof, during the following times: (1) from 9:00 p.m until 5:00 a.m. the following day, local time, from April 1 through September 15 inclusive; and(2) from 7:00 p.m until 6:00 a.m the following day, local time, from September 16 through March 31 inclusive. This prohibition does not apply to recreational fishermen using properly marked personal traps.
A vessel rigged to use a licensed trawl may have blue crabs aboard at night if taken during lawful trawling activity; however, no vessel rigged for trawling may be used to set, move, retrieve, or remove catch from crab traps.
(B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.2000 Act No. 245, Section 7.