W.C. Non-Game Fish Sale

[BrAin]

Several recent threads have caused me to look up the laws on the sale of Non-game fish in Texas. Most of the restrictions I have read all pertain to public waters so I'm still looking for answers on catching fish on private land. Every other law or thread I've seen pertains to the exotics and illegal species, so I thought I would share this.

Non-game Fish: All species not listed as game fish
except endangered or threatened fish which are
defined and regulated under separate rules.

(2) A PERMIT TO SELL NON-GAME FISH
is required to sell alligator gar, shortnose gar,
spotted gar, longnose gar, bowfin, gizzard shad,
threadfin shad, common carp, goldfish, grass
carp, bighead carp, bigmouth buffalo, black buffalo,
smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, black
bullhead, yellow bullhead, freshwater drum
(gaspergou), Mozambique tilapia, blue tilapia,
redbelly tilapia, Rio Grande perch, silversides,
mullet, shiners, minnows and hybrisds of these
species taken from the public fresh waters of
this state. Other non-game fish may not be sold.

In addition to a General Commercial Fisherman’s
License, Bait Dealer’s License, and/or a Commercial
Fishing Boat License (if using a boat to catch
non-game fish), no person may sell a non-game
fish taken from the public fresh waters of this
state unless that person first obtains a permit
to sell non-game fish.
The fee for the PERMIT TO SELL
NON-GAME FISH is $60.
Commercial fishing license $26 per year Sept 1 to Aug 31.



I'm planning on calling the state to find out more information but this is what I found so far.

[barrettsline]

So this means I would have to have a permit to sell my gar and Texas cichlids ( natively caught and known as the rio grande perch). That sucks

[Sea-agg09]

yes, and on a permit you must specify species and collection point of each species. Its not a blanket statement.

[HERM]

What if the fish are captive bred ? This only pertains to wild caught , right ?

[Sea-agg09]

there isn't a neon sign that says captive bred, so yes it's any native fish. Think of it from a person trying to break the law... catch a fish when it's small, keep it in a tank for a month, then resell it as "captive bred"...

It's black and white, all natives.

[troy tucker]

If you breed that SP. you can get the permit to sale. It is a specific species and the collection piont is your tank.

[Sea-agg09]

If you breed that SP. you can get the permit to sale. It is a specific species and the collection piont is your tank.

They will want the collection point of the parents for that. It has to do with genetics and tracking.

[Fancyfish]

Any idea of what is behind this law? What are they trying to do or prevent?

[mistahoo]

So even if you have a native tank raised fish that were purchased from a store, you would need a permit to sell it?

[BrAin]

From my understanding this is to keep some one from catching fish out of public waters and selling them to the public as a business. Im going to get more clarification on the laws that apply to our hobby.

[mistahoo]

Any updates on info about the law?

[BrAin]

Not yet, sorry. Left a voice mail a couple days ago.

[BeefyG]

It would be better if you could get a reply email. Then you have it in writing.

[BrAin]

Spoke with several people today. Your right, we need some thing in writing. Supervisor is suppose to email me info when they return from the field. So far $86 dollars to catch and sell non game fish from public waters. Using a boat is more.
Breeding of these fish for the purpose of selling them falls under agriculture laws. Thats another $120 every 2 years.

[mistahoo]

Wow that's not that bad! But you can catch them to keep am I right? Even if they're juvies?