Sec. 66.006. POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL FISHING DEVICES. (a) No person may possess a device designed to catch fish or other aquatic wildlife in or on the public water of this state where the use of the device is not permitted by this code or by a proclamation of the commission under this code unless the device is on board a vessel that is in public coastal water and is:

(1) in port; or

(2) in a marked channel and the vessel is going directly to or from public water in this state where the use of the device is permitted.

(b) No person may possess or use for the purpose of catching finfish a seine, strike net, gill net, or trammel net in or on the public water of this state unless the seine, strike net, gill net, or trammel net is equipped with floats at intervals of six feet or less and of sufficient buoyancy to maintain the seine, strike net, gill net, or trammel net in an upright position in the water so that the floats are visible on the surface of the water thereby avoiding a hazard to motorboat traffic.

(c)(1) No person may possess a seine, strike net, gill net, or trammel net on or within 500 yards of any public coastal water of this state where the use of the seine or net for the catching of fish is not permitted by this code or by a proclamation of the commission under this code.

(2) It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the seine, strike net, gill net, or trammel net was possessed within 500 yards of a public coastal water of this state for a lawful fishing activity.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 27, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.