Section 481A.145. Taking and selling of minnows and other bait — regulations.

  1.  Except for species listed as threatened or endangered under chapter 481B, a licensed bait dealer may take sufficient bait from lakes and streams of this state that are not closed to the taking of bait, to supply the licensee’s customers for hook and line fishing if the licensee is present while the bait is being taken.

  2.  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person shall not carry, transport, ship, or cause to be carried, transported, or shipped, any minnows for the purpose of sale beyond the boundaries of the state. Minnows which are bred, hatched, propagated, or raised on a licensed aquaculture unit may be transported outside the state.

  3.  A person shall not transport, use, sell or offer to sell for bait or introduce into any inland waters of this state or into any waters from which the waters of the state may become stocked, any minnows or fish of the carp, quillback, gar, or dogfish species. Fish of the carp, quillback, gar, or dogfish species may be returned to the waters from which they are taken. A person shall not possess live gizzard shad at any lake in this state.

  4.  Minnow traps not exceeding thirty-six inches in length may be used when the taking of minnows is allowed. Each trap, when in use, shall have a metal tag attached plainly labeled with the owner’s name and address.

  5.  A person shall not use a minnow dip net which exceeds four feet in diameter, a cast net which exceeds ten feet in diameter, or a minnow seine which exceeds twenty feet in length or has a mesh size smaller than one-quarter inch bar measure. Licensed bait dealers may obtain a permit from the department to use minnow seines longer than twenty feet, but not exceeding fifty feet in length.

  6.  The department may designate certain lakes and streams, and parts of them, from which minnow populations should be protected for the best management of the lakes or streams. If an investigation of a lake or stream or a portion of a lake or stream by the department indicates that the minnow population should be protected, the lake or stream or a portion of the lake or stream shall be closed to the taking of minnows for a period of time deemed advisable by the department.

92 Acts, ch 1216, §7

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93 Acts, ch 99, §3 – 5

For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraphs c, d, and k