Can I Use My Six Pack Commercial Boat for Personal Fishing?

January 13, 2011

Question: I own my boat and have it licensed as a six pack commercial passenger fishing vessel (CPFV). I know that when Dungeness crab fishing, passengers fishing on a CPFV can only take six crabs that must measure six inches minimum. My question is regarding trips that I make with friends and family and no paying passengers. If it’s not a commercial trip, can we all take 10 crabs per person measuring a minimum size limit of 5 ¾ inches like all other recreational crabbers? Would I need to mark my traps with different buoys from those that I use when taking paying passengers out? (Chuck H., Monterey)

Answer: No. Your boat is still a CPFV even when there are no paying customers aboard. Therefore, since the regulation states six crabs for a commercial passenger vessel, you and your passengers may still take only six crabs per person.