SECTIONS 1740-1743 - California Statutes

FISH AND GAME CODE

SECTION 1740-1743

1740. This chapter shall be known as the Black Bass Conservation
and Management Act of 1980.

1741. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is the
policy of the state to preserve and enhance black bass resources and
to manage black bass populations to provide satisfactory recreational
opportunities to the public.

1742. The Legislature further finds and declares that the black
bass management program components specified in this chapter are a
continuation of the department's existing warmwater fisheries
program, and, as such, shall be funded from existing department
budgetary resources.

1743. (a) The department's black bass management program shall
include, but not be limited to, the following components:
(1) The department shall determine the angler harvest of black
bass populations and shall recommend to the commission the changes in
angling regulations for black bass that would be necessary to
prevent or correct overharvest.
(2) The department shall consider recommending to the commission
catch and release regulations for black bass, including minimum or
maximum size restrictions and management for trophy-sized black bass
in some waters.
(3) The department shall consider the suitability of the many
different species, subspecies, and strains of black bass when
management programs are formulated.
(4) The department shall improve shoreline habitat for black bass
in waters where insufficient habitat exists and shall encourage
reservoir operating agencies to carry out shoreline habitat
improvement projects.
(b) For the purposes of this section, "black bass" means fishes of
the Centrarchidae family.