what to do?

[Joe]

The motivation behind the law is to protect the lobster resource...If everyone picked up the near-dead lobsters that washed up after a big blow it would have zero impact on the fishery.
Yet from a strictly legal perspective, you are in violation.
But from a moral perspective - it's not going to make the negative collum when you show up at the pearly gates.

[Rockport24]

I would use it, but get it in the water fast in case sombody shows up!