When can you use two rods?

I'm still not clear on the regs regarding using two rods at a time. Are you supposed to stop using two rods after you catch your first rockfish?

Yep, with rockfish or salmon on board you may only use 1 rod.  Halibut, and pretty much all of the socal fish you're allowed to fish multiple rods.  You're also only allowed one rod in the bay (except from a pier where it's 2).

Yep, with rockfish or salmon on board you may only use 1 rod.  Halibut, and pretty much all of the socal fish you're allowed to fish multiple rods.  You're also only allowed one rod in the bay (except from a pier where it's 2).

If you catch and release rockfish and have none on board, can you still use two rods?
Which bay? SF or Monterey?

I think technically you are not supposed to keep that first rockfish if you were using 2 rods at the time you caught it.

-Allen

Yes, this is correct: if you catch a RCG-complex fish (RF, cab, greenling) while using 2 rods, it must be released. The tricky part of the reg is "intent." Because you are not allowed to target RCGs while using 2 rods. ... But there are lots of places where you might be halibut fishing with 2 rods (legal) and catch RCGs as bycatch. As long as you're letting them go, and they aren't floaters, and you are truly not targetting them; I don't think a warden would cite you.

I have had multiple conversations with different wardens to get clarification on this policy. Because I have heard conflicting arguments/opinions about this topic.
PK

In socal the warden is much less likely to think you're targeting rockfish or salmon than up here.  Perhaps this is part of why rockfish and lingcod don't get much enthusiasm down there, keep a ling and you have to retire one or two rods to stay legal.

Yep, with rockfish or salmon on board you may only use 1 rod.  Halibut, and pretty much all of the socal fish you're allowed to fish multiple rods.  You're also only allowed one rod in the bay (except from a pier where it's 2).

If you catch and release rockfish and have none on board, can you still use two rods?
Which bay? SF or Monterey?

SF Bay