Question about Barbless Hooks

If the body of water requires barbless hooks to be used, can you get fined if you have barbed tackle in your box/bag in which you are not currently using and is not tied on to any rod?

That's ok if you are carrying tackle with barbed hooks as long as you aren't using them in restricted waters.

That's ok if you are carrying tackle with barbed hooks as long as you aren't using them in restricted waters.

Thanks, Cpt! Thought so, but just wanted to be sure.

I have another question about barbless hooks:

How barbless is barbless enough?

I've heard that wardens can be super picky about barbless hooks, so after I pinch down the barb (which invariably seems to cause it to snap off), I then file down the remaining nub as best I can. But, it's still not nearly the same level of smoothness as a store-bought barbless hook.

Run a nylon stocking over it. If it catches it is barbed.

I've never been cited for crimped barbs, I think that it's up to the individual officer.

Run a nylon stocking over it. If it catches it is barbed.

Can you loan me your nylon stockings so I can test that out?

Some wardens carry a little length of yarn with them and they will run the yarn across the inside of the hook from the eye to the tip. Some are real stickers and will cite you if any strand of the yarn catches on the crimped/filed barb. Some just run their finger across and make a judgement call.

... and make a judgement call.

I’d like to avoid any judgement calls as much as possible. If I could buy barbless hooks in the sizes needed, I’d do that just to avoid any potential hassles.

The funny thing is the nubbed "grabber" barbless hooks made by Maruto are considered barbless.  I don't know if those would pass the cotton ball test, but supposedly are copacetic.

https://www.anglerinnovations.com/products/8832-ssc-cp

The funny thing is the nubbed "grabber" barbless hooks made by Maruto are considered barbless.  I don't know if those would pass the cotton ball test, but supposedly are copacetic.

https://www.anglerinnovations.com/products/8832-ssc-cp

I don't know---the description says it's "semi-barbless"...

If the body of water requires barbless hooks to be used, can you get fined if you have barbed tackle in your box/bag in which you are not currently using and is not tied on to any rod?

No

The funny thing is the nubbed "grabber" barbless hooks made by Maruto are considered barbless.  I don't know if those would pass the cotton ball test, but supposedly are copacetic.

https://www.anglerinnovations.com/products/8832-ssc-cp

they claim approval from California DFW.  I would double check before actually using them for sure.

Bushy

The funny thing is the nubbed "grabber" barbless hooks made by Maruto are considered barbless.  I don't know if those would pass the cotton ball test, but supposedly are copacetic.

https://www.anglerinnovations.com/products/8832-ssc-cp

I don't know---the description says it's "semi-barbless"...

err yeah, to clarify, they're not barbless,  but are supposedly legal in barbless waters.  they supposedly have some sort of letter from CA DFW confirming this.

... and make a judgement call.

 buy barbless hooks

There you go. You will land the majority of your fish with barbless hooks.  A hot fresh run wild Steelhead will find a way to get unbuttoned if it wants to regardless of what you do. That's one of the challenges of fishing for the greatest sea run fishes in the world.