sliding snell rig for salmon trolling.

Thinking about using a sliding rig with octopus hooks  for trolling salmon.

Ok looked at regs page on dfg:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp
Stationary circle hooks are only mandatory for mooching.
For trolling only requirement is must not exceed 2 hooks.

That's the way I read it as well.  For trolling, just 2 barbless hooks.

For any method other than trolling,  2 circle hooks, permanently tied, not further than 5 inches from top eye to bottom curve.

Now... I've seen some video online where they bend the tip of the hook so it's off the centerline... seems legal for trolling, right?

That bent hook is called a Siwash.