Jan 2026 Crab Hoop net buoy requirement

KPD mentioned this in another thread, but I didn't want to hijack it.

This new req doesn't make sense to me?  Seems to very much limit the ability to make unique buoys and allow for the easy spotting of your hoop.

the new req seems very similar to what they require for crab traps.

for the main buoy, they do not call out a color, but the diagram shows it as typical red/white.  Your GOID must be on the main buoy.

The trailer, if you have one, must be orange and have a 2" H (for hoop I assume) on two sides.


https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195608&inline

KPD mentioned this in another thread, but I didn't want to hijack it.

This new req doesn't make sense to me?  Seems to very much limit the ability to make unique buoys and allow for the easy spotting of your hoop.

the new req seems very similar to what they require for crab traps.

for the main buoy, they do not call out a color, but the diagram shows it as typical red/white.  Your GOID must be on the main buoy.

The trailer, if you have one, must be orange and have a 2" H (for hoop I assume) on two sides.


https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195608&inline

The main buoy only has 1 restriction, which is the size.  If you want a 2nd buoy it must dfollow the new additional restrictions

Note that the second buoy is entirely OPTIONAL.   Since I know this site is monitored by DFW, I'll state for the record this is the dumbest writeup and most ambiguous regulation language I have seen them publish to date.

Yes I read it as (size only restriction) for the main buoy. I like using all white bleach bottles within the size limit. They stand out for me when surrounded by the red/white buoys

Yes I read it as (size only restriction) for the main buoy. I like using all white bleach bottles within the size limit. They stand out for me when surrounded by the red/white buoys

exactly, I've always been amazed at the creativity some people have in selecting their buoy material.  Whether it's laundry soap containers, bleach containers, car parts packing foam, or just the color combination of first and second buoy.

seems restrictive, and I don't know what problem they were trying to solve.

seems restrictive, and I don't know what problem they were trying to solve.

Maybe eliminating plastics/other products when lost/abandon?

Note that the second buoy is entirely OPTIONAL.   Since I know this site is monitored by DFW, I'll state for the record this is the dumbest writeup and most ambiguous regulation language I have seen them publish to date.

Quoted for truth!
Every year  also....
Walking away shaking my head.

Note that the second buoy is entirely OPTIONAL.   Since I know this site is monitored by DFW, I'll state for the record this is the dumbest writeup and most ambiguous regulation language I have seen them publish to date.

I freaked for a second wondering how to carry 8 buoys on my yak...I'm ok now

Long story short, when a whale gets entangled in crab gear or a warden looks a buoy, CDFW wants to be able to distinguish
1) what kind of gear (trap/hoop/other fixed-gear fishery) and
2) what sector of the fishery (commercial/party boat/recreational)

was involved. So FGC/CDFW made the gear requirements by gear/sector much more strictly defined. I believe this came about by a party boat petition and then kind of spiraled when NGOs and commercial fleet lobbied to bring the recreational hoop net regs more in line with the commercial restrictions/season delays. In theory, this gives the CDFW director more flexibility to close/open zones based on number of entanglements per gear/sector type or fishing depth versus solely based on concentration of whales.

For any regulation change you can read the initial/final statement of reason. You can also go back and watch the July/November 2024 Marine Resources Committee meetings or April/August 2025 commission meetings to see how the regs were workshopped and lobbied for by NGOs/party boat/commercial fleet.

Initial: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=232506&inline
Final: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=239978&inline
Index for all new regs: https://fgc.ca.gov/Regulations/2025-New-and-Proposed

Long story short, when a whale gets entangled in crab gear or a warden looks a buoy, CDFW wants to be able to distinguish
1) what kind of gear (trap/hoop/other fixed-gear fishery) and
2) what sector of the fishery (commercial/party boat/recreational)

This was what I thought first when I saw the new reg also. Most of the crabbing regs seems to be in place to limit human and whale interactions.

I wish we could use larger buoys though - small ones can be hard to find from a kayak.

Long story short, when a whale gets entangled in crab gear or a warden looks a buoy, CDFW wants to be able to distinguish
1) what kind of gear (trap/hoop/other fixed-gear fishery) and
2) what sector of the fishery (commercial/party boat/recreational)
.....

thanks Rick, very informative.