lure with 3 sets of treble hooks?

So is a lure with 3 sets of treble hooks on it considered fishing with 3 hooks ? So in the ocean this would be illegal? I see large trolling lures all the time with 3 treble hooks on them.

You'd need to remove the middle treble hook if you want to keep any rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, or greenling. Section 28.65 is a good place to look for this info:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=140188&inline

So is a lure with 3 sets of treble hooks on it considered fishing with 3 hooks ? So in the ocean this would be illegal? I see large trolling lures all the time with 3 treble hooks on them.

It's not illegal.  It isn't legal to target or retain wiih with hook restrictions.  For most species in the ocean there is no limit to the number of hooks you can use.

28.55  ROCKFISH (Sebastes)
1.91(d) ?

Method of take: When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. For purposes of this section, a hook is a single hook, or a double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank

28.55  ROCKFISH (Sebastes)
1.91(d) ?

Method of take: When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. For purposes of this section, a hook is a single hook, or a double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank

Salmon, sturgeon, PAC halibut, etc. there are species with restrictions on the number of hooks and species that don't allow you to use treble hooks at all.

But the lures with three hooks aren't blanket illegal.

It's up to you to read the regs for the area you are fishing and species that you are targeting.

I just read and quoted the regs for rockfish, as rockfish is probably the most common fish kayakers pursue.

28.65 (c) that nowhereman mentioned states the same thing.

Your reading and my reading seem to be different. 

Yes rockfish is my game. I bought this really nice lure has 2 treble hooks on it and I thought I will also fish with a lead head hook jig for weight for lings so I guess I could remove the front treble hook but that might mess with the action of the lure. I will probably just use the lure as is and just use a lead weight to get me to the bottom.

Your reading and my reading seem to be different. 

You just assumed rockfish.  I didn't.  That's the only thing different about what we are trying to say.

srdave's question seemed to include a question about why he might be seeing these large lures with three treble hooks on them if they are illegal to use.  The answer is that they are not illegal to use.  It has come up in posts here in the past with FW selling "sturgeon rigs" that had multiple barbed hooks on them that had been illegal for several years.

But we are both agreeing.  Don't use these for rockfish without removing a hook.

Hmm, I don't know.
Think of all the guys who fish for striped bass with Rapalas that have 3 treble hooks. But you can only use 2 hooks for stripers. Right?

This would be a great one to submit to the state for clarification... I never thought of it being a problem. Most of the baits i throw for striper have 3 trebles. Mostly fish fresh water for them.

Curious on this one as well. I've been catching lotta Stripers on a LC Flash Minnow that has 3 treble hooks....

Hmm, I don't know.
Think of all the guys who fish for striped bass with Rapalas that have 3 treble hooks. But you can only use 2 hooks for stripers. Right?

Where in the regs does this come from?

You can only fish two hooks for striper, if you have RF on board 


For fresh water:

Article 1. Fishing Methods and Gear Restrictions

2.00.  Fishing Methods--General.

    (a) Except as otherwise authorized, all fish may be taken only by angling with one closely attended rod and line or one hand line with not more than three hooks nor more than three artificial lures (each lure may have three hooks attached) attached thereto. 

And Salt water:

Gear Restrictions
28.65.
GENERAL
. Except as provided in this article, fin fish may be taken only on hook-and-line or
by hand. Any number of hooks and lines may be used in all ocean waters and bays except:
(a) San Francisco Bay, as described in Section 27.00, where only one line with not more than three
hooks may be used.
(b) On public piers, no person shall use more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets,
traps or other appliances used to take crabs.
(c) When rockfish (genus Sebastes), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), cabezon (Scorpaenichthys mar-moratus), or kelp or rock greenlings (Hexagrammos decagrammus and Hexagrammos lagocephalus) are aboard or in possession, where only one line with not more than two hooks may be used pursuant to
Sections 28.55, 28.27, 28.28 or 28.29, respectively.

27.85
STRIPED BASS.
(a) Open season: All year.
(b) Limit: Two.
(c) Minimum size:
(1) North of Pt. Conception, 18 inches total length.
(2) South of Pt. Conception, no minimum size limit.
(d) Methods of take: No striped bass may be taken while using a sinker weighing over four pounds,
or while using any power-driven gurdy or winch. Striped bass may only be taken by angling as defined
by Section 1.05, Title 14, CCR , spearfishing pursuant to Section 1.76, and bow and arrow fishing tackle;
snagging is an illegal method of take