Harpooning Halibut

Just read this in a Fish & Games Q&A:


Question: Pacific halibut have become a sought-after sport fish out of Eureka and Trinidad. I have a question about landing large Pacific halibut, particularly in a relatively small boat. Many people use a type of harpoon with a head that comes off and is tethered to the boat. This prevents the fish from heading down while a rope is run through its gills for hauling it aboard. I was told that harpooning them this way was possibly illegal under rules governing harpooning fish. In this case the fish was caught with normal hook and line. The harpoon is used only to land the fish safely, similar to a gaff but more secure. Is this legal? Are there better methods? I have heard many tales of big halibut doing serious damage to fishermen if they are brought aboard too early and without steps taken to control them. All ideas are welcome. (Tom P., Eureka)
 
Answer: Harpoons cannot be used to “take” halibut, and landing the fish is an integral part of “take.” So just because you get the fish to the surface, it does not mean it has been “taken” until it is landed (secured). Most fish are lost at the surface, so take has not been completed and a harpoon could not be used at this point. Harpoons are only allowed for the actual take of all varieties of skates, rays, and sharks, except white sharks (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 28.95).

Hmmmm.  we have been having lots of discussion about using a bang stick to help land em.  It was answered that a bang stick qualifies as a firearm and thus illegal in California like everything else is illegal in California but not other states.

I will post this in Humboldttuna and see what answers I get back.

Thanks for posting. 

Rob,

I'll get this in front of my friends at the DA's office and see if this doesn't help speed up an answer to both questions.