Shelter Cove 7-28/7-30

Megabait Kudako

Re: Jigging for salmon.  The regs say you need circle hooks when fishing with bait, not hardware.  The hooks need to be barbless single point hooks, so I guess you need to change the trebles out with single siwash hooks.   

A trick part of the regs is that once you have a  salmon on board, you can't fish with a hook which is not barbless, even for rockfish I assume. 

Here it is in writing.
2013-2014 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations

(2) Barbless Hooks. No more than two (2) single point, single shank barbless hooks shall be
used in the ocean north of Point Conception (34° 27’00” N. lat.) when salmon fishing or fishing from
any boat or floating device with salmon on board.
(3) Other Hook Restrictions. When fishing with bait in the ocean between Horse Mountain
(40°05’00” N. lat.) and Point Conception, if angling by any means other than trolling, then no more
than two (2) single point, single shank, barbless circle hooks shall be used. The distance between
the two hooks must not exceed five inches when measured from the top of the eye of the top hook
to the inner base of the curve of the lower hook, and both hooks must be permanently tied in place
(hard tied). A circle hook is defined as a hook with a generally circular shape, and a point which turns
inwards, pointing directly to the shank at a 90 degree angle. Trolling is defined as angling from a
boat or floating device that is making way by means of a source of power, other than drifting by
means of the prevailing water current or weather conditions. See Section 28.65(g).

Beat me to it. Above information is correct as of current regs. Circle hooks are only required when fishing with bait.