Gaffs allowed?

Met a guy today who said it was a ticket if I were to have a gaff on board while salmon fishing.  Is that true?

I know a net is required; 19" minimum diameter, but I've never heard or read about a gaff on board being an issue.  Not that I would gaff a salmon anyways, but I do carry one that helps me reach out to my line when I'm bringing it in to re-set the tackle or to stow away the rod. 

THANKS!!

18" minimum diameter net. You are allowed to gaff legal salmons in the ocean, but not in rivers.

Did he carry a net beside the gaff?  He should not get a ticket if has has a legal net on board.

Did he carry a net beside the gaff?  He should not get a ticket if has has a legal net on board.

That's what I told him.  He said any 'hook' that was oversized, as stated in the regs, is what a a citation could be for involving the gaff.  I'm guessing a warden was taking liberties in calling the hook on a gaff a fishing hook?  I don't know...

I do know there's a size limit on hooks and on weights, just never thought the gaff as a hook nor that even having one on the boat was an issue. 

18" minimum diameter net. You are allowed to gaff legal salmons in the ocean, but not in rivers.

Thanks for that size correction. 

We were discussing ocean fishing for salmon when he said the law /rules say no gaff on board when fishing for salmon.  Now, I'm not sure he was referring to a maximum hook size, but maybe he was... 

Read the regs and form your own opinion.  My opinion is that what the guy told you is bull.... At least in the ocean waters.

as long as you have a net of the proper dimensions, then a gaff is cool on the salt.

Whew!
Thanks guys.  I didn't think I could have missed a rule that big, but hey!  I've made my bone headed moves in the past and didn't want to assume he was mistaken. 

Cheers!!

A gaff is also legal on the main stem Sacramento River. You can gaf legal Salmon on the river also. Gafs are not allowed for the take of Sturgeon. I was going to post the actual section of the code, but the a dfg site is down apparently.

from regs:
2.06. Use of Gaffs.
No person shall possess or use a gaff in inland waters, except that a gaff three feet or less in length may be used to land legal-sized fish only by anglers fishing from a boat in the Sacramento River main stem below Deschutes Road Bridg