Limpet Regulations

October 17, 2013

Question: What are the true regulations for collecting limpets? From what I can gather from reading the regs, there is no size limit, the bag limit is 35, and they can only be collected by hand or by hook and line. In Hawaii, it is common practice to use a butter knife to pry the limpets or “opihi” off the rocks, and this is the most effective method. Without a knife, it’s pretty much impossible. Therefore, is it legal to use a knife to collect limpets? If not, can the regulations be changed so that limpets are an exception? I don’t believe that regulation was made with limpets in mind. (Orion G., Santa Barbara)

Answer: You are correct. You may take up to 35 limpets year round and you are allowed to take them only on hook and line or with the hands (CCR Title 14, section 29.10(a)). If you think this regulation should be changed, you are encouraged to propose amendments to the Fish and Game Commission. For a list of upcoming meetings or to contact them directly, please go to http://www.fgc.ca.gov/.

This is what I was told by a former DFG guy,

If you're into limpets, they are hard to get off by hand, but using a large fishook as a pry tool would be OK.

Treading into a gray area with regs isn't my thing but people do.

This is what I was told by a former DFG guy,

If you're into limpets, they are hard to get off by hand, but using a large fishook as a pry tool would be OK.

Treading into a gray area with regs isn't my thing but people do.

Same goes for mussels 

Some knuckle head wrote that one

Treading into a gray area with regs isn't my thing but people do.

Why is it a gray area?  Seems pretty clear ...

-Allen

Legal to harvest with hook & line LOL...so just use a bigass hook to pry them off.

 

Treading into a gray area with regs isn't my thing but people do.

Why is it a gray area?  Seems pretty clear ...

-Allen

make sure there is a line attached to the hook.  It does say hook and line.

Treading into a gray area with regs isn't my thing but people do.

Why is it a gray area?  Seems pretty clear ...

-Allen

make sure there is a line attached to the hook.  It does say hook and line.

Then tie the line off to a pry bar 

If they are a little bit submerge in water they easily slide off the rocks with just the fingers. The ones exposed above the water line need the hook.

Treading into a gray area with regs isn't my thing but people do.

Why is it a gray area?  Seems pretty clear ...

-Allen

I believe the reg was general for mollusks, and the intent of the reg is to use the hook and line in a more traditional sense, so to me using the hook as a pry tool is not even a gray area, it's directly violates the intent of the reg, but striclty speaking it's legal because the reg doesn't include "the fish must take the hook voluntarily into the mouth" language, which is probably cause squid/octopus just grab hold of it.

To me, when the hook and line language is used in a reg it implies the prey takes some active role in it, unlike snagging, flossing, (and in this case prying)

Just my take,

Treading into a gray area with regs isn't my thing but people do.

Why is it a gray area?  Seems pretty clear ...

-Allen

I believe the reg was general for mollusks, and the intent of the reg is to use the hook and line in a more traditional sense, so to me using the hook as a pry tool is not even a gray area, it's directly violates the intent of the reg, but striclty speaking it's legal because the reg doesn't include "the fish must take the hook voluntarily into the mouth" language, which is probably cause squid/octopus just grab hold of it.

To me, when the hook and line language is used in a reg it implies the prey takes some active role in it, unlike snagging, flossing, (and in this case prying)

Just my take,

Yeah, I understand what you're saying.

-Allen

Just have your hook attached to a line and the line attached to a very small pocketknife