Salmon Regulations

Here's a question I haven't been able to figure out.
We are constantly peddling/paddling to compensate for current etc.
Is this considered trolling as we are constantly under power, or is this considered mooching as we may not be actually gaining much ground?

"gaining ground" isn't the test.  "Making way" is.  Making way just means that you are moving relative to the water, not just floating or drifting with it.  If there is a .5kt drift ans you hold steady against it over the same patch of ocean bottom, you are making way even though you are stationary over ground.

So as long as you are making way, you don't need circle hooks.

I've done a little reading about if you need to use circles to target lingcod if you have salmon on board, are using bait, and are south of horse mountain.  I don't think that the regs can be fairly construed to require that, although it is probably one of those practices that you should follow anyway to avoid having to fight a ticket.  Or just don't use bait, or just move up here and don't fish south of horse mountain except for the occasional shelter cove trip.