DFG Rule I did not know: Nets are required

I study the regs religously, but I didn't know this was a rule until today. So in addition to a lip gripper/sturgeon snare/gaff/bare hands, you technically need a net whenever you fish from any boat. Kind of ridiculous in my opinion, as a lip gripper/bare hands should suffice.

28.65(d) No gaff hook shall be used to take or assist in landing any finfish shorter than the minimum size limit. For the purpose of this section a gaff hook is any hook with or without a handle used to assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth. No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less than eighteen inches in diameter.

Uh yeah, that's been in the regs for years...

Yeah thats waht I figured cuz it was in the general rule section. Never noticed though cuz I've always fished from shore.

I just got a collapsable Promar net with an extending handle,only used it once but it is small and effiecient,and conforms to regs.

  Should they change the reg. to allow a lip gripper . I read in a fishing mag. that they do less damage in catch and release situations. Tail fin injury in particular. I think it said there was higher survivability with the  gripper over a net.

  Should they change the reg. to allow a lip gripper . I read in a fishing mag. that they do less damage in catch and release situations. Tail fin injury in particular. I think it said there was higher survivability with the  gripper over a net.

Nah...It makes sense...so they probably won't do it 

So it doesn't matter what species your fishing for? Am I suppost to have a net while sturgeon fishing? I always thought you needed to pack a net while salmon fishing.  I guess I'm wrong...right?

So it doesn't matter what species your fishing for? Am I suppost to have a net while sturgeon fishing? I always thought you needed to pack a net while salmon fishing.  I guess I'm wrong...right?

Net required for "ocean fishing" only!

You just need to carry one, you don't have to use it.
I bring this along to meet the regs.

You just need to carry one, you don't have to use it.

Yep. Since the reg is so vague, it leaves a lot open to interpretation. It doesn't even say the net has to have a handle or rigid opening. In other words, a mesh bag with an 18" opening could be used as a "landing net."

Of course, if you ever got pinched for this reg, you'd have to be able to prove you could actually land a fish with it, but to this day I've never heard of anybody even being questioned for this one until GW's post below!  I know some OG's who don't carry any kind of net (on the ocean) anymore. But it's still technically required.  

but to this day I've never heard of anybody even being questioned for this one.

While fising in Shelter Cove last summer my dad did have a Game Warden did remind him that he needed landing net in his kayak.

I never pack a net on the ocean, I've got enough necessary gear to deal with. A net is just going to get in the way. I can easily let fish go, w/o harming them.
I frequently get checked by wardens and it's never been an issue. I was last checked on Saturday, and I was told that I had one too many hooks on my sabiki, (3). I told him thanks for the heads up and we both went on our way.

I keep a net much like Tote's stashed in my hull.  Takes up no space and weighs hardly anything.  No intention of ever using it, other than to meet the letter of the law.

I use a "lobster" style game bag that has an opening of 18". I have netted halis, lings, & big rockies with it. I find it is useful for fish that i intend to keep but are in need of a real measurement, or for times when the gameclip is "occupied'.
Oh yeah, & it keeps me within the regs too.

I talked to a game warden in Ft Bragg about two weeks ago and he said his interpretation was that a net is required any time you are targeting a species with a size limit from a boat in the ocean. He said when he fishes from his kayak he caries a collapsible net that can be stored inside the kayak hatch.