Regulations - let's follow them!

I like theses topics. I would like to see more regs discussed.I hired a lawyer to interpret the regs for me but had to let him go at page 2 because it broke me. 

I release all non-WSB fish caught while ghost hunting, even halibut. The possession issue did come up at the HMB crab opener where DFG was searching cars and boats.

 I thought someone mentioned dfg wardens searching home freezers for sturgeon once also

From Carrie Wilsons Q&A

Using multiple hooks and rods outside the Golden Gate?
 Question: I know that you can use as many rods and hooks as you want outside the Golden Gate, but can I use multiple rods to catch striped bass and halibut from the shore? I already know that only one rod can be used for salmon, rockfish and lingcod. I have heard that once I have a striped bass or a halibut in possession, then only one rod can be used. (Eddie H.)
 
Answer: If you are outside of the San Francisco Bay and fishing from shore for halibut and striped bass, you can use as many rods and hooks as you want. However, if you catch a species like salmon or rockfish, you will have to release it as only one line may be used to take these species (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 28.65).

Well I knew some guy on Friday  caught a blue toward the end and was gill hooked bleeding all over was done, so Kept it thinking it was the right thing to do and switched down to one rod.

In a conversation with a warden otw the next day, that seemed to be the acceptable thing to do. If you are caught in possession with rockfish on board and two lines are in the water then you are in clear violation I was informed.

I also hear on some sites the wardens will watch. And show up at someone house. If he has reason to believe, the person is over his possession limit. And check his freezer. I think the site was fish reports a couple yrs ago.   

Well I knew some guy on Friday  caught a blue toward the end and was gill hooked bleeding all over was done, so Kept it thinking it was the right thing to do and switched down to one rod.

Thats another reason I use 7/0 circle hooks on the bottom is that it keeps small rockfish off my squid and if I do hook one, I get a lip hook set and can release the fish unharmed.

Searching cars?  Were the cars occupied at the time of search?  Sheez, thats intrusive, i wouldnt consent to that.

But yes.  Following rules is good. 

Except when the so called "rules" are applied in arbitrary and capricious manner (ahem, a-hole limekiln rangerz...). In which case id say go atticus finch on they a$$ ...

They can search without your consent.

Maikhio vs. California

http://www.witkin.com/pages/recent_dev_pages/current_pages/illegal_maikhio.htm

The US Supreme Court denied a request for hearing. Not even Atticus Finch could help you.

As for Eric's OP, I think he is correct and you risk getting cited and fined. Atticus Finch could almost certainly get you out of that one though.

hth

Well I knew some guy on Friday  caught a blue toward the end and was gill hooked bleeding all over was done, so Kept it thinking it was the right thing to do and switched down to one rod.

Thats another reason I use 7/0 circle hooks on the bottom is that it keeps small rockfish off my squid and if I do hook one, I get a lip hook set and can release the fish unharmed.

That's a good idea 3/0s are probably just to small for that reason. It definitely seemed the rocks were closer in to shore and avoidable

Hey guys - I don't want to hurt any feelings here, but I want to help the community avoid costly mistakes that can also hurt the reputation of kayak fisherpeople.

There's been some discussion of keeping fish like rockfish when you are fishing more than one line like when you're after halibut or WSB.  Some folks seem to think that it's OK to keep a fish that requires only one line if you just reel in the others when you do decide to retain a "one-line-only" fish.  That's against the rules!  Be sure to only keep a "one-line-only" fish if you are only fishing one line at the time!   

Hoping to help anyone who's not sure out there.  Personally, I've learned alot from this community over the years, and by no means have I always had it right! 

Since I was the one who started that boneheaded thread, I just want to make clear that no offense was taken. I'm just trying to understand the rules, and I'd gotten conflicting info from the DFG, believe it or not.

So, the other day I sent email to [email protected] and got some very helpful info. Quick response time with a real person's name attached and it's in writing, so you couldn't ask for anything more. I highly recommend it if you have questions about the regulations.

Anyways, you guys are correct that if you catch a rockfish with multiple lines out, then you'd need to release it. But, after releasing the fish, you could fish with one line (following all rockfish regulations, of course) and keep rockfish from that point on. The content of the relevant emails are given below (I haven't included names).

Btw, I really do follow the rules religiously. I've released more fish than I've kept this year---whenever there is the slightest doubt, I toss it back. And even when there is no doubt, I usually just keep 1 or 2 for dinner.

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Me:

Suppose that I'm fishing from my kayak, using 2 lines, each with a typical halibut rig (i.e., 2 hooks on each line). I catch an otherwise legal rockfish. My understanding is that I can keep the rockfish, provided that I only fish one line from that point onward. Is my understanding correct?

Thank you for your time.

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DFG guy:

Hello,

According to Section 28.55(d) Title 14 California Code of Regulations, rockfish may only be taken with no more than one line and two hooks.

Therefore, if you are fishing for halibut with two lines and happen to catch a rockfish, you would be required to release the rockfish in order to comply with the law.

-------------------------------

Me:

OK, thanks for the info. Just to clarify one more point... Suppose I'm fishing for halibut with 2 lines, and I catch and release a rockfish. I assume that I can then start fishing with just one line (with no more than 2 hooks, etc.) and keep any rockfish I catch from that point on.

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DFG guy:

As long as you are fishing in an area open to rockfishing, fishing during the open season for boat-based anglers, fishing shallower than the depth limit in that management area, and are using no more than one line with two hooks, you can keep rockfish (except for the four prohibited species - canary, cowcod, yelloweye and bronzespotted rockfishes).

Thanks for the followup info, JHBphd.  I hope it helps others to be clear. 

if you catch a salmon while having more than 1 line out, release that fish regardless of how tasty he is.  if you weren't using a barbless circle hook while on the drift, release it. 

whenever i look at the pics on capitola boat and baits site, i just shake my head when there's a salmon mixed in with rockfish and halibut or wsb.  the chance of that fish being caught while the whole boat was using barbless circles is slim at best.

Technically you are correct Craig, if you have it documented. 
 
This is only to remind anglers to follow the rules, not how to get around them.


Sent from my phone cause I can

Those are the rules Eric. It also applies to the coveted abalone. Which has so many stupid ass laws its unreal. I don't have to document gifting an abalone. The person doesn't even need a license. No one is getting around anything when gifting. They used to have exceptions for multi day trips. no longer.

I don't know about abalone but 2 seasons ago while steelhead fishing on the Smith, I had a conversation with DFG. I told him I wanted to gift my girlfriend a fish and if it was ok. He told me as long as I punched my steelhead card, and Melissa had her own fishing licence and punch her own steelhead card it was ok. I didn't want to question or argue with him but I definitely though it wasn't right to punch 2 diffrent cards for one fish. (I never actually followed up on this to try and find it in the regulations)
Either way lets follow those rules and be up to date on our regs.  Nobody wants to be on that show "Wild Justice".
Great thread

if you catch a salmon while having more than 1 line out, release that fish regardless of how tasty he is.  if you weren't using a barbless circle hook while on the drift, release it. 

whenever i look at the pics on capitola boat and baits site, i just shake my head when there's a salmon mixed in with rockfish and halibut or wsb.  the chance of that fish being caught while the whole boat was using barbless circles is slim at best.

Is it true that, if you have a Salmon on board, that even if you switch to one rod for rockfish, you still need to fish barbless?

Is it true that, if you have a Salmon on board, that even if you switch to one rod for rockfish, you still need to fish barbless?

Yes, if you are in possession of a salmon you need to fish barbless hooks. If you're trolling you can stick with barbless, but if you're bait/drift fishing you need to use barbless circles. 

One opton is to return the fish to shore and go back to barbed hooks, but that's always extra work. 

So the lesson is to catch the salmon last?