fishing license

Here is a newb question for you guys. For the fishing license, what other game stickers should I get? I want to make sure I am legal.

just go with the bay delta stamp and 2 rod stamp for lakes note no 2 rods can be used in saltwater at the same time

I should get up from the couch and find my reg. book.  I thought it was O.K. to fish with more than one rod in salt water so long as you're not targeting (or have on board) rockfish or salmon, or other circumstances (time,place, manner) would lead a warden to think you were so's you could get an opportunity to explain your true intent in court.

I think kayak james is over simplifying. but his error is a conservative one. nobody will get ticketted for that one.

but yes, int he ociean, you can fish with 2 rods for anything but rockfish or salmon, but since those
are our main fish,  using  two rods could get you into trouble.

the bay has a one rod rule.  you need a stamp to use 2 rods in lakes.

I learned halibut fishing from Brendan last year and we used 2 rods halibut fishing, but I never bothered to read the regs very
carefully and I fished for rockfish a few times with 2 rods. oops. stu set me straight before the DFG did. whew.

but you could fish with 2 rods for striper, thresher shark, halibut, kingfish, sanddabs etc. 

just not salmon or rockfish, and those have hook restrictions too.

unfortunately, there is no substitute for reading the regs yourself as I have come to learn.

J

Thanks for your replies, so to double check, what I need is the bay delta stamp, and the 2 rod stamp correct?

that is what most people that fish a lot in this area would get.

Vince,

Bay/Delta

I don't have a two rod stamp for lakes. I usually only fish one at a time.

Jason

No one has mentioned the SF bay restrictions... one rod, up to three hooks.  So if you're halibut fishing in the ocean use as many rods as you want, if you're halibut fishing in SF bay you can only use one rod.

As far as I can tell, using and possessing more than one rod are two separate things.  It is not uncommon for people to go out fishing for say rockfish with more than one rod on board, but they only use one at a time.  I'm just not sure if you need to remove all hooks on the rods you aren't using or just having them not in the water is good enough.

Anyway, here's an excerpt from the current 2006 regulations...

Fin Fish — Gear Restrictions
28.65. General.
Except as provided in this article, fin fish may be taken only on hook and line or by hand.
Any number of hooks and lines may be used in all ocean waters and bays except:
(a) San Francisco and San Pablo bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west
Carquinez Bridge, where only one line with not more than three hooks may be used.
(b) On public piers, no person shall use more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or
two nets, traps or other appliances used to take crabs.
(c) When rockfish (genus Sebastes) or lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) are aboard or in
possession, where only one line with not more than two hooks may be used pursuant to
Sections 28.55 or 28.27, respectively.
(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 fi sh in such a manner that the fish does not
take the hook voluntarily in its mouth. No person shall take fi nfi sh from any boat or other
fl oating 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.
(e) North of Point Conception (34°27’00” N. lat.), where only one rod and line may be
used by each angler fishing for salmon, or fishing from any boat or floating device with
salmon on board.
(f) Mousetrap gear prohibited: It is unlawful to use, assist in using, or to possess aboard
any vessel, hook-and-line gear commonly termed “mouse traps” constructed of a hook(s)
or lure(s), attached to one end of a line that is attached to a float, or floats at the other
end, and that when fished, is not attached directly to a person or vessel. Possession of
such gear aboard a vessel shall be prima facie evidence that the gear is being used in
violation of this regulation.
(g) North of Point Conception to Horse Mountain, Section 27.80(a)(3) applies to each angler
fishing for salmon or fishing from any boat or floating device with salmon on board.

thanks for the regs Brian, very useful.