Freshwater Salmon Regulations

Is there gear restriction for salmon fishing in freshwater, specifically in the Sacramento and American River? Hooks types and numbers?

Depends on where you are fishing on the American. Barbless areas. It would be easier for you to look up the regs than for us to give you every detail here.

Along the American it changes by each section. The upper barbless section is obviously barbless an only one pole. Down where I frequent around Watt and Howe its pretty much anything goes.
There is no minimum size, and there is obviously a strict two fish limit.

Like Rob said read the regs carefully. I'm no warden and everyone can miss something while reading them.

Good luck! And no gaffs. 

As Rob said there are a bunch of scenarios/details- weight restrictions, day vs. night restrictions, barbless, seasons...ETC. 

If there is a specific area that you plan on fishing we can point to the area in the regs that would apply but in general its not cut and dry and is more location dependent.

I am reading 7.50 (b) Alphabetical List of Waters with Special Fishing Regulations for the Sacramento River. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the landmarks in the descriptions. For now, I am looking for regulations for the section between Rio Vista and the American River.

Not much restriction in that area. If you jig it needs to be a single hook if it is over 1/2 ounce. You can't have a weight attached DIRECTLY below a hook. That's all I can think of with out getting out the rules.

Matt,
   Gaffs are allowed main stem Sac river up to the Dechutes bridge.

For now, I am looking for regulations for the section between Rio Vista and the American River.

Here are some regs to get you started for the Sac to the AR mouth- I might of missed some so still go though the reg book but this should get you going.

1.45. FILLETING OF SALMONIDS IN INLAND WATERS.
Except as otherwise required, all salmon and steelhead taken in inland waters where a sport fishing license is required, must be kept in such a condition that species and size can be determined until placed at the anglers permanent residence, a commercial preservation facility or being prepared for immediate consumption. Also when required, the presence or absence of a healed adipose fin scar must be able to be determined until placed at the anglers permanent residence, a commercial preservation facility, or being prepared for immediate consumption.
Personal residence means one’s principal or ordinary home or dwelling place, as distinguished from one’s temporary or transient place of residence or dwelling such as a cabin, tent, trailer house, recreational vehicle, or any hotel, motel or rooming house used during a fishing, pleasure or business trip.
 
1.71. SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN RIVER DELTA.
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta includes all rivers, sloughs, canals, cuts, forebays, and flooded islands within the area south of Interstate 80 to its junction with Highway 50, and south of Highway 50 via the Pioneer Bridge to its junction with Highway 99, west of Highway 99, north of Interstate 580, 205, and Highway 120, and east of Interstate 680.

2.00. FISHING METHODS--GENERAL.
(a) Except as otherwise authorized, all fish may be taken only by angling with one closely attended rod and line or one hand line with not more than three hooks nor more than three artificial lures (each lure may have three hooks attached) attached thereto. Anglers in possession of a valid two-rod stamp and anglers under 16 years of age may use up to two rods in inland waters which regulations provide for the taking of fish by angling, except those waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used. See District Trout, Salmon and Special regulations for exceptions.
(b) Snagging is prohibited. Snagging is defined as impaling or attempting to impale a fish in any part of its body other than the mouth by use of a hook, hooks, gaff, or other mechanical implement. This definition does not include activities otherwise authorized under these regulations for the lawful use of a gaff, bow and arrow, or spear.
(c) It is unlawful to kill, or retain in possession any fish which has not voluntarily taken the bait or artificial lure in its mouth. Any fish not taken pursuant to these regulations, shall be released immediately back into the water.

2.06. USE OF GAFFS.
No person shall possess or use a gaff in inland waters, except that a gaff three feet or less in length may be used to land legal-sized fish only by anglers fishing from a boat in the Sacramento River main stem below Deschutes Road Bridge.

2.10. HOOK AND WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
(a) Definition of Gap: For the purposes of this section, “gap” means the distance measured from the point of a hook to the shank.
(b) Maximum Gaps and Gear Rigging for Rivers and Streams unless otherwise provided (does not apply to lakes and reservoirs, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (see Section 1.71 for definition of the Delta), and the Colorado River).
1. No person shall use any single hook with a gap greater than 1 inch or any multiple hook with a gap greater than 3/4 inch.
barb
SINGLE HOOK:
A hook with a single point.
Measure GAP here
barb
MULTIPLE HOOK:
A hook with more than one point on a common shaft.
Measure GAP here
2. It is unlawful to use any hook which is directly or indirectly attached closer than 18 inches to any weight exceeding 1/2 ounce.
3. It is unlawful to use any multiple hook or more than one single hook on non-buoyant lures exceeding one ounce.
4. It is unlawful to use any weight directly attached below a hook.
(c) Maximum Gaps for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (see Section 1.71 for definition of the Delta).
1. No person shall use any single hook with a gap greater than 1 inch or any multiple hook with a gap greater than 3/4 inch.

7.50-
(F) Sacramento River from the Hwy 113 bridge near Knights Landing to the Carquinez Bridge (includes Suisun Bay, Grizzly Bay and all tributary sloughs west of Highway 160). Note: It is unlawful to take fish 0-250 feet downstream from the overflow side of the Fremont and Sacramento Weirs.
Jan. 1 through July 15.
2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead**
4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in possession
July 16 through Dec. 16.
2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead**
4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in possession
2 Chinook salmon
Dec. 17 through Dec. 31.
2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead**
4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in possession

SECTION 8226.
RELINQUISHMENT OF SALMON HEAD FOR THE RECOVERY IF CODED-WIRE-TAG
Upon request by an authorized agent or employee of the department a person in possession of a salmon with a missing adipose fin shall immediately relinquish the head of the salmon to the department.
As a reminder it is illegal to intentionally conceal, cull or possess a salmonid in a condition such that species, size and the presence of an adipose fin cannot be determined. (FGC, section 1.45 and 8226)”

Thanks for all the response!

Tim, did you find what you're looking for?

John

Tim, did you find what you're looking for?

John

Yes, I wish DFG would simplify the salmon regulations instead of having different ones for different sections of the same river.