One pole or two on the Napa River?

The regs seem to say two poles are ok. Ocean regs, section 28.65

Go here and read down the page. 

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs6.asp

I think the answer is one rod, even with a 2 rod stamp.

Yes, that is what I read. But it only says San Francisco and San Pablo bays. Does not mention rivers etc. the description of the district does mention rivers. The regs on day and night time fishing mentions saltwater tributaries not just the bays. Since they mention rivers or tributaries in some regs they must not be included when they don't mention them. Seems reasonable. If only "reasonable" counted for something!

i looked at this when i bought my fishing license.  I think the Napa River up to the 3rd street bridge is considered tidal, and thus San Pablo Bay rules apply.  No fishing is allowed above the Trancas St. Bridge, so you have a small segment of the river where freshwater rules apply that you can fish.

Again, being from Lousiana, these regs seem a bit confusing to me.   Not sure of the rationale other than to increase the potential for unknowing violations, maybe to generate revenue.  Why should it matter whether you have one or two poles in the boat?  When i fish in my buddy's bass boat here, he has 10 rods with different lures on them, at least 3 of which are on the deck for immediate use.

I believe the "tidal" terminology is the key and that basically all the fishable portions of the rivers/creeks coming out of the bay system are included in the bay regs.

Having gotten a DFG citation by accident some years ago, (charges dissmised by the judge) I'd be sure before I went.

Try Carrie Wilson, she's been good at answering any question I asked. 

an old email for her was [email protected] not sure if that works anymore.

One rod i know this because my brother in law lived on that river and he got a warning for using two.

San Pablo includes all rivers Petaluma, Sonoma creek and Napa.

I finally found it in the regs. If you look at your 2nd pole license it says for inland waters. Then if you look up the definition of inland waters it excludes rivers that flow into the SF and San Pablo bays.  Therefore the 2nd pole can't be used in the Napa River.

You can use 2 east of the benicia bridge and into the sloughs

You can use 2 east of the benicia bridge and into the sloughs

The regs say the Carquinez bridge.

That's correct. Carquinez and east is two rods.

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Napa is 1 rod, and no trevel hooks for salmon.
San Pablo Bay regs.

Napa is 1 rod, and no trevel hooks for salmon.
San Pablo Bay regs.

That seems to be what everyone says about the salmon. I heard a story about fishing for rock cod on a party boat. One guy hooked a nice salmon and the captain said they would all have to change to barbless hooks if the guy was to keep the salmon. I would think the party boat would strictly follow the rules. Why didnt they say it had to be released because it was caught with a treble hook? Would they risk a violation if the guy kept an illegally caught salmon?

it would be difficult to prove that it was caught with a barbed hook but it could be trouble for the angler if he did not have any barbed less hook with him, I don't think the boat is in danger of being fined, just the angler and he probably took a chance but he was risking his fishing gear, big fine and fishing privileges.

Tidal for sure, and east of the Carquinez.  I would only run one pole for sure.