Is “Jugging” Legal in California?

November 26, 2008

Question: A friend of mine told me that in Louisiana and Texas they fish with plastic coke bottles or plastic jugs. It’s called “jugging.” They take capped soda bottles or old Clorox or milk bottles, tie a string or heavy line to them, attach a weight and baited hook, and then just toss them out and watch them float around. The bottle acts like a big bobber. When the fish bites the hook and swims off they chase the bottle and pull it up with the fish hooked at the other end. It’s supposed to be especially good for catching catfish. I haven’t seen this done around here. Is it legal? (Samuel H., Riverside)

Answer: I’m afraid it is not legal to do in California, for many different reasons. Our angling regulations require that the fishing line must always be under the control of the angler, either held in the hand or with the line attached to a pole or rod held in the hand or closely attended (FGC Section 1.05). This contraption you describe would be defined as mousetrap gear which is defined as “…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 that when fished is not directly attached to a person or vessel…” and mousetrap gear is forbidden to use (FGC 28.65). In addition, you could be cited for littering.