American shad as bait in the Sierra district?

The Rollins Roundup thread got me thinking hard about this one.  The CDFW regulations clearly state that live or dead freshwater finfish cannot be used as bait in the Sierra district (4.30), minus special exceptions for certain lakes (Tahoe, Donner, etc.).  There is another exception to the finfish rule, and it reads as follows:

(f) Except for restrictions listed under special regulations, dead ocean fish may be used as bait statewide. This section supersedes the provisions of sections 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 4.25 and 4.30.

So the exception above allows one to use anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and any other obvious "ocean fish" as bait in the Sierra district.  But what about anadromous non-salmonids such as American shad?  Would they be considered "ocean fish" despite their reliance on freshwater for spawning?  This question would also apply to species such as lamprey, sticklebacks, eulachon, and others.  Reason I ask is because American shad is a favorite bait of mine for catfish outside of the Sierra district, and I'd like to try it in the Sierra district for cats.  Anyone have insights on this?  Should I forward this to Carrie Wilson?

Got these 6" American shad from the berkeley pier last Friday. They showed up at the top of the incoming tide.

Got these 6" American shad from the berkeley pier last Friday. They showed up at the top of the incoming tide.

Catfish candy right there!  Sweet!

Unfortunately,  you cannot use them. You already catch too many damn fish! Now I, I can use them! 

I would say that as long as they come in contact with fresh water they cannot be used since they don't specifically state anadromous fish can be used.
Sardines, mackerel, etc. are strictly a salt water species so they are OK.

I would say that as long as they come in contact with fresh water they cannot be used since they don't specifically state anadromous fish can be used.
Sardines, mackerel, etc. are strictly a salt water species so they are OK.

It's just as reasonable according to the wording of the reg to make the restriction exemption based on whether the bait was acquired in the ocean or in freshwater. American shad acquired in the delta = not ok. Berkeley pier = ok.

That creates an obvious enforcement problem, but it's a perfectly reasonable reading of the regulation. It should be clarified and Tote's way is better I think.

I have heard that shad is one of the best crab baits.  I plan to hopefully catch some this season and save them for next crab season.

Thank for the replies everyone.  I think I'll elevate this to my warden friend and see what he says.  Though it might not matter much to him since he works on the North Coast and not the Sierras.  Then I'll send it to Carrie Wilson and see what she says.  If what Tote says is correct, then the regulation language still needs to be clarified.

Not having an exception for a species like American shad is a shame.  They're really awesome as cut bait, and they're not a species that could acclimate itself to an entirely freshwater life history to potentially jeopardize the existence of native FW fish in the Sierras.

American shad have established populations in a few freshwater reservoirs. Tons of em in San Luis res.

American shad have established populations in a few freshwater reservoirs. Tons of em in San Luis res.

I busted out the books, and you're right!  A very few landlocked populations exist.  Fascinating.  Seems like they need very particular conditions to do it, similar to landlocked Chinook.  I wonder if the population in San Luis Res is the result of eggs being pumped out of the Sac/San Joaquin system and dumped into the reservoir?

That I didn't know!

They get pumped in from the delta. Like many other random species (salmon, sturgeon, starry flounder, tule perch...heck, that's probably where all the delta smelt are LOL). I'm not sure about their life cycle in the Res but they appear to try spawning...when they school by the hundreds, right on the surface against wind-blown rock walls. It's like a whole new fishery that fly guys are getting into.
Some big ones too...skip to 3:30 in this video:

They get pumped in from the delta. Like many other random species (salmon, sturgeon, starry flounder, tule perch...heck, that's probably where all the delta smelt are LOL). I'm not sure about their life cycle in the Res but they appear to try spawning...when they school by the hundreds, right on the surface against wind-blown rock walls. It's like a whole new fishery that fly guys are getting into.
Some big ones too...skip to 3:30 in this video:

Damn, that looks fun as hell!  And those landlocked ones look just like the sea-going versions.  Such a fun fish  .

Very interesting. One of my Mexican buddies fishes the forebay and Res from shore religiously and he always describes using sabikis to catch large baitfish that they cut into chunks and use for stripers. I couldn't figure out what he was talking about because he was describing them as being 12" or bigger and didn't know what they're called in Spanish and he doesn't speak English. I thought he must've gotten into some world record threadfin shad Now I know...

It's like a whole new fishery that fly guys are getting into.

This link refers to fishing them way back in 1972 ... http://www.mengsyn.com/fishon/fishing-san-luis-resevoir/

What would the San Luis Grand Slam be ... Stripers, American Shad, and Sacramento Perch in the same day?

-Allen