Regs question for ocean fishing

I know you cannot fish more then one pole in the ocean, would the "bar" outside of tomales bay be considered the "ocean".

If it is, would fishing your main rod and drifting a sabiki rig behind you, be considered fishing two poles?

Guess I just answered my own question. found this on DFG:

When you are fishing for rockfish or lingcod or you have rockfish or lingcod aboard your boat, you can only use one line with no more than two hooks.

So one would conclude that if you are fishing for halibut on the bar, you can have two lines out.

Depends on what you are fishing for...

For rockfish, lingcod, and such, 1 rod with 2 hooks.

For salmon, even more restrictive rules.

For just about everything else, you can fish as many rods as you want. The other day, I saw a guy on a kayak trolling (apparently, targeting halibut) with 4 rods deployed. I was impressed.

See the section on "gear restrictions" in Section 28.65 of the regulations. Among other things, it says "Any number of hooks and lines may be used in all ocean waters and bays except . . ."

Yep, as NWM said, there are only species restrictions for how many lines and hooks you can use.  So you can use as many as you like for Halibut and bait fishing, but if you have more than one line out you cant keep a rock fish/lingcod if you happen to hook one while doing so.

Like everyone else said it depends what you are targeting.

Also keep in mind that you may be the target on the bar. It is one of the shakiest places on the planet.

Why is this in hookups n reports? just sayin...

I know you cannot fish more then one pole in the ocean, would the "bar" outside of tomales bay be considered the "ocean".

Where the freshwater regs end and the ocean regs begin could be spelled out a bit better than it is.  Other than Elkhorn slough and the SF Bay, which are clearly spelled out.

1.53.  INLAND WATERS.
Inland waters are all the fresh, brackish and inland
saline waters of the state, including lagoons and
tidewaters upstream from the mouths of coastal
rivers and streams. Inland waters exclude the waters
of San Francisco and San Pablo bays downstream
from Carquinez Bridge, the tidal portions of rivers
and streams flowing into San Francisco and San
Pablo Bays, and the waters of Elkhorn Slough,
west of Elkhorn Road between Castroville and
Watsonville.  Also see Section 27.00

CHAPTER 4. OCEAN FISHING
27.00.
DEFINITION
. The Ocean and San Francisco Bay District consists of the open seas adjacent
to the coast and islands or in the waters of those open or enclosed bays contiguous to the ocean, and
including San Francisco and San Pablo bays plus all their tidal bays, tidal portions of their rivers and
streams, sloughs and estuaries between the Golden Gate Bridge and Carquinez Bridge, and the waters
of Elkhorn Slough, west of Elkhorn Road between Castroville and Watsonville. Also see Section 1.53

So other than the SF Bay and Elkhorn Slough, we are left to figure out for ourselves where the mouths of rivers are, and what is a lagoon vs. what is an open or enclosed bay contiguous to the ocean.

That said, I think its pretty clear that Tomales Bay is an open bay contiguous to the ocean and therefore covered by the ocean regs.

Curious about how many on this forum use multiple rods for halibut. Advantageous or more trouble than it's worth?

Curious about how many on this forum use multiple rods for halibut. Advantageous or more trouble than it's worth?

If i'm only targeting halibut, I usually use 2 and sometimes 3 rods.  For WSB 3-4.

Curious about how many on this forum use multiple rods for halibut. Advantageous or more trouble than it's worth?

I usually only use one halibut rod set up with bait, then set up another for sabikis.
 If I get sick if 'Biki'ing then i'll use the Biki rod to toss swimbaits.
I've tried the 3-4 rods approach and I just don't like dealing with all the lines.

Thanks. I was thinking Tomales and tide current swings plus eel grass and frequent depth changes. One rod is probably all I could handle there but for offshore halibut I'd be tempted to try two.

Curious about how many on this forum use multiple rods for halibut. Advantageous or more trouble than it's worth?

Recently, I've been going with 3, one with bait, one with a lure, and 1 sabiki. I like to do a slow troll, and I think that helps to reduce the chance of tangles, unless conditions are really rough, in which case I've had a couple of doozies...

When targeting halibut, I run 3 rods at least. 4 if you count the sabiki.
Rod 1: 8ozs cannonball on a spreader with dodger or flasher & hoochie or bait  (least line out; I want this offering directly below my kayak)
Rod 2: 4-6oz cannonball on a spreader with whole squid or herring or sardine (let out more line than rod 1 so they don't tangle)
Rod 3: swimbait or bucktail or other lure that can bounce the bottom without getting snagged (let out lots of line)
Rod 4: sabiki rig with .5oz but I will often put a swimbait or big rapala on there if I'm shallower than 40ft (I hate when my sabiki tangles with the other lines)


Forgot to mention, this is while making headway via trolling/trooching...not while drifting. Because I have total control over my lines while trolling. But when I'm simply drifting...2 rods, maybe 3 max. It's much easier for me to manage multiple rods while underway.

When targeting halibut, I run 3 rods at least. 4 if you count the sabiki.
Rod 1: 8ozs cannonball on a spreader with dodger or flasher & hoochie or bait  (least line out; I want this offering directly below my kayak)
Rod 2: 4-6oz cannonball on a spreader with whole squid or herring or sardine (let out more line than rod 1 so they don't tangle)
Rod 3: swimbait or bucktail or other lure that can bounce the bottom without getting snagged (let out lots of line)
Rod 4: sabiki rig with .5oz but I will often put a swimbait or big rapala on there if I'm shallower than 40ft (I hate when my sabiki tangles with the other lines)


Forgot to mention, this is while making headway via trolling/trooching...not while drifting. Because I have total control over my lines while trolling. But when I'm simply drifting...2 rods, maybe 3 max. It's much easier for me to manage multiple rods while underway.

Great info.

And now I feel like a slacker for only running 3...

Aint no way anyone can run 3 or 4 in a paddle setup, correct?

You'd be surprised! It can be done. But I can only manage it while trolling; not drifting. I know guys who run 4+ rods while drifting for wsb on paddle yaks...not that's a clusterfuck hahaha!