Can I fish with two rods if I have rockfish limit

As i understand if i have targeted rf before I can't use two rods ( even if I don't target rf anymore ). But if I have a rf  limit I can't target rf anymore,  hence the question

I'm pretty sure if you are not allowed to do something to catch a fish, (use two rods), (barbed hooks), then you can't do it if you have that spiecies on board. The warden would have to assume you were using the illegal method to catch the fish you have.

You can't fish two rods as soon as you have a rockfish or salmon aboard.  Start with halibut and run as many sticks as you can. 

You can't fish two rods as soon as you have a rockfish or salmon aboard.  Start with halibut and run as many sticks as you can.

Then you may not retain either of those two species if caught while using two rods, right?

I'm pretty sure if you are not allowed to do something to catch a fish, (use two rods), (barbed hooks), then you can't do it if you have that spiecies on board. The warden would have to assume you were using the illegal method to catch the fish you have.

How is that loguc different from having two rods, but only one line in the water? I.e. if I have two rod I could have used both to catch them

I think focus here should be on what I'm targeting now, not what I did before.

Granted, I'm still new and could be wrong. Thanks for your comment!

You can't fish two rods as soon as you have a rockfish or salmon aboard.  Start with halibut and run as many sticks as you can.

Tes, this is what I heard the question is is it always the case.

Obviously better be safe, and I don't want to argue with authorities... unless I have a good argument, ideally precedent 

The answer to your original topic header is NO.

If you retain a species you must be in compliance with the regs that govern that species at all times.....that includes when you caught it. 

If you have salmon on board then you gotta use barb less and possibly barb less circles so long as you are on the water and in possession of salmon.  If you have rockfish on board you're subject to depth limits, # of hooks and rods. 

The logic is in ease of enforcement.  If the DFG had to determine "intent," they'd never be able to write a citation. 

I agree about being in compliance. I'm trying to understand what compliance means in this case.

Section 28.55 says "when angling gear is restricted ...to one line". If I'm not angling for rf anymore .. but, anyways, i guess it's all settled.

Thanks all for replies.

I agree about being in compliance. I'm trying to understand what compliance means in this case.

Section 28.55 says "when angling gear is restricted ...to one line". If I'm not angling for rf anymore .. but, anyways, i guess it's all settled.

Thanks all for replies.

§28.65(c)

I'm pretty sure if you are not allowed to do something to catch a fish, (use two rods), (barbed hooks), then you can't do it if you have that spiecies on board. The warden would have to assume you were using the illegal method to catch the fish you have.

How is that loguc different from having two rods, but only one line in the water? I.e. if I have two rod I could have used both to catch them

I think focus here should be on what I'm targeting now, not what I did before.

Granted, I'm still new and could be wrong. Thanks for your comment!

The difference would be if the warden sees you using both rods at the same time or finds you using barbed hooks while in possesion of the fish. I'm pretty sure you can have barbed hooks in your tackle box or a second Rod in a holder. You can't have the barbed hook on a line in use or the second Rod in use. It's the using two rods or barbed hooks while fishing for or in possesion that gets you in trouble.

In so many of the numerous threads about this it seems like the "hope" of the person asking the question keeps them blind to reality.

The rules are clear.

§28.65 indeed has direct answer to this, thanks, @crash.

Sebast, did you mean bring 2 fishing rods on the kayak? Because you're allowed to bring as many rods as you want (some guys bring 4-6 rods on their kayaks). Just as long as you're only using 1 rod at a time [to fish for rockies].

You can't fish two rods as soon as you have a rockfish or salmon aboard.  Start with halibut and run as many sticks as you can.

To add to this: if you catch a fish using methods that are illegal for that species (i.e., catching a rockfish while you were targeting halibut with as many rods as you can), you cannot keep that rockfish.  This is where some strategy comes into play if you want to target multiple species with different regulations in a given day.  If you target salmon at the beginning of the day and have a salmon on board, you gotta stick with using gear that is legal for salmon for the rest of the time that you're out there, even if you switched over to rockfish or halibut.

HOWEVER, to get around this, you can always paddle back to shore, unload your rockfish limit, and paddle back out.  Then you're back to Square One and are no longer restricted to only using gear that is legal for rockfish.