What Do I need Legally to Fish In The Ocean?

This should probably be a sticky. I read the sticky in the Safety First part but it doesn't list what's required.
I know you need a PFD.

I also understand you need a radio?

A certain size net?

Anything else?

There's a sticky over in the DFG regs book 

This should probably be a sticky. I read the sticky in the Safety First part but it doesn't list what's required.
I know you need a PFD.

I also understand you need a radio?

A certain size net?

Anything else?

There are two different questions here.

1.  What does the CA Department of boating and waterways and/or the coast guard require?

2.  What do the CA DFW regulations require?

The answer to the former is here:  http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Abc/Required_Equipment.pdf

The answer to the latter is in my primer for RCG fishing here:  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=47008.0

If you have any specific questions after reading those let me know.

... a fishing license would be the first thing 


... unless you plan on fishing from a pier.

License is foremost, net secondary.  Safety first though.

Thank you!

It looks like all I need(legally) is an 18" net?

I understand that there are items you should take for safety reasons but I'm just wondering what the law/regulations require in the way of equipment.

Size and limit regs are something else. I can find that info. I'm just new to kayak ocean fishing and would like to know what equipment is required.

Thank you!

It looks like all I need(legally) is an 18" net?

I understand that there are items you should take for safety reasons but I'm just wondering what the law/regulations require in the way of equipment.

Size and limit regs are something else. I can find that info. I'm just new to kayak ocean fishing and would like to know what equipment is required.

A legal pfd and a loud whistle.  A light if you go out at night. 

Thank you!

It looks like all I need(legally) is an 18" net?

I understand that there are items you should take for safety reasons but I'm just wondering what the law/regulations require in the way of equipment.

Size and limit regs are something else. I can find that info. I'm just new to kayak ocean fishing and would like to know what equipment is required.

A legal pfd and a loud whistle.  A light if you go out at night.

Thank you!

I don't go out at night, only morning. On the water anyway.

I always get a fishing licence with all the upgrades. Species/limits change, just need to keep up on that.

I am convinced the net is just so DFW can spot you and identift you as a fisherman. I use lip grips, havent used a net other than for salmon.

Don't go alone.  Fish with an experienced yak angler and stay close.

Crash, just one little detail.. where is the requirement for a whistle?
I see the requirement for an efficient sound making device, but I haven't heard that yelling your head off isn't sufficient....I think its a good idea, but never noticed a requirement for it....

33 CFR § 83.33

§83.33   Equipment for sound signals (Rule 33).
(a) A vessel of 12 meters or more in length shall be provided with a whistle, a vessel of 20 meters or more in length shall be provided with a bell in addition to a whistle, and a vessel of 100 meters or more in length shall, in addition, be provided with a gong, the tone and sound of which cannot be confused with that of the bell. The whistle, bell and gong shall comply with the specifications in Annex III to these Rules (33 CFR part 86). The bell or gong or both may be replaced by other equipment having the same respective sound characteristics, provided that manual sounding of the prescribed signals shall always be possible.

(b) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length shall not be obliged to carry the sound signaling appliances prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule but if she does not, she shall be provided with some other means of making an efficient sound signal.

Sound signal seems to imply something other than voice, and every time I've ever been safety checked they want to see a whistle.  Every. Time. 

skellyca really seems interested in the quick and dirty so i didn't go into extreme nuanced detail. 

I can not find a net regulation. I found it for salmon specifically. But not as a general regulation. Can someone who has the specific link with language post it. Also, does the sound making device have a specific decibel rating? I'm a pretty loud whistler. But will add a pealess safety whistle to the vest, that's a good idea.
Does the region read any vessel? Are they checking SUP's. I don't have to register the yak so are there a specific sub set of rules.
I am just asking probably knowing the answer but can not find these specifics in my searching.

I can not find a net regulation. I found it for salmon specifically. But not as a general regulation. Can someone who has the specific link with language post it. Also, does the sound making device have a specific decibel rating? I'm a pretty loud whistler. But will add a pealess safety whistle to the vest, that's a good idea.
Does the region read any vessel? Are they checking SUP's. I don't have to register the yak so are there a specific sub set of rules.
I am just asking probably knowing the answer but can not find these specifics in my searching.

The sound requirement is to be audible at half a mile.  Obviously that's going to depend a lot on ocean and weather conditions.  In practice, my fox 40 pealess whistle has always been sufficient to get past the coast guard or sheriff inspectors.

In theory SUPs and all other paddlecraft are subject to the same rules as motorized vessels for sound requirements.  The exception is for lighting/visibility requirements and not sound.

The net requirement is at §28.65(d) of the CA DFW ocean regs.

(d) No gaff hook shall be used to take or assist in landing any finfish shorter than the minimum
size limit. For the purpose of this section a gaff hook is any hook with or without a handle used to
assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily
in its mouth. No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters
without having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize
fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less
than eighteen inches in diameter.

Regarding the sound device, an air horn (aka klaxon) is not a bad idea for better chances of being heard over weather & engine noise on the ocean.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/falcon--sports-horn--P008_243_003_502

That said, I think a whistle should be considered standard equipment when kayaking.