New regulations for the Napa River

For anyone that followed the controversy about how many poles were allowed in the Napa River, I have an announcement! The DFG has made changes to the regs to address the issues I raised. The proposed changes contain wording that confirms that the old regulations did allow unlimited poles in the Napa River and other rivers that flow into San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. The new regulations will move the rivers into the Inland Waters book. That means two poles with a 2nd Rod stamp in the Napa River.

http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2015/1_05ntc.pdf (See Pg 4)

The words in red suggest that they agreed with me. The Napa River was not included in the one pole restriction

Under current regulations, a person could argue that tidal portions of the Napa River were not Inland Waters and since Section 28.65(a) did not include the tidal portions of river flowing into San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. Under this interpretation, they could use any number of lines and hooks to fish in the Napa River. This would restrict waters of San Francisco and San Pablo Bay to one line, then allow unlimited lines in the Napa River waters which were tidally influenced even though all inland waters are restricted to one line.


Of course the best part is being able to use two poles to drift bait while throwing a lure for Stripers. 

I will never doubt you again - and nice bike trailer BTW

Wow. Thanks for the post. That's gonna be nice to be able to use two rods, with the second rod stamp, on the Napa & Petaluma rivers.

Saweeeett!!!!!!! Muchos Gracias Señor Traildad

Changes have already been made to the current book. I believe the changes are already in effect. I sent a question in to Carrie Wilson hoping she will confirm that it is already legal to use two poles with the 2nd Rod stamp.

Hell Yeah!!! U the man!!!

Two baits out while sturg fishn!!

I'm not sure that these have been adopted yet.  I also don't think you can use two rods in the napa river in that area because it is a barbless hook only and second rod stamps aren't good in barbless only waters.

I could be wrong.  I just haven't found it yet.

I think Crash is right this will probably extend to the new inland section

(B) Main stem from the Oakville Cross
Road Bridge near Yountville to the
Trancas Bridge. Note: The Napa River
below the Trancas Bridge is tidewater,
and is under regulations for the Ocean
and San Francisco Bay District (see
Sections 1.53 and 27.00).


Fourth Saturday in May through
Mar. 31. Only artificial lures with
barbless hooks may be used from
the fourth Saturday in May through
Oct. 31. Only barbless hooks may
be used from Nov. 1 through
Mar. 31.

I think Crash is right this will probably extend to the new inland section

(B) Main stem from the Oakville Cross
Road Bridge near Yountville to the
Trancas Bridge. Note: The Napa River
below the Trancas Bridge is tidewater,
and is under regulations for the Ocean
and San Francisco Bay District (see
Sections 1.53 and 27.00).


Fourth Saturday in May through
Mar. 31. Only artificial lures with
barbless hooks may be used from
the fourth Saturday in May through
Oct. 31. Only barbless hooks may
be used from Nov. 1 through
Mar. 31.

1.53 and 27.00 look to be missing from the new books. The River below Trancas will no longer be in the ocean district.

Since they seem to have removed the sections that put the river in the ocean district I am hoping that means it is now considered inland waters and normal inland waters rules would apply. I don't think they will make the entire Napa River barbless. Hopefully it is just some wording that needs to be cleaned up.

2015-16 book for inland waters.
1.53. INLANDWATERS.
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.

2015-16 book for Ocean waters.
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.

Below is a screen shot from the 2016-17 PDF versions. It shows those sections are removed.

I'm not sure that these have been adopted yet.  I also don't think you can use two rods in the napa river in that area because it is a barbless hook only and second rod stamps aren't good in barbless only waters.

I could be wrong.  I just haven't found it yet.

It's not really clear. The new sturgeon closure in the proposed changes are in effect so I assume it is reasonable to think the Napa River changes might also be effective this year. I don't expect to use two rods in the area above the Trancas Street bridge. The river between the Trancas Street bridge and San Pablo Bay is being shifted to inland waters. That is the area I hope is now under normal inland waters rules. Two poles with a 2nd Rod stamp.

I'm not sure that these have been adopted yet.  I also don't think you can use two rods in the napa river in that area because it is a barbless hook only and second rod stamps aren't good in barbless only waters.

I could be wrong.  I just haven't found it yet.

It's not really clear. The new sturgeon closure in the proposed changes are in effect so I assume it is reasonable to think the Napa River changes might also be effective this year. I don't expect to use two rods in the area above the Trancas Street bridge. The river between the Trancas Street bridge and San Pablo Bay is being shifted to inland waters. That is the area I hope is now under normal inland waters rules. Two poles with a 2nd Rod stamp.

Instead of amending the regs they omitted them from the reg book entirely?

They are still on the books, just not in the books, lol seriously??

§27.00:

https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/IF4A20ED0D47F11DEBC02831C6D6C108E?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)

§1.53


https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/IAB5E9090D47F11DEBC02831C6D6C108E?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)

Database current through 2/26/16 so might not still be current.  Ugh.

Just so this is clear:

The DFW published both the 2016-17 saltwater regulations book and the freshwater regulations book without including a definition of what is saltwater, and what is freshwater, in either book.

That's amazing.

I will try to find out if the changes are law yet. The proposed changes clearly state the intention to move the rivers into the inland waters regs.


As a result, inland waters will now include the tidal portions of rivers and streams flowing into San Francisco and San Pablo Bays which will be subject to the gear restrictions for inland waters where only one closely attended rod and line with no more than three hooks may be used.


Unless further restrictions for that area are created, normal inland water rules should apply.