Regulations: Net required?

If I am ocean fishing Halibut, am I required to have a net onboard?  Or only required NOT to gaff undersize fish.  My vessel is a kayak and I absolutely hate netting halibut, soooo much easier with a gaff. 


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you are required to have a net on board with a min 18" opening, doesn't mean you have to use it, but it needs to be on board, cameron

Net with minimum of 18 inch opening required.

Don't have to use it though.

Could even be a mesh game bag, or a folding net stored inside yak.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

ps...Cameron beat me to it. 

Stupid regulation for kayakers, but it is what it is.

If I am ocean fishing Halibut, am I required to have a net onboard?  Or only required NOT to gaff undersize fish.  My vessel is a kayak and I absolutely hate netting halibut, soooo much easier with a gaff. 


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Not necessarily "on board" but one readily accessible, such as with a fellow kayaker close enough to assist with the landing. 

Here, read it for yourself.  Found in section 28.65. of the 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.


I carry my own,

Here, read it for yourself.  Found in section 28.65. of the 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.
I carry my own,

My take on this is if you not landing "undersize finfish" then you don't have to have a net.

Here, read it for yourself.  Found in section 28.65. of the 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.
I carry my own,

My take on this is if you not landing "undersize finfish" then you don't have to have a net.

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

Note it says take finfish, not undersize finfish. If you are taking finfish you need the net. You may be able to release all undersize finfish you catch without a gaff or a net. The reg says you still have to have a net in possession or available for immediate use.

Here, read it for yourself.  Found in section 28.65. of the 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.
I carry my own,

My take on this is if you not landing "undersize finfish" then you don't have to have a net.

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

Note it says take finfish, not undersize finfish. If you are taking finfish you need the net. You may be able to release all undersize finfish you catch without a gaff or a net. The reg says you still have to have a net in possession or available for immediate use.

What about the following phrase: "net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize
fish of species having minimum size limits"?

Yes, that is the purpose of the net. To be available to land undersize fish. However the requirement is to have it whenever you are taking finfish. With the definition of "take" being what it is, that means you are taking finfish as soon as you get anywhere near the water with a hook and line in your possesion. At the least, as soon as you drop a hook and line in the water you are "taking" finfish and must have a net in you possesion or immediately available.

I wonder what DFW nets off fines every year for this? (See what I did there?)

I wonder what DFW nets off fines every year for this? (See what I did there?)

LOL ...
What a comedian ..Oh wait ...

P.S. I was wondering how often this topic comes up a year myself

"Available for immediate use"
If you are fishing with a buddy, and he has the net 50' away, you may be in for a fine (depending on the warden). Carry your own net, it's cheap insurance.

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"Available for immediate use"
If you are fishing with a buddy, and he has the net 50' away, you may be in for a fine (depending on the warden). Carry your own net, it's cheap insurance.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Play the fish until your buddy shows up!

* remember for those in participating in AOTY.....

1. 1. All fish entered must be caught by hook and line (i.e. hooked, fought, and landed) from a kayak " without aid from anyone else" and using methods deemed legal by the California Department of Fish and Game. Sails will be allowed in the Sail division but no motors may be used or attached to the kayak while fishing.