Where to Use Two Rods in San Francisco Bay

July 27, 2017

Question: I’m a little confused about the rules on using two rods when fishing San Francisco Bay. The rules state, “While fishing from the shore in San Francisco and San Pablo bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west Carquinez Bridge, you may only use one line with no more than three hooks; you may also use an unlimited number of crab traps. Species-specific gear restrictions (such as for rockfish, lingcod and salmon) do apply when fishing from the shore.”

So, if I’m fishing from Alameda, can I use two rods? The rule says only from between Golden Gate to Carquinez Bridge. Alameda is to the east of the Golden Gate but I’m fishing from the shore in San Francisco Bay. Please let me know. (San S., Alameda)

Answer: The answer to your question is no, but you’ve asked an excellent question. There is a section in our regulations (CCR Title 14, section 27.00) that defines the waters of San Francisco Bay. The waters off Alameda are part of San Francisco Bay pursuant to this definition. This section, as recently amended, includes the following definition:

“The Ocean and San Francisco Bay District consists of the Ocean and San Francisco Bay, as described herein. The Ocean is the open seas adjacent to the coast and islands and the waters of open or enclosed bays contiguous to the ocean, including the waters of Elkhorn Slough, west of Elkhorn Road between Castroville and Watsonville. San Francisco Bay is the waters of San Francisco and San Pablo bays plus all their tidal bays, sloughs, estuaries, and tidal portions of their rivers and streams between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west Carquinez Bridge. …”.

In the San Francisco Bay (as defined above), “only one line with not more than three hooks may be used” (CCR Title 14, section 28.65(a)).

What about the napa river? 

What about the napa river? 

San Pablo bays plus all their tidal bays, sloughs, estuaries, and tidal portions of their rivers

They fixed the regs so now it reads the same as they enforce it.

What about the napa river? 

San Pablo bays plus all their tidal bays, sloughs, estuaries, and tidal portions of their rivers

They fixed the regs so now it reads the same as they enforce it.

The damn wardens themselves gave me conflicting information before they fixed the regs.  Had a warden come to a public dock about 4 years (only place where it's legal to fish two poles on the Napa river) only to tell me and another local that we could use two poles anywhere in the Napa river below Carquinez. I asked him to put that in writing and staple his business card with his signature to the paper. He wouldn't do that.

A year or two later a different warden busted a guy with two poles and I told this warden about the other one from a few years earlier and he said, I quote, "Most of us actually wanted to be Wardens and we care about and understand the regs. But the rest couldn't pass the police academy and still wants authority."

Had a warden come to a public dock about 4 years (only place where it's legal to fish two poles on the Napa river) only to tell me and another local that we could use two poles anywhere in the Napa river below Carquinez.

Wat.

So much ugh here.