Salmon first or Rockfish first?

Hi guys,

Salmon season is supposed to open on April 13 - 30, and I was wondering what NCKA'ers do when rigging up for a combo salmon/rockfish trip. I understand that when fishing for salmon other than trolling that you must use barbless circle hooks between Horse Mtn and Pt. Conception. So, do people troll first for Salmon, and then switch over to circle hooks for rockfish? Or do people go first for rockfish using the standard rockfish tackle (J hooks, 3 hook limit, etc.) and then go trolling for Salmon? Decisions, decisions.......

Hi guys,

Salmon season is supposed to open on April 13 - 30, and I was wondering what NCKA'ers do when rigging up for a combo salmon/rockfish trip. I understand that when fishing for salmon other than trolling that you must use barbless circle hooks between Horse Mtn and Pt. Conception. So, do people troll first for Salmon, and then switch over to circle hooks for rockfish? Or do people go first for rockfish using the standard rockfish tackle (J hooks, 3 hook limit, etc.) and then go trolling for Salmon? Decisions, decisions.......

There is a 2 hook limit for rockfish.

I troll for salmon and usually get a limit of rock fish in so doing.  In fact, I almost never do anything but troll frozen bait (herring and when I run out of those, anchovies) on a slip rig and have caught anything from salmon to halibut including ling and several species of rocks. 

Just remember; if you stop paddling, it's mooching and a salmon on this rig will have to be returned. 

Jerry, Slip rig meaning sliding sinker or two single hooks tied 4-5" apart (both permanently tied,not sliding)?

Hi guys,

Salmon season is supposed to open on April 13 - 30, and I was wondering what NCKA'ers do when rigging up for a combo salmon/rockfish trip. I understand that when fishing for salmon other than trolling that you must use barbless circle hooks between Horse Mtn and Pt. Conception. So, do people troll first for Salmon, and then switch over to circle hooks for rockfish? Or do people go first for rockfish using the standard rockfish tackle (J hooks, 3 hook limit, etc.) and then go trolling for Salmon? Decisions, decisions.......

There is a 2 hook limit for rockfish.

3 hook limit when dfw isn't looking 

Like this, except barbless hooks.

Hi guys,

Salmon season is supposed to open on April 13 - 30, and I was wondering what NCKA'ers do when rigging up for a combo salmon/rockfish trip. I understand that when fishing for salmon other than trolling that you must use barbless circle hooks between Horse Mtn and Pt. Conception. So, do people troll first for Salmon, and then switch over to circle hooks for rockfish? Or do people go first for rockfish using the standard rockfish tackle (J hooks, 3 hook limit, etc.) and then go trolling for Salmon? Decisions, decisions.......

There is a 2 hook limit for rockfish.

3 hook limit when dfw isn't looking 

I go with depth charges.

When fishing for salmon using bait and doing anything other than trolling - that's when you must use the hard-tied circle hooks south of Horse Mountain.

I just troll barbless all the time - rockfish and lingcod come easy, and every salmon is legally retained.

Thanks for the clarification!

I always go for salmon first, then switch over to rockfish using a either a swimbait or a jig w/ single siwash hook - barbs pinched, of course. It’s pretty easy to keep a rockfish on a barbless hook.

If you want to fish bait for rockfish (w/salmon on board), you’ll have to use a circle hook. I’ve had mixed results getting rockfish to stick on circle hooks, so I just stick with swimbaits and jigs.


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If you want to fish bait for rockfish (w/salmon on board), you’ll have to use a circle hook.

Or troll...

If you want to fish bait for rockfish (w/salmon on board), you’ll have to use a circle hook.

Or troll...

Or go north

If you want to fish bait for rockfish (w/salmon on board), you’ll have to use a circle hook.

Or troll...

Or go north

Yep 

Yup.

Once you have salmon on board you must use only barbless hooks even if fishing for rockfish. Is that the only salmon reg that still applies while fishing for rockfish with salmon on board?