Is a fish caught on another angler’s line legal to keep?

Question: I am hoping you can resolve a question that came up in one of our recent fishing club meetings.

On a recent trip to Lake Isabella, I caught a very nice rainbow trout (18 inches long!). The way it was caught is the subject of debate within our club.

I was fishing on a pontoon boat and when I landed the fish, it wasn’t on my hook. Apparently, the fish had been hooked by someone else previously, and broke off. I don’t know who or when, but when I reeled the fish in it had a couple of feet of the previous fishing line, with a hook and split shot still attached to it.

The previous angler’s hook was still hooked into the fish’s mouth. Somehow the split shot and old line became tangled in my tackle. The fish was landed after a brief fight, netted and added to my bag limit.

The question is: Is this considered a legally caught fish? We await your response. (Luiz D.)

Answer: No fish may be retained that did not voluntarily take the bait or lure into its mouth (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 2.00(c)).

Although you accidentally snagged the broken off line from a previous angler, you may have saved that fish from an otherwise slow death.

If that old line had instead gotten hung up on a rock or bush, preventing the fish from freely moving around, the fish could have died of a lack of gill movement or starvation.

Since your fish had taken an angler’s bait or lure into its mouth, it was legal to keep. The intention of angling is that the fish take a hook in its mouth, and this was accomplished.

If you had instead snagged this fish by impaling or attempting to impale it in any part of its body other than the mouth by use of a hook, hooks, gaff, or other mechanical implements, this would have been illegal (CCR Title 14, section 2.00(b)). This does not include the lawful use of a gaff to land the fish.

Which firearms and ammo can be used for night hunting?

Question: I am having trouble finding a specific section related to which firearms you are allowed to hunt with at night.

Word of mouth has always been that only rimfire rifles and shotguns may be used at night.

I know that in other states you can use a regular centerfire rifle so I am wondering if we can also use them here.

If not, are we only allowed rimfire and shotguns? Also, are there any exceptions for mounting a flashlight to a gun? (Taylor F.)

Answer: If you are in an area where night hunting is legal, you may only take nongame mammals and furbearers.

Night hunting is restricted to the method of take allowed for these animals (under CCR Title 14, section 475).

You are not restricted related to the use of rimfire, centerfire or shotgun except you may only use and possess non lead ammunition in the condor zone.

For regulations on the use of lights, please check the California Mammal Hunting Regulations booklet at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations (CCR Title 14, section 264 on page 18 and Fish and Game Code, section 2005 on page 20).

Why is abalone season closing during July?

Question: Just curious, why is abalone season closed in July? (Ashton H.)

Answer: The July break in abalone season was instituted to help conserve the resource. Originally, a two-month summer closure was proposed for the recreational abalone season, but it was reduced to one month – July – to avoid the possible negative economic impacts on North Coast areas that rely on tourism.

Because weather and ocean conditions are usually better in July, and many people take vacations and visit the North Coast at that time, July was chosen as the summer month to give abalone a "break" from the heavy take that occurs during the summer.

This measure is to help California’s red abalone population remain a healthy resource.

Where’s the best beach to watch a grunion run?

Question: Where is the best beach to take my son to in Southern California to see the grunion run? I realize it’s a bit of a guess but I would really like him to see them.

Do you have any educated guesses? (Jeffrey D.H.)

Answer: You are correct that it really is anyone’s guess where grunion will run ashore since just about any sandy beach in Southern California is fair game to the grunion!

But, for a list of known grunion beaches, please visit our Amazing Grunion web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunion.asp#hunter (look under Best Locations).

Best of luck! I hope you and your son are able to see a grunion run!

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .