How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Recreation
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is announcing the public release of a proposal solicitation package (PSP) titled Research Regarding Predation on Threatened and/or Endangered Species in the Delta, Sacramento and San Joaquin Watersheds.
CDFW has approximately $1 million available to award to grantees to conduct research as outlined in the PSP.
As a condition of funding, grantees must issue a publication-worthy final report at the conclusion of the three-year grant term.
Eligible research projects must present an experimental design that:
– Tests explicit alternative hypotheses about the role(s) of predation as it may affect the demographic status and trends of one or more of the Bay-Delta listed species;
– Samples across salient spatial and temporal gradients in the Delta and/or the anadromous waters of the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River watersheds; and
– Does not direct funding to an activity or activities that CDFW or any consortium with which CDFW is affiliated is already undertaking or obligated to undertake.
The grant priorities, guidelines and application can be found in the PSP which posted on CDFW’s Grant Opportunities Web site at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Explore/Grant-Opportunities .
Eligible grant proposals must be postmarked no later than Nov. 10, 2014 and be sent to CDFW Water Branch, Attn: Predation Research PSP, 830 S St., Sacramento, CA 95811.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Fish parasites – will cold smoking kill them?
Question: I recently caught a number of trout that had what I believe to be parasites called “Lernaea” attached to them in various places.
I know after reading another posting from this column titled “Parasites and Trout” that these “are killed during cooking, effectively eliminating any possibility of infecting humans eating the fish,” but I am considering smoking them.
Would these parasites pose any threat if the trout were cold smoked rather than cooked, or would the curing that takes place eliminate any threat as well? Presumably if they were hot smoked there would be no threat because the fish are then cooked.
I appreciate any info you can provide. Thanks. (Keith R.)
Answer: First off, Lernea and other external parasitic copepods of fish are not transmissible to humans.
As far as fish brining and smoking (even hot smoking), according to Dr. William Cox, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Program Manager of Fish Production and Distribution, there are other parasites that warrant more serious consideration, such as anasakine nematodes and human tapeworms. These parasites are not reliably killed by brining, smoking or even freezing.
The only way to ensure they are killed is to thoroughly cook your fish. Generally, we are not worried about those parasites in freshwater fish caught in California. But, nematodes are a concern and they are commonly found in saltwater fish of all species.
For any additional questions related to human health issues, please contact the California Department of Public Health at www.cdph.ca.gov .
How are deer hunting zones determined?
Question: What is the history of the deer hunting zones in California and how were they formed and decided upon?
I assume the decision on the zone boundaries, tag quotas, seasons, etc. involved the Fish and Game Commission, science gathered by wildlife biologists and land managers, the public, etc. When did the random drawing fund-raising tags for big game begin? (Travis B.)
Answer: California deer zones were originally developed in 1978 to reduce deer hunting pressure in certain areas of the state.
Here’s how they came about.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, there was a tremendous demand for lumber to satisfy a growing demand for housing. Timber harvest created large areas of early successional habitat upon which mule and black-tailed deer thrived.
By the 1960s and 1970s, changing land use practices began to change the landscape. Fire suppression, grazing and commercial/residential development projects caused the loss or degradation of deer habitat. With the reduced areas of deer habitat (and land available for hunting), the result meant higher concentrations of hunters in certain areas.
As land use practices changed and deer habitat was lost, by the winter of 1966-67 significant decreases in deer numbers were also observed. These low deer numbers were likely due to a combination of factors including habitat loss and degradation, and severe winter conditions.
Harvest numbers continued to show a downward trend into the 1970s and it was during this time that CDFW began to implement more conservative deer hunting regulations.
Fewer deer and intense hunter pressure (particularly on mule deer) required new conservation measures to sustain deer populations. To relieve hunting pressure on mule deer, the decision was made to go to a zone system.
In 1978, CDFW used the best available information (along with the public’s input) to establish hunt zones that reflected the biological needs of the state’s 81 deer herds and their associated habitats.
Currently, California has 44 hunt zones with some designated as premium hunts available through a lottery system. The zone/tag quota system currently in place is the result of the changes that began in 1978.
Handing off abalone
Question: Can two people be in a boat (both with licenses) with one person diving and handing abalone to the other person on the boat? (Janet R.)
Answer: No. Abalone may not be passed to another person until they are tagged and recorded on the abalone report card. “Cardholders … shall not transfer any abalone from his or her immediate possession unless they are first tagged and recorded on the report card” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.16(b)(1)).
After they are tagged and recorded, the diver can give his or her daily bag limit of abalone to the other person, but the diver cannot take any more abalone that day.
Can mice be used as bait?
Question: Is it legal to use mice as bait for stripers and bass? (Chris M.)
Answer: Despite the fact that there are many artificial lures on the market that look like mice, real mice may not be used in inland waters.
Only legally acquired and possessed invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians (except salamanders), fish eggs and treated and processed foods may be used for bait (CCR Title 14, section 4.00). In ocean waters, there are no restrictions on using mice as bait for stripers.
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
- Details
- Written by: Carrie Wilson
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is beginning the process of developing a red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
The purpose of developing an FMP for the California red abalone fishery is to further refine and implement the long term management objectives outlined in the Abalone Recovery and Management Plan and meet the tenents of the Marine Life Management Act.
The initial phase of the FMP will be focused on the Northern California sport fishery and will begin with the four public workshops detailed below:
– Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 to 9 p.m., CDFW Fisheries Branch, 830 S St., Sacramento.
– Friday, Sept. 19, 7 to 9 p.m., Russian Gulch State Park Recreation Hall, 12301 North Highway 1, Mendocino.
– Wednesday, Oct. 1, 5 to 7 p.m., Central Santa Rosa Library, Central Forum Room, 211 E St., Santa Rosa.
– Thursday, Oct. 2, 7 to 9 p.m., Marin Rod and Gun Club, 2675 East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael.
The success of this FMP process largely depends on the continued involvement of the recreational abalone fishing community as well as the general public.
For more information on participation in this process and to view the workshop agenda, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/redabalonefmp/ .
- Details
- Written by: Editor
How to notify a game warden of a concealed weapon?
Question: A while back I was fly fishing for steelhead on the Klamath River.
While on the river I was approached by a boat of wildlife officers and asked to present my fishing license and steelhead punch card, and to show that my flies were not barbed.
All was good and the officers were very friendly and professional.
At the time, I was also carrying a concealed, unloaded pistol (with rounds in the magazine but not chamber) in my fishing vest (as allowed under California Penal Code, section 25640).
I was not asked by the wardens whether I was carrying any firearms, nor did I disclose that I was. I do not have a concealed carry weapon permit, but do carry concealed in accordance with PC 25640.
Here are my questions:
1. Am I required by law to notify the officers that I am carrying a concealed weapon when stopped?
2.If I am required by law to notify an officer of a concealed weapon, is there a preferable way for me to do so (e.g., immediately upon engagement)?
3. If I am not required to notify the warden(s) of my concealed firearm, is it just smart, regardless of the law, to do so anyway?
I have a lot of respect for California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers and appreciate the important work they do. Thank you. (J. Wellington)
Answer: Although it is not required by law, it is always a good practice to notify any law enforcement officer verbally that you are carrying a firearm. This should be done with your hands visible.
Tell the officer where the firearm is located and understand that the officer will likely remove it from you during the contact and return it to you when the contact is over.
Never make any movement toward the firearm and never conceal your hands.
Selling framed abalone shells?
Question: I’ve been diving for abalone for years.
After I get them home, I clean and polish the whole red abalone shell, and they are absolutely beautiful once the process is done. I like to give them away as gifts to friends, family, neighbors and strangers.
I know that I cannot profit from any California game/wildlife. I want to build frames out of old barn wood and drift wood and then put the abalone in the middle of the frame. Instead of a painting of a shell in a frame, it would be an actual shell.
My question is whether I can sell the frames for money and then gift the shell to the buyer? If I can do this, how do I do it legally for both parties?
Thank you for your time and services in the office and out in the field. (Tom M.)
Answer: Great question, but the answer is no. You cannot sell a framed abalone shell even if you say you are only selling the frame and not the attached shell.
“Sell” includes offer or possess for sale, barter, exchange or trade (Fish and Game Code, section 75).
According to CDFW Lt. Dennis McKiver, the only way you could sell the frames legally is if when you are selling the frame, the person buying the frame has no idea that you are offering an abalone shell to go with it.
If the person has been made aware that if he buys a frame, you will give him an abalone shell to go with it, then you would be guilty of selling abalone shells.
How many hooks allowed when ocean bass fishing?
Question: I live in Ventura County and do a lot of ocean fishing.
I recently saw a fishing program on TV and the captain of the sport boat was throwing an Alabama rig. This rig had five lead head jigs on it and each one had a hook.
He was fishing around kelp beds and catching calico bass with the rig.
Is that type of rig legal in the ocean and how many hooks can you fish with? I know you can only use two hooks when fishing rockfish, but how many hooks can you use to fish for ocean bass? (Randy)
Answer: There is currently no limit on the number of hooks that can be used to take kelp (calico) bass.
The number of hooks that can be used in the ocean is restricted when rockfish and salmon fishing (see California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 28.65), or when salmon or rockfish are aboard.
If you happen to catch a rockfish, greenling, cabezon or lingcod while fishing for calico bass, it would not be legal to keep them.
If you already had any of these species on board, it would also not be legal to fish with more than two hooks.
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
- Details
- Written by: Carrie Wilson