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Recreation
Luring lobsters with snacks?
Question: My friends and I are going to Catalina next weekend to dive for lobsters. We know we have to catch them by hand but are wondering if it’s legal to lure lobsters out of their holes by holding a piece of sardine or squid in your hand? (David C.)
Answer: Sure, you can give it a try, but I don’t know how successful you’ll be. The law says that skin and scuba divers may take crustaceans by the use of the hands only and may not possess any hooked device while diving or attempting to dive for them (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.80). There is no prohibition against waving snacks in front of them.
Tagging sturgeon
Question: We are planning a sturgeon fishing trip on the Delta but want to check in first to find out what the new sturgeon tagging requirements are? I understand there have been some changes this year. (Anonymous)
Answer: As of Jan. 1, 2014, California sturgeon anglers are seeing a small change to sturgeon tags. Sturgeon anglers have been required to tag all retained legal-sized sturgeon for many years.
In the past, the date, location and length of the fish caught were recorded on each tag. Now, in addition to legibly and permanently writing the date, time, location and length, the new tags require the angler to physically punch out the date and month printed on each tag.
The bag limit for sturgeon remains at one per day and up to three sturgeon per year. Failure to attach a properly filled out tag to a retained sturgeon is a misdemeanor violation.
Is licorice legal bait?
Question: My brother and I have two burning questions we have been wondering about. Is it legal to use licorice to fish with as bait? Also, we observed a man with a syringe injecting air into his bait worms so they would float off the bottom. Is this legal? (Marcus O.)
Answer: Processed foods, such as licorice, are legal under bait regulations for inland waters (found beginning in CCR Title 14, section 4.00). It is also legal to inject air into a fishing worm, and many such kits are found at sporting goods outlets. This method can be a very effective way to keep a worm off the bottom of lakes with heavy bottom vegetation.
Practicing taxidermy
Question: I want to practice taxidermy and am wondering how I can get some animal hides to practice with. Would it be OK for me to purchase a hide from a tannery? If I do, will I have to just use game animals I take during hunting season? (Spencer)
Answer: As far as game animals, only deer hides can be purchased. The only other hides that can be purchased are hides from fur-bearers taken under the authority of a trapper’s license. Remember, California wildlife (even hides and body parts) cannot be legally bought, sold, traded or bartered.
You can practice on any carcasses you can legally possess (e.g. taken legally by another person who gifts it to you, carcass of non-game/furbearing mammals taken under depredation laws, domestic game animals, etc.). In addition, you can also buy many hides from species not found in the wild in California from other states.
Must fishing license be carried while spearfishing?
Question: If I am spearfishing from the shore and return with my take, do I need to have my fishing license on my person or can it be in my car? (William H.)
Answer: Persons diving from a boat or shore may have their license on the boat or within 500 yards on the shore, respectively (FGC Section 7145).
Spotlighting for rabbits?
Question: If I am on my own property, can I hunt rabbits at night with a spot light? (John S.)
Answer: No. It is unlawful for any person, or one or more persons, to throw or cast the rays of any spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on any highway or in any field, woodland, or forest where game mammals, fur-bearing mammals, or nongame mammals are commonly found, or upon any game mammal, fur-bearing mammal, or nongame mammal, while having in his or her possession or under his or her control any firearm or weapon with which that mammal could be killed, even though the mammal is not killed, injured, shot at, or otherwise pursued (FGC Section 2005(b)).
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
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Anderson Marsh State Historic Park continues to hold monthly guided nature walks, followed by a tour of the Historic Ranch House Museum.
The next walk is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8.
This walk will take place on the ADA-accessible Cache Creek trail, which includes a raised boardwalk over riparian habitat.
Park docents and AMIA volunteers Gae Henry and Henry Bornstein will share their passion for and interest in the three histories that are protected by the park – natural, American Indian and European settler.
Bring binoculars and meet in front of the Ranch House at 8:15 a.m. for time to experience the early morning wildlife to be found in the Ranch House and Barn complex yard – walk begins at 8:30 a.m.
Many of the trees are “naked” in the winter, making it easier to see birds.
Recently seen in the park have been phainopepla, cedar waxwing, red-shafted flickers and acorn woodpeckers, spotted and California towhee, cormorants, white-tailed kites, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, red-winged blackbirds and robins.
This also is the time of year a snipe, white throated sparrows, a bobcat and deer have been seen near the boardwalk.
A tour of the historic Ranch House Museum will begin immediately after the walk. If rain cancels the walk, the ranch tour will begin at 8:30 a.m. There is no charge for those attending.
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
For more information about the walks, email
For more information about the park, you also may visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=483 .
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- Written by: Editor
CDFW puts closures in effect on some rivers, recommends more changes to the Fish and Game Commission
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has closed some waters to fishing in order to protect native salmon and steelhead from low water flows in California streams and rivers that have been significantly impacted by drought.
CDFW also is recommending that the Fish and Game Commission adopt emergency regulations on other rivers.
“We fully understand the impact these closures will have on California anglers and the businesses related to fishing in California, and we really feel for them,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “However the science is clear. Two-thirds of the wettest part of winter is now behind us and conditions are looking increasingly grim. Under these extreme drought conditions, it is prudent to conserve and protect as many adult fish as possible to help ensure the future of fishing in California.”
CDFW has the authority under Title 14, Article 4, Section 8.00(c) to close south central coast streams to fishing from December 1 through March 7 when it determines that stream flows are inadequate to provide fish passage for migrating steelhead trout and salmon.
As a result, the following streams are closed to all fishing until stream flows are sufficient to allow fish passage for returning adult steelhead and salmon (CDFW will announce any lifting of the closures):
1. Pescadero Creek and all anadromous reaches of San Mateo County coastal streams normally open for fishing, from Elliot Creek through Milagro Creek.
2. The San Lorenzo River and all its tributaries, as well as all anadromous reaches of coastal streams normally open for fishing in Santa Cruz County from the San Lorenzo River on North through Waddell Creek.
3. Aptos and Soquel Creeks (Santa Cruz County).
4. The Pajaro River and Uvas, Llagas and Corralitos Creeks (Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara counties).
5. The Carmel River and those sections of San Jose, Gibson, Malpaso and Soberanes creeks west of Highway 1.
6. The Big Sur River and those Big Sur area streams from Granite Creek to Salmon Creek west of Highway 1.
7. The main stem of the Salinas River below its confluence with the Arroyo Seco River and the Arroyo Seco River (Monterey County).
In addition, CDFW has the authority under Title 14, Article 4, Section 8.00(a) to close north coast streams to fishing from Sept. 1 (Mad River) and Oct. 1 (all others) through Jan. 31 when it determines that the flow at any of the designated gauging stations is less than minimum flows stated in regulation.
As a result, the following streams are closed to all fishing through Jan. 31 (however, CDFW is requesting this be extended to April 30 as noted in the recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission below, recommendation #3):
1. The main stem Eel River from the paved junction of Fulmor Road with the Eel River to the South Fork Eel River.
2. The South Fork of the Eel River downstream from Rattlesnake Creek and the Middle Fork Eel River downstream from the Bar Creek.
3. The main stem Van Duzen River from its junction with the Eel River to the end of Golden Gate Drive near Bridgeville.
4. The main stem Mad River from the Hammond Trail Railroad Trestle to Cowan Creek.
5. The main stem of the Mattole River from the mouth to Honeydew Creek.
6. The main stem of Redwood Creek from the mouth to its confluence with Bond Creek.
7. The main stem Smith River from the mouth of Rowdy Creek to the mouth of Patrick Creek (tributary of the Middle Fork Smith River); the South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tyron) bridge and Craig’s Creek to its confluence with Jones Creek; and the North Fork Smith River from the mouth to its confluence with Stony Creek.
Further, CDFW is recommending that the Fish and Game Commission adopt the following emergency regulations at its Feb. 5 meeting:
1. Closure of the American River from Nimbus Dam to the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park until April 30.
2. Closure of the Russian River main stem below the confluence of the East Branch of the Russian River until April 30.
3. Extension of the low flow restrictions angling closures for the north coast and central coast areas (above San Francisco Bay) through April 30.
4. Close all portions of any coastal stream west of any Highway 1 bridge until April 30.
There are still plenty of opportunities for California anglers to catch fish in the state’s rivers and streams outside of the closures listed above.
Additionally, California’s coast offers substantial ocean fishing. Both are subject to current regulations already in place.
For more on fishing in California, please visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/ .
Current low stream flow conditions will prevent the movement of migrating anadromous fish, primarily wild steelhead trout.
Stream flows in many systems are inadequate to allow passage of spawning adults, increasing their vulnerability to mortality from predation, physiological stress and angling.
Furthermore, survival of eggs and juvenile fish in these systems over the coming months is likely to be extremely low if the current drought conditions continue.
These temporary angling closures on selected streams will increase survival of adult wild steelhead.
CDFW low flow closure hotlines: North Coast, 707-822-3164; Central Coast, 707-944-5533; South Central Coast, 831-649-2886.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Highland Springs Trails Volunteers are leading a series of hikes for the community.
The first two hikes in a series of six were held on Jan. 19 and Jan. 26.
These hikes were scheduled in conjunction to Lake County's www.Movemore2014.org Fitness Challenge.
The hikes, which begin at 11 a.m., are scheduled for the following Sundays: Feb. 2, Feb. 9, Feb. 16 and Feb. 23.
These hikes will cover approximately three to five miles at a fairly good pace and take approximately two hours.
Reservations are required.
Meeting places will change depending on trails being hiked. Rain or wet trails cancels the hikes. Please, no dogs.
For reservations or more information visit http://www.highlandspringstrailsvolunteers.com/hikes-and-wildflower-walks.html .
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