Recreation
Question: I was walking the Yolo Bypass Levee north of I-80 and saw a group shooting from the levee at some targets that were placed right next to the slough and adjacent wetlands to the east.
If waterfowl hunters are required to use nonlead shot to prevent incidental lead poisoning, shouldn’t target shooters firing where their shot will enter the wetland also have to use nonlead shot?
It was also disappointing to see a lot of spent shells, clay target debris and glass left all over the ground. Is there any particular regulation prohibiting this? Thanks, (Beckye S.)
Answer: California Fish and Wildlife laws don’t prohibit the use of lead ammunition for target shooting, but they do prohibit people from depositing garbage, shells, glass, etc. within 150 feet of state waters (Fish and Game Code, section 5652.).
If you see this again, please call CalTip at 888-334-2258 and report it.
Legal to drop Dungeness crab traps the day/night before opener?
Question: Is it legal to drop Dungeness crab gear prior to opening day?
I've heard it’s legal to drop gear the day or night before opening day to let it soak overnight. I looked in the Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet but couldn't find anything indicating whether this is legal or not.
If it is legal, how long before opening day can it be dropped? And how early can it be retrieved? (Fred S.)
Answer: Dungeness crab gear may not be set prior to the recreational fishing season opening date, which this year is Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12:01 a.m. Anyone setting gear prior to this date and time may be cited for taking crab out of season.
Looking for a fishing guide
Question: We are planning a trip to Oakland in December.
Since I will be in meetings every day, my husband would love to go fishing. How can I find an honest and reputable fishing guide? (Christy L.)
Answer: A list of licensed fishing guides can be found online at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/specialpermits/ (click on “Lists” and then “Fishing Guides (PDF)).”
Other than this, your best bet is to do a Google search for the different guides around San Francisco Bay, and investigate feedback from customers, which is also likely available online.
Donating game for fundraising dinners?
Question: Can pigs taken by hunters as well as pigs taken under depredation permits be donated for use at a fundraising dinner? (Mike H.)
Answer: Yes, as long as those donating the animals receive no compensation for their donations and as long as the patrons are not paying for the dinner itself.
It is illegal for animals taken under the authority of a hunting license or depredation permit to be bought, sold, traded or bartered.
Chumming
Question: Can you help settle a debate please?
Is intentionally chumming or blood baiting from shore or the pier permissible in California ocean waters? What specific regulations or laws apply? (Heather H.)
Answer: Yes, chumming in ocean waters is permitted statewide (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.05).
Fish trapping from a pier
Question: I don’t have a fishing license because I know I am allowed to fish and catch some crab from a public pier.
I am wondering though if I am allowed to use a trap to catch fish. The trap would be a mesh cage made of nylon (or another type of durable material).
It would have an opening, be attached to a float to keep it about five feet beneath the surface of the water, and have a main line going back up to the pier where I will have the rope tied down to the railing. I am targeting fish, like mackerel.
Does this plan all sound alright? (Dave Lee)
Answer: No. Taking mackerel or most other finfish in a trap under a sport fishing license is not permitted. Only a handful of baitfishes (shiner surfperch, longjaw mudsuckers, Pacific staghorn sculpin) may be taken by traps that meet certain dimensions in certain areas of the coast.
For details, please see Section 28.75 on pg. 46 of the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet, which is available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations , at local California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) offices or wherever sport fishing licenses are sold.
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
California’s highly anticipated annual Dungeness crab sport fishery opens statewide this Saturday, Nov. 2.
Every year at this time, recreational crab fishing enthusiasts set out in pursuit of these tasty crustaceans.
Some set hoop nets and crab traps from boats and piers while others fish crab loop traps on the end of a fishing rod. Still others will dive in to take the crabs by hand.
“Crab populations appear to be strong coming off another record-setting year in the commercial fishery,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Senior Environmental Scientist Pete Kalvass, who oversees the Invertebrate Management Project. “However, crab in local areas of northern California above Cape Mendocino may be somewhat underweight for the first few weeks of the season due to a late molt.”
The most popular methods for catching the tasty crustacean are with crab pots (or traps), loop traps and hoop nets.
There is no limit to the number of pots or nets that can be fished recreationally, except when fishing from a public fishing pier where only two fishing appliances may be used.
Recreational crabbers may keep up to 10 Dungeness crabs per day of either sex, or six crabs if fishing from a party boat south of Mendocino County.
No one may possess more than one daily bag limit, and no Dungeness crab may be taken from San Francisco or San Pablo bays, which are important crab nursery areas.
CDFW reminds sport crabbers that traps and nets for Dungeness crab may not be set before 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 2.
For those fishing with hoop nets, remember that regulations require raising the nets to the surface to inspect the contents at least every two hours. Any undersized crabs or other species that are accidentally caught can be more quickly released.
This regulation ensures that fishermen closely monitor their gear and do not allow any equipment to be abandoned in state waters.
Trap fishermen should also closely monitor their traps because lost trap gear can continue to fish and become a self-baiting crab killer.
The recreational size limit for Dungeness crab is five and three-quarter inches measured across the shell, directly in front of and excluding the lateral spines.
Crab taken from party boats south of Mendocino County must measure at least six inches across. For a measurement diagram, please see the CDFW Web site at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=59205&;inline=true .
Dungeness crabs generally prefer cooler northern and central California waters and are uncommon south of Point Conception.
They are usually found on sandy or sand-mud bottoms at depths of less than 300 feet, although they can be found in almost any sea floor habitat, and have been documented down to 750 feet.
For more information regarding recreational Dungeness crab fishing regulations and other crab species, please visit the CDFW Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/crabs.asp .
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- Written by: Editor
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