Recreation
Fishing with young children
Question: I have 4-year-old twin daughters and am looking forward to taking them fishing. I am a bit apprehensive about keeping my eye on both girls, plus the two to three rods, tackle and bait. What if I bring mommy or grandpa along to help? I am a licensed angler but neither mommy or grandpa have fishing licenses, nor would they even want to fish aside from helping my daughters. If I am assisting one of my daughters with her rod, and while doing so the other daughter suddenly needs help with her rod, would my wife or father-in-law be allowed to step in to help my other daughter even if they are without fishing licenses?
And while on this subject, if I am holding two rods at once and assisting the girls, could a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officer cite me for not having an extra rod permit? (Jason D.)
Answer: First of all, we are happy to hear you are taking your kids fishing! We hope it impresses upon them a lifetime passion for fishing and the outdoors. You'll probably agree that fishing is a great way to spend family time together.
Since you already have a fishing license, you can always assume control over one of the rods. Purchasing a second-rod validation for $15.12 may help with your situation in the event you need to assume control over another rod. But to answer your question, your daughters should be doing the fishing by closely attending their rods and no one should be controlling their rods or reeling their fish in for them unless licensed. Mom or grandpa may help the girls with things like untangling lines and baiting hooks but when it comes to attending the rod with a line in the water and then reeling lines in, especially if a fish is hooked, that must be all them.
To specifically answer your question about a second rod validation, you should not be cited for fishing with two rods as long as your daughters are doing their own fishing as described above. One of the biggest problems in this scenario is if one of your daughters must leave to use the restroom or they get tired of fishing and want to go do something else. At that point they must reel their lines in and stop fishing. You cannot hold onto their rods and continue to fish for them if they step away.
One last FYI - juveniles who are 15 years old or younger are allowed to fish with two rods each in most inland waters, but that is of course after they have mastered the use of one rod!
Do California hunting licenses cover archery and crossbows, too?
Question: I have a hunting license. Can I legally hunt with a bow under this license or does it only cover firearm hunting? I am asking because I have had my hunting license for about three years now and have recently purchased a compound bow. What about crossbows? (Tomas C.)
Answer: Yes! Your California hunting license covers hunting with firearms, muzzleloaders, archery equipment and crossbows. In some states, a crossbow is considered archery equipment, but in California it is not. A crossbow may only be used during general seasons.
Fishing 9-mile bank?
Question: In Southern California, the depth restrictions are being extended down to 75 fathoms (fm). For decades, the 9-mile bank off San Diego has been closed. There are portions of the 9-mile bank shallower than 450 feet, so it seems that those portions would now be open. However, when I read the wording, it refers to Code of Federal Regulations Title 50, Part 66 subpart C for definition of the 75 fm line. The most recent copy I could find was 2014 and it seemed like there were four zones for the 75 fm curve; coastal, Northern Channel islands, San Clemente and Catalina. The coordinates are all connect-the-dots. I did not connect the dots, but if the line is continuous, I would assume offshore banks are excluded, meaning the 9-mile bank will still be closed. Can you please clarify? (William H.)
Answer: Unfortunately, just as in the past, even the pinnacles or banks that occur offshore with high points that are shallow enough to fall within the maximum depth allowance are not legal to be fished. Therefore, the 14-mile bank, 9-mile bank, 60-mile bank, and all similar banks or shallow points beyond the federal waypoints boundary are still closed.
Recreational Dungeness fishery still open?
Question: I heard about the recent proposed closure of the Dungeness crab fishery. Is that only the commercial fishery, or recreational too? Are other trap fisheries closing? (Jim)
Answer: This closure only applies to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Recreational (including commercial passenger fishing vessels) Dungeness crab, recreational and commercial rock crab, and other trap fisheries are not affected by the closure.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . While they cannot answer every question, they will answer a few in each column.
Question: I have 4-year-old twin daughters and am looking forward to taking them fishing. I am a bit apprehensive about keeping my eye on both girls, plus the two to three rods, tackle and bait. What if I bring mommy or grandpa along to help? I am a licensed angler but neither mommy or grandpa have fishing licenses, nor would they even want to fish aside from helping my daughters. If I am assisting one of my daughters with her rod, and while doing so the other daughter suddenly needs help with her rod, would my wife or father-in-law be allowed to step in to help my other daughter even if they are without fishing licenses?
And while on this subject, if I am holding two rods at once and assisting the girls, could a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officer cite me for not having an extra rod permit? (Jason D.)
Answer: First of all, we are happy to hear you are taking your kids fishing! We hope it impresses upon them a lifetime passion for fishing and the outdoors. You'll probably agree that fishing is a great way to spend family time together.
Since you already have a fishing license, you can always assume control over one of the rods. Purchasing a second-rod validation for $15.12 may help with your situation in the event you need to assume control over another rod. But to answer your question, your daughters should be doing the fishing by closely attending their rods and no one should be controlling their rods or reeling their fish in for them unless licensed. Mom or grandpa may help the girls with things like untangling lines and baiting hooks but when it comes to attending the rod with a line in the water and then reeling lines in, especially if a fish is hooked, that must be all them.
To specifically answer your question about a second rod validation, you should not be cited for fishing with two rods as long as your daughters are doing their own fishing as described above. One of the biggest problems in this scenario is if one of your daughters must leave to use the restroom or they get tired of fishing and want to go do something else. At that point they must reel their lines in and stop fishing. You cannot hold onto their rods and continue to fish for them if they step away.
One last FYI - juveniles who are 15 years old or younger are allowed to fish with two rods each in most inland waters, but that is of course after they have mastered the use of one rod!
Do California hunting licenses cover archery and crossbows, too?
Question: I have a hunting license. Can I legally hunt with a bow under this license or does it only cover firearm hunting? I am asking because I have had my hunting license for about three years now and have recently purchased a compound bow. What about crossbows? (Tomas C.)
Answer: Yes! Your California hunting license covers hunting with firearms, muzzleloaders, archery equipment and crossbows. In some states, a crossbow is considered archery equipment, but in California it is not. A crossbow may only be used during general seasons.
Fishing 9-mile bank?
Question: In Southern California, the depth restrictions are being extended down to 75 fathoms (fm). For decades, the 9-mile bank off San Diego has been closed. There are portions of the 9-mile bank shallower than 450 feet, so it seems that those portions would now be open. However, when I read the wording, it refers to Code of Federal Regulations Title 50, Part 66 subpart C for definition of the 75 fm line. The most recent copy I could find was 2014 and it seemed like there were four zones for the 75 fm curve; coastal, Northern Channel islands, San Clemente and Catalina. The coordinates are all connect-the-dots. I did not connect the dots, but if the line is continuous, I would assume offshore banks are excluded, meaning the 9-mile bank will still be closed. Can you please clarify? (William H.)
Answer: Unfortunately, just as in the past, even the pinnacles or banks that occur offshore with high points that are shallow enough to fall within the maximum depth allowance are not legal to be fished. Therefore, the 14-mile bank, 9-mile bank, 60-mile bank, and all similar banks or shallow points beyond the federal waypoints boundary are still closed.
Recreational Dungeness fishery still open?
Question: I heard about the recent proposed closure of the Dungeness crab fishery. Is that only the commercial fishery, or recreational too? Are other trap fisheries closing? (Jim)
Answer: This closure only applies to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Recreational (including commercial passenger fishing vessels) Dungeness crab, recreational and commercial rock crab, and other trap fisheries are not affected by the closure.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The past week has seen a number of significant developments for the Great Redwood Trail which will stretch through California’s rugged North Coast.
Both the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees on Resources and Transportation approved the governor’s request for $3 million to carry out the next steps outlined in Sen. Mike McGuire’s landmark legislation SB 1029.
Separately, the North Coast Railroad Authority, or NCRA, Board of Directors approved a legal settlement, bringing an end to a near decade old bitter fight over its environmental impact report.
“It’s been a great week for the North Coast and for the Great Redwood Trail,” said Sen. McGuire. “Settling the lawsuit, which had gone on for way too long, allows for the next chapter to unfold. The $3 million requested by the governor and approved by the Legislative budget committees, will usher in a new day for the North Coast. The funds will be put to work to wind down NCRA and formally kick off the all-important master planning process for the Great Redwood Trail.”
The Assembly and Senate subcommittees overwhelmingly approved the governor’s request for the implementation funding.
This budget follows the course laid out by SB 1029, authorizing $1 million for an initial assessment of the right-of-way for the trail, $1.5 million for research on the estimated 1,900 property easements along the 300 mile rail-to-trail line, and $500,000 to complete the audit of NCRA’s finances and the possible transfer of a portion of the line to the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District, or SMART.
These findings will help facilitate the closure of NCRA and the transfer of the right-of-way to successor agencies.
In another major development, after hiring new legal counsel earlier this year, the NCRA Board of Directors authorized its staff to begin settlement negotiations with the litigants in the environmental impact report lawsuit that reached the California and US Supreme courts.
NCRA counsel met with the Friends of the Eel River and Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, co-litigants in the case, and worked out an agreement that involves decertifying the controversial EIR and approving legal fees already awarded by the court.
“Resolving the issues that have plagued this rail line over the last 30 years will not be quick or easy, and we know there is a lot of work in front of us. That said, we’re off to a strong start and have made dramatic progress over the last year, and I’m excited to start working with the community on the ultimate design of the Great Redwood Trail and beginning the transition of a functionally bankrupt rail agency to a thriving trail organization,” Sen. McGuire said.
The trail will replace the crumbing railroad on much of the 300-mile-long track, and will become a significant economic driver for the rural North Coast communities it winds through.
California outdoor recreational economy is one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the Golden State. It generates over $92 billion a year, is responsible for nearly 700,000 jobs, over $30 billion in wages, and brings over $6 billion in tax revenues back to state and local communities.
Once completed, the trail will attract hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors alike to hike this spectacular landscape and inject needed funds into the greater North Coast region.
Earlier this year a whopping $32 million was secured to build out urban portions of the trail in Marin, Mendocino and Humboldt counties. The funds came through trail grant programs from both the California Transportation Commission and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Both the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees on Resources and Transportation approved the governor’s request for $3 million to carry out the next steps outlined in Sen. Mike McGuire’s landmark legislation SB 1029.
Separately, the North Coast Railroad Authority, or NCRA, Board of Directors approved a legal settlement, bringing an end to a near decade old bitter fight over its environmental impact report.
“It’s been a great week for the North Coast and for the Great Redwood Trail,” said Sen. McGuire. “Settling the lawsuit, which had gone on for way too long, allows for the next chapter to unfold. The $3 million requested by the governor and approved by the Legislative budget committees, will usher in a new day for the North Coast. The funds will be put to work to wind down NCRA and formally kick off the all-important master planning process for the Great Redwood Trail.”
The Assembly and Senate subcommittees overwhelmingly approved the governor’s request for the implementation funding.
This budget follows the course laid out by SB 1029, authorizing $1 million for an initial assessment of the right-of-way for the trail, $1.5 million for research on the estimated 1,900 property easements along the 300 mile rail-to-trail line, and $500,000 to complete the audit of NCRA’s finances and the possible transfer of a portion of the line to the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District, or SMART.
These findings will help facilitate the closure of NCRA and the transfer of the right-of-way to successor agencies.
In another major development, after hiring new legal counsel earlier this year, the NCRA Board of Directors authorized its staff to begin settlement negotiations with the litigants in the environmental impact report lawsuit that reached the California and US Supreme courts.
NCRA counsel met with the Friends of the Eel River and Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, co-litigants in the case, and worked out an agreement that involves decertifying the controversial EIR and approving legal fees already awarded by the court.
“Resolving the issues that have plagued this rail line over the last 30 years will not be quick or easy, and we know there is a lot of work in front of us. That said, we’re off to a strong start and have made dramatic progress over the last year, and I’m excited to start working with the community on the ultimate design of the Great Redwood Trail and beginning the transition of a functionally bankrupt rail agency to a thriving trail organization,” Sen. McGuire said.
The trail will replace the crumbing railroad on much of the 300-mile-long track, and will become a significant economic driver for the rural North Coast communities it winds through.
California outdoor recreational economy is one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the Golden State. It generates over $92 billion a year, is responsible for nearly 700,000 jobs, over $30 billion in wages, and brings over $6 billion in tax revenues back to state and local communities.
Once completed, the trail will attract hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors alike to hike this spectacular landscape and inject needed funds into the greater North Coast region.
Earlier this year a whopping $32 million was secured to build out urban portions of the trail in Marin, Mendocino and Humboldt counties. The funds came through trail grant programs from both the California Transportation Commission and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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