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Recreation
The California Fish and Game Commission recently adopted changes to recreational tuna regulations. The new regulations are effective as of today, July 30, 2015.
The changes include a statewide two-fish recreational daily bag limit for Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), which applies to all bluefin tuna possessed in California waters, regardless of where they were taken.
Additionally, there are new requirements for filleting sport-caught tuna on vessels south of Point Conception.
Changes to fillet rules for all tuna species south of Point Conception were needed to allow for identification of species by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) law enforcement. The regulations now require all filleted tuna to have the skin intact and be cut into six pieces as follows:
• Four loins (two upper and two lower);
• Belly fillet including the pelvic fins and urogenital vent;
• Collar with pectoral fins attached.
Each fish must be placed in its own bag and clearly labeled with the species name. Tunas may also be kept whole, or in a manner that retains these identifying characteristics.
The new regulations address concerns over the population decline of Pacific bluefin tuna. Based on an international stock assessment, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries declared Pacific bluefin tuna overfished because the spawning biomass is at an historic low.
An international rebuilding effort is underway, which requires reducing fishing impacts across the north Pacific. The goal of the effort is to bring the stock back to healthy levels and ensure sustainability of future harvests.
“The two-fish limit strikes a balance,” said Marci Yaremko, CDFW's program manager for tuna and the department's representative to the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). “From the fishermen's perspective, the loss of opportunity going from a 10-fish daily bag limit to a two-fish limit is severe. Yet from a conservation perspective, given the dire status of the stock, allowing two fish per day is expected to generate a 30 percent reduction in the catch, which some view as not enough.”
The new bag limit and fillet requirements were developed through the combined efforts of agencies, scientists, conservation interests, the sport fishing industry and the public.
“We appreciate the hard work that NOAA and CDFW have put into working with the community on the bag limit and fillet regulations,” said Ken Franke, president of the Sportfishing Association of California. “This is the end result of a complicated and collaborative process that will protect the resource while also ensuring recreational access is maintained.”
Pacific bluefin tuna migrate great distances across the north Pacific throughout their life cycle and are managed under an international treaty with member countries from across the Pacific region.
In the United States, federal and state fishery managers implemented catch reductions in accordance with recommendations made by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), with the intention of reducing Pacific bluefin tuna catch by 20 to 45 percent across the north Pacific.
CDFW participated in the development of the policy recommendations as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the IATTC, as well as the development of the new domestic measures for both sport and commercial bluefin tuna fishing through its representatives to the PFMC and the Commission.
For more information about Pacific bluefin tuna recreational fishing regulations, please visit the CDFW Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/cpshms/tunas.asp .
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HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The 40-9ers Ladies Golf Club played nine holes on July 23.
The results are as follows:
– Flight one: First place, Joy Ryan, net 33; second place, Deby Braun, net 34; third place, Cheri Johnson, net 35.
– Flight two: First place, Liz Cummesky, net 35; second place, Mariana Bendinelli, net 36; third place, Lee Harry, net 37.
– Flight three: First place, Floydean Greenlow, net 39.
– Flight four: First place, Darcy Miller, net 35; second place, Linda Millard, net 39; third place, Connie Mohun, net 40.
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Do hunters and anglers have to carry CDL with license?
Question: While hunting or fishing, besides carrying the appropriate license(s), do I also need to carry my state driver’s license?
I would prefer to leave it in my vehicle, but I also want to be sure I am in compliance with the law if I run into a game warden in the field.
So my question is do I need to carry photo I.D. with my license? (Anthony B.)
Answer: You will need to verify that you are the person holding your own fishing or hunting license.
Though photo identification is not mandated by law, being able to identify yourself properly is. If you cannot appropriately identify who you are, you may see yourself in an extended contact with the wildlife officer.
If you’re getting cited for something, the wildlife officer may have to take you to jail until you can be properly identified.
The bottom line is even though the law doesn’t state you must have photo identification in possession, it would benefit you greatly to carry photo identification, so you may properly identify who you are to the wildlife officer.
Family crabbing trip
Question: My family plans to take a trip to San Francisco this July. Is red crab season still open or is it open all year? If it is open, please let me in on some rules and relegations, such as the limit and the size?
Where can I find more information about crabbing in San Francisco and ask more questions? (Kao X.)
Answer: Take of rock crab is open year-round. Red/yellow/rock crab are species that may be kept in San Francisco Bay (no Dungeness crab may be kept from the Bay, even during the open season).
Rock crab and other non-Dungeness crab have a daily bag and possession limit of 35 crab that must measure at least four inches across (see California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.85(b) on pg. 50 of the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet).
There are a variety of piers where people go crabbing in the San Francisco Bay area. Try reviewing piers on the website www.pierfishing.com .
A guide that shows the differences between the crab species is available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/dungeness_crab.asp#cancroid . Be sure to review the above subsection thoroughly for further fishing regulations that pertain to rock crab (bag limit, size limit, etc.).
For more information about crab, you can visit our Invertebrate Management Project Web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/crabs.asp .
Transporting cleaned and portioned fish
Question: If I take a long road trip with my boat in tow and catch fish over a few days, my concern is that while I will only have legal quantities in possession, the fish will be cleaned, portioned and vacuum sealed before I return home with my boat in tow.
I know it’s legal to clean fish after I am at my vacation home, but in this this situation the quantities of yellowtail, yellowfin, white sea bass, etc. would be impossible to determine even though I am within the possession limits.
How would a wildlife officer deal with this situation if I was stopped on the roadtrip home with a cooler full of vacuum sealed fish? (Charlie C.)
Answer: Unless the regulations specifically require that a fish be kept whole until being prepared for immediate consumption, such as lobster and abalone, you may clean and store your fish in any condition you want to, once they are brought ashore.
In similar situations, people have chosen to package each fish separately, and retain the carcass, so that if stopped by a wildlife officer, they could show the officer the legal-sized carcasses, which would also aid in identifying the species of fish.
That still would be more complicated than if you hadn’t chunked up the fish, but it would be better than a bag of nondescript cubes of fish.
If the quantity appeared highly excessive, a wildlife officer might use our Wildlife Forensics Laboratory to determine the exact quantity.
AO tags during rifle season?
Question: Can you use an Archery-Only tag during rifle season if you're still using archery equipment as your method of take? (Eric C.)
Answer: Yes. The Archery-Only (AO) tag allows hunting with archery equipment only during the archery and general seasons in A, B or D zones and Hunt G10 (military only).
You may not possess a firearm or crossbow when hunting under the authority of an AO deer tag, except as otherwise provided.
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
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Junior Tennis League meets at the Gard Street courts in Kelseyville on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. through July 31.
The league is free.
Beginning on Aug. 8, the league will meet only on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon at the Gard courts.
Racquets are provided, and players age 8 through 18 should bring water bottles and a hat.
For more information call 707-279-9652, and there is no charge.
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