How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Recreation
A right to fish the oceans of this planet without permission?
Question: If I am in need of food for myself and family, would it be a crime to catch fish from the ocean for subsistence without a license, and if so, why?
With inland waters I realize that lakes are stocked, policed and maintained and this service has to be paid for via taxes, licenses and fines. That’s understandable.
I am aware of states with coastlines having a mileage limit from shore to international waters, and the area in between is overseen by the Coast Guard.
Should it not be a God-given right to fish the oceans and seas of this planet without permission from the powers that be? (Doug P.)
Answer: In California you can legally fish from public ocean piers without a fishing license. Finfish, crabs and lobsters may be found there in different areas.
All regulations must still be followed but you can fish without a fishing license in these locations only.
There are also two free fishing days per year (July 4 and Sept. 5 this year), allowing people to fish in ocean and inland waters without a license on those two designated days.
In addition, any children in your family can fish without a license and be entitled to legal limits until they turn 16, when a license will be required.
Except for the opportunities mentioned above, subsistence fishing without a sport fishing license in ocean or freshwater is not allowed.
California waters extend from the shore (high tide line) out to three miles, federal waters stretch from three miles to 200 miles and international waters begin at 200 miles out.
All waters out to 200 miles are still patrolled and managed cooperatively with the federal government. Any fish taken outside of 200 miles must still meet all fishing regulations in order to be brought back into U.S. waters, and all fish landed at California ports must additionally meet all California regulations.
Fisheries in all state and federal waters have regulations and many have strict management guidelines to properly manage the take of various species to assure overfishing does not occur which could collapse those and related fisheries.
Regulations and limitations of fishing activities and take is imperative, especially in waters of a state populated by 38 million people.
Scouting for abalone out of season?
Question: I belong to a small group of diving enthusiasts and we recently had a debate come up where there are varying opinions on the subject of gauging abalone.
One portion of the group is stating that it is perfectly legal to freedive with an abalone gauge out of season and measure abalone with the intent of coming back during the season to retrieve the abs.
I believe this would be pursuing or hunting abalone and would be against the rules. I pointed out that the new 8 a.m. rule specifically states you can enter the water but not "be searching for" abalone prior to 8 a.m.
This leads me to believe if it is illegal to search for abs during a time when "take" is not permitted, then it would be illegal out of season as well. Can you help us settle this debate? (Brian M., Antioch)
Answer: Yes, it would be legal to dive with an abalone gauge as long as you don't dive with an abalone iron or other means to detach abalone.
As long as there is no attempt to take the abalone, and it is not handled or detached from the rocks, it would be legal.
Driving at night with flashlights to view wildlife?
Question: My wife and I are outdoors lovers and we don’t want to break the law. We often drive back roads or dirt roads in and around Butte County armed with only a flashlight and no weapons to view and enjoy wildlife that wouldn’t be possible to enjoy in the daylight.
Is this legal? (Dan, Oroville)
Answer: Yes, as long as you do not have a method of take with you.
You may, however, attract the attention of wildlife officers that are on the lookout for poachers using spotlights to find game. These officers may pull you over and detain you to inspect your vehicle to ensure you do not have a method of take.
There are also some vehicle code provisions that prohibit the use of a flashlight or headlight on a public highway if it is shone into oncoming traffic or prevents other vehicles from seeing traffic control devices.
Treble hooks for halibut?
Question: I’m planning to go fishing for halibut and have read that the rig must not exceed two hooks.
Can those two hooks be treble hooks?
Answer: Yes, you are not limited to two hooks and so treble hooks may be used (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 28.65).
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
NORTH COAST, Calif. – At the annual salmon informational meeting held in Santa Rosa on Thursday, state and federal fishery scientists presented encouraging news for sport and commercial salmon anglers.
Forecasts suggest there are 652,000 adult Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon in the ocean this year, along with 423,800 adults from the Klamath River fall run.
Fish from these runs comprise the vast majority of salmon taken in California's ocean and inland fisheries.
These forecasts, which were higher than last year, will be used over the next few months by fishery managers to set sport and commercial fishing season dates, commercial quotas, and size and bag limits.
“The forecasts are encouraging and suggest that California fisheries may see salmon seasons in 2015 that have increased opportunities over last year,” said Melodie Palmer-Zwahlen, a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Chinook salmon harvested in ocean fisheries in 2015 hatched two to four years ago and, as a result, have not been highly impacted by California's drought.
Starting next year, it is anticipated that future ocean salmon fishing opportunities may be impacted by the ongoing drought.
Season dates and other regulations will be developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and California Fish and Game Commission over the next few months.
For more information on the salmon season setting process or general ocean salmon fishing information, please visit the Ocean Salmon Project Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp or call the salmon fishing hotline at 707-576-3429.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
Successful north coast steelhead and salmon anglers could catch a $10-50 reward for returning their fish tags this season. Of the more than 4,500 fish that were tagged, 3,000 are eligible for a cash reward.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) uses information gathered from the tags applied to Chinook, coho and steelhead in the Trinity River system to calculate harvest and help biologists estimate population size of steelhead and salmon runs.
Only tags returned to CDFW in the same season they are obtained can be used in estimates.
The timely return of tags to CDFW is critical because the data is also needed for the annual season setting process.
Reward tags are clearly marked, though any tag returned is appreciated. The information non-reward tags is equally important to the process.
When the tag is returned, CDFW will send you information about where and when your fish was tagged, in addition to any reward for which you might qualify.
Anglers can download the tag return form at www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Fishing/Monitoring/Ftag/ .
Tags should be taped to the completed form and returned to CDFW – TRP, 5341 Ericson Way, Arcata, CA 95521.
Please remove the knot from the tag to ensure your envelope makes it through the USPS mail sorting process intact.
Tags need to be received by about the end of April, but the sooner the better for the Chinook tags.
For additional information, please contact Mary Claire Kier at
- Details
- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) seeks to clear up an inadvertently included sentence in the 2014-2015 California Waterfowl Hunting Regulations that led to confusion about the use of an “unplugged” shotgun for late-season waterfowl hunts.
The language in question is included in the synopsis of current federal regulations, located at the back of this year’s California Waterfowl Hunting Regulations booklet.
On Page 84, the booklet states that no person shall take migratory game birds:
“… with a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells. This restriction does not apply during dates States have selected under the Conservation Order for light geese (i.e. greater and lesser snow and Ross’s geese) or those selected for the control of resident Canada geese. (States insert appropriate dates for light goose only and Canada goose only seasons.)”
Please note that the section of the regulations underlined above is incorrect and does not apply anywhere in California. The plugged shotgun requirement remains in effect for all goose hunting seasons in California.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has primary jurisdiction over management of the nation’s waterfowl, does authorize the use of unplugged shotguns and other techniques in certain parts of the country, in specific circumstances when population reductions are desired. However, federal regulations do not provide for these exceptions in California.
Almost all of California’s wintering goose populations are at the highest levels in decades, resulting in liberal harvest limits and several special late season goose-only hunts around the state.
While in the field, hunters can access the regulations via smartphone at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Waterfowl . The incorrect language relative to the unplugged shotguns has been removed in the online version.
CDFW apologizes for the confusion and will remove the inapplicable reference in next year’s regulations booklet.
- Details
- Written by: Editor