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Recreation
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: If white-tailed deer were to migrate into California from Oregon or Idaho, could they be shot here on sight since there is no season or provision for that species? (Scott H.)
Answer: No. Since Fish and Game Code, section 3950(a) defines deer as genus Odocoileus, which includes white-tailed deer, white-tailed deer can only be taken under the normal deer hunting provisions for the area in which it wandered.
Spearfishing in the Sacramento River
Question: I live in the Valley District and am wondering if it is legal to spearfish in the Sacramento River? I know there are carp, pikeminnow (squawfish) and western suckers. I’ve been searching online and many people say you can’t spearfish in any fresh water system, including streams, lakes and rivers. I have spearfished in the ocean but not in fresh water yet. I keep hearing different things from people regarding the spearfishing.
Also, is there any recommended equipment for spearfishing? Can homemade or custom-built equipment be legally used for spearfishing? I know the Valley District is only open for a short time (five months) for spearfishing. (J.T. Moua)
Answer: Spearfishing is allowed but there are some restrictions.
First of all, please pick up a copy of the 2012-2013 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations booklet available free of charge at most stores or DFG offices that sell fishing licenses or online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ .
Section 2.30 (page 15) lists the only species that may be taken in the Valley District between May 1 and Sept. 15. For a description of the boundaries for the Valley District, please see section 6.36 (page 27). In addition, you may not spearfish in designated spawning areas.
There are no specific definitions regarding the spears that may be used, so you may build your own or buy a custom made spear. For a definition of what regulations constitute spearfishing, please see section 1.76 (page 13).
How many hooks are allowed when sturgeon fishing?
Question: When fishing for sturgeon, how many hooks are allowed?
Answer: Only one single point, single shank, barbless hook may be used on a line when taking sturgeon.
When a sturgeon is accidentally caught on the wrong gear …?
Question: If a legal-sized white sturgeon is caught accidentally on a barbed hook (e.g. while fishing for striped bass), can it be legally kept as long as the angler possesses a sturgeon report card and tag? (Anonymous)
Answer: No, even if accidentally caught, barbed hooks are not an authorized method of take for white sturgeon. Thus, even legal-sized white sturgeon caught on a barbed hook cannot be kept.
What are the rules for sturgeon fishing from a boat?
Question: Once an angler on a boat has legally caught and kept a white sturgeon, must all anglers on that boat switch to barbless hooks?
Answer: No. However, for the rest of that day, the successful sturgeon angler must no longer fish for sturgeon and must immediately release any sturgeon that is accidentally caught.
Sand souvenirs
Question: I am developing a souvenir that would contain granules of sand from California beaches. I would only require about a half-gallon of sand. Am I able to take sand from a beach and re-sell it as a souvenir to promote the state and its natural resources? (Paul K.)
Answer: Generally, beach sand is not protected by any California Fish and Game law. However, collection of anything (including beach sand) is prohibited in any park or other marine area that has a specific designation and protection in law.
In addition, you may want to consider the corrosive nature of beach sand due to its salt content and other unsuitable qualities resulting from decomposition of biotics before using it in your souvenirs.
You may find it more beneficial to purchase treated beach sand that is sold in small quantities at many stores that stock landscape and garden supplies.
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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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A disc golf tournament this weekend will benefit the local food bank's efforts in the community.
Disc golfer Chris Caudle, a member of the “Basket Case Club,” said the group is holding the tournament, which begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26.
The tournament will take place at the Highland Springs disc golf course, 3600 E. Highland Springs Road, Lakeport.
Caudle said community members are invited to come out and join the fun, and learn more about disc golf, while benefiting a good cause.
For more information, contact Caudle at 707-799-3364.
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OROVILLE, Calif. – The Eastern Washington University team of Jarred Walker of Moses Lake, Wash., and Nick Barr of Lacey, Wash., won the FLW College Fishing Western Conference event on Lake Oroville Saturday with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces.
The victory earned the club $2,000 and advanced the team to the FLW College Fishing Western Conference Invitational tournament.
“We put together a game plan and tried out a few different things until we found something that worked,” said Barr, a marketing major. “We didn’t end up catching a single fish until about 10 o’clock. Jarred and I haven’t fished for months. Our lakes in Washington are frozen over. I haven’t touched a rod until last week when we were getting our gear ready.”
“It was the first time we’ve ever been out to the lake before,” added Barr. “We are from eastern Washington, so it is about a 15-hour drive. We fished Shasta before, but never fished Lake Oroville.”
“Our first fish came on a Yamamoto Hula grub,” said Walker, a construction management major. “We ran around and caught another fish on a drop-shot Senko. Within the last hour, we caught three in a row on the drop-shot (rig). Later in the day, the fish had started to come up shallower, and we were catching them in about 15 feet of water.”
“It was slow fishing,” Barr continued. “We literally let the Senko sit for over a minute. We were using 6-pound fluorocarbon, and we think the light line was key to catching some of our fish.”
The top 15 teams that advanced to the Western Conference Invitational tournament are:
- First: Eastern Washington University – Jarred Walker, Moses Lake, Wash., and Nick Barr, Lacey, Wash. (five bass, 9-8, $2,000);
- Second: UC Santa Cruz – Jason Coslovich, San Jose, Calif., and Tyler Brownell, San Diego, Calif. (five bass, 9-8, $1,000);
- Third: Oregon State University – Zach MacDonald, Willits, Calif., and Ryan Sparks, Haines, Alaska (five bass, 8-11, $500);
- Fourth: Sacramento State – Thomas Kanemoto, Elk Grove, Calif., and Kyle Derbish, San Bernardino, Calif. (five bass, 8-8, $500);
- Fifth: UC Davis – Christopher Beck, Diamond Springs, Calif., and Michael Manas, Carmel Valley, Calif. (five bass, 8-8, $500);
- Sixth: University of Nevada, Reno – Anthony Milano and Brandon Cramer, both of Petaluma, Calif. (five bass, 8-3);
- Seventh: CSU-Long Beach – Alex Cox, Long Beach, Calif., Justin Gangel, Valley Center, Calif. (five bass, 8-0);
- Eighth: University of the Pacific – Garrett Brown, Stockton, Calif., and Siddhartha Nag, Cupertino, Calif. (five bass, 7-10);
- Ninth: CSU Monterey Bay – Andrew Sjostrom, Mariposa, Calif., and Joshua Smith, Clovis, Calif. (five bass, 7-9);
- 10th: Colorado State University – Alex Stuart and Austin Young, both of Highlands Ranch, Colo. (five bass, 7-9);
- 11th: University of Oregon – Kaitlin Tanner, Missoula, Mont., and Eric Lee, Mather, Ore. (five bass, 7-7);
- 12th: Sonoma State University – Adrien Briens and Ernest Gorham, both of Carlsbad, Calif. (five bass, 7-7);
- 13th: CSU Monterey Bay – Matthew Diaz and Sebastian Resendiz, both of Castroville, Calif. (five bass, 7-5);
- 14th: California State University – Alex Pisarki, Costa Mesa, Calif., and Alfredo Gutierrez, Inglewood, Calif. (five bass, 7-4);
- 15th: Fresno State – Kong Moua and Cynthia Vang, both of Fresno, Calif. (five bass, 6-14).
Complete results can be found at www.CollegeFishing.com .
Three regular-season qualifying events are held in each conference – Central, Northern, Southeastern, Texas and Western.
The top 15 teams from each qualifying tournament will advance to one of five two-day FLW College Fishing Conference Invitational tournaments, where the first-place team wins $4,000 for their club.
The top 10 teams from each Conference Invitational advance to the 2014 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or university and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.
The next FLW College Western Conference qualifying tournament is scheduled for Feb. 23 at Lake Roosevelt in Roosevelt, Ariz., and is hosted by the Town of Payson.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FLWFishing . Visit www.CollegeFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.
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- Written by: Editor
COBB, Calif. – Take a hike Sunday, Jan. 27, at 8 a.m. at Boggs Mountain State Forest.
The Friends of Boggs Mountain will host a six- to eight-mile, fast-paced hike on various Boggs trails, no matter the weather.
Wear sturdy shoes, dress appropriately for weather conditions, and bring water and a snack if desired. Spayed/neutered dogs on a leash are welcome.
Meet at the parking lot kiosk promptly at 8 a.m.
The forest entrance is located off Highway 175 just 1.5 miles north of Cobb Village. Turn at the blue State Fire Station/Boggs Mountain Forest sign.
Visit the Friends of Boggs Mountain Web site at http://boggsmountain.net/calendar/hiking-events/ for updates and changes to the schedule.
An RSVP is required – email