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Recreation
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Retrieving game after shoot time?
Question: This situation happened to me. Five minutes before the end of shooting time I knocked down a snow goose that fell out of range and started swimming. I waded after it in the flooded rice field but couldn't catch it or get within range until after shooting time ended.
In a case like that, do I shoot late or let it go and risk a waste of game citation? Do wardens consider "spirit of the law" as opposed to "letter of the law?” (Jim S.)
Answer: If you are “in hot pursuit" of the goose, you should be able to reach it before the end of shoot time, or at least within a minute or two!
Bottom line answer is this: It is illegal to take the bird after legal shoot time. If a warden was watching you pursue the game and shoot late, they would use their judgment as to whether a crime was committed.
On the other hand, waste of game only applies when a person does not make a reasonable effort to retrieve. If the hunter tries to catch it and it swims off, it is a reasonable effort. Breaking the law is not a reasonable effort. So, if the hunter doesn't shoot late, no laws are broken!
Lures with glowing light attractants?
Question: I just saw some new trout lures containing little glow sticks to attract fish. Someone told me that using light to attract fish is illegal and hence these lures are illegal to use. What do you think? (Shawn A.)
Answer: These lures sound as if they are legal. There are no fish and game laws prohibiting using light to attract fish. Lights may be used at night when and where such fishing is allowed, and lights may be used on or as part of any fishing tackle (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 2.15).
Buying an extra license to keep handy?
Question: Several years ago, I lost my fishing license and could not locate the duplicate, so I was forced to purchase a new license. About a month later, I found the lost license, and at that point technically had two licenses for the same year (with ocean enhancement validation, etc.).
I found that having an extra license gave me piece of mind because as I transitioned from my car to a friend’s, to a boat, to a sport fishing charter, I could keep one in my dry box (that goes from car to boat) and another with my fishing gear.
Is there any regulation prohibiting me from doing this intentionally? From an economic point of view, it would be worth the extra cost to me to have the extra piece of mind, and I don't mind that the funds go to an important state program.
Can I purchase more than one license so that I can always be sure to have one in my possession, no matter how forgetful I become? (Brent C., Santa Barbara)
Answer: Unfortunately, you cannot purchase more than one license intentionally. However, if your license is lost, you may purchase a duplicate license.
According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Sport Fishing Program Analyst Glenn Underwood, a person is prohibited from obtaining more than one license, tag, permit, reservation or other entitlement of the same type, except for certain short term licenses (Fish and Game Code, section 1053(1)).
This section does allow a person to obtain a duplicate license, tag, permit, reservation or other entitlement upon the loss or destruction of the original with the payment of the duplicate fee.
CDFW has an Automated License Data System (ALDS) that keeps track of the licenses a person has purchased and makes obtaining a duplicate sport fishing or hunting license easy from any license agent.
The ALDS enforces license rules regarding the number of licenses a person may possess and will not allow a person to purchase a second annual sport fishing or hunting license.
Starfish hunting?
Question: Is it legal to take a starfish off the rocks in the ocean? If it is, do you need a license? (Mike H.)
Answer: Sea stars (starfish) may not be taken off the nearshore rocks in California if they are within 1,000 feet of the mean high tide line.
Outside of this zone you may take 35 sea stars, and yes, you’ll need a valid fishing license. And if you do still choose to venture out past the 1,000 ft. zone for them, and you’re north of Yankee Point, you can only take them while free diving (CCR Title 14, section 29.05(d)).
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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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Dennis Jensen Invitational, Clear Lake Cardinal wrestler Isaac Lewis came in as the sixth seed and fought his way up to the finals match.
On his way, Lewis – who wrestles in the 152-pound class – would knock off the No. 3 seed by a first round pin and the No. 2 seed by third round pin, in a come-from-behind battle.
Lewis’ only loss on the day was to the No. 1 seed – the eventual champion and outstanding middleweight winner – in a close decision match to bring home the silver medal.
Brandon Dickey wrestled a couple tough matches up at 138 pounds, but came up short and Jacob Pyorre has been rehabbing an injury and did not wrestle.
In other wrestling action, at the Napa Valley Girls Classic on Friday, Jan. 8, and Saturday, Jan. 9, Emily Psalmonds (111 pounds) made it to the second day in one of the largest and tougher girls' tournaments of the season, finishing at 4-2.
Ciera Moreno (137 pounds), in only her third ever wrestling tournament, also made it to the second day, finishing at 3-2.
Kally Vinson (235 pounds) wrestled some tough matches, but came up short.
Alicia Ledesma and Hailey Vinson were out with injuries.
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Bad behavior on a waterfowl wildlife area
Question: I have a question about waterfowl hunter rules/responsibilities on wildlife areas (WLA).
We hunters are fortunate to be able to access and utilize these refuges and I have always been under the impression that accurate reporting of waterfowl taken following a hunt is an important rule of the refuges.
In fact, I have heard that having accurate bird counts from hunters noting which areas or blinds they hunted helps the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to make good decisions about where to invest time and monies for habitat improvement in the upcoming years.
There is at least one wildlife refuge that I know of where a small number of hunters give the rest of us a black eye.
At this refuge, a number of “regulars” refuse to turn in accurate counts of birds taken so as not to reveal their “honey spots” to other hunters.
This same group has also been guilty of defacing and vandalizing property on the WLA, making it difficult, if not impossible to share info about the wildlife area with other hunters.
Due to the bad behavior of this group of hunters, the wildlife area staff are no longer willing to post the hunt results for each blind as has been done in the past.
This type of behavior (not following hunter rules for reporting) makes the rest of us law abiding, rule-following hunters look bad.
We just hope to get a chance to come out to these fine refuges at least a few times a season with a reservation draw number, look at the counts and take our chances.
I have been waterfowl hunting in California for over 35 years, and I know that this has been a problem at this WLA over the years due to disgruntled regulars yanking out pages from the book of hunt results that used to be available.
Is the rule of reporting accurate bird results something that is enforceable, or is this rule something that is OK to ignore, as has been done at this WLA? (Robert S., Castaic)
Answer: It sounds as though you are referring to one of our Type A Waterfowl Hunt Areas where an entry permit and fee are required.
In this case, yes, all visitors must return permit cards and present (record) any fish or game taken to staff at the check station, or upon request of any department employee (not just wildlife officers) (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 550(c)(2)(B)). Where CDFW may be operating a self-checkout, the expectation is that hunters do the appropriate and ethical thing, which is to accurately report their harvest.
According to CDFW Wildlife Officer Rick Fischer, it is not uncommon for officers to inspect hunter’s items for waterfowl before they arrive at the check station to make sure they report all waterfowl.
While most check stations have the ability to put harvest records behind a window to prevent removal, some may not have that ability and leave results in a binder or on a notice board which may be subject to vandalism.
If a particular area is having a problem with vandalism and/or non-reporting of game taken, please report this to CDFW as soon as possible so that we can take appropriate enforcement action.
Please call the 24-hour CalTIP hotline (888-334-2258) to report suspicious behavior and remember to gather essential information such as vehicle license plates, descriptions of suspects, date, time and type of game harvested. You may also send an anonymous tip to 847411 (tip411).
In the message, just text CALTIP followed by a space and then the information. You can even send photos. Remember, you can remain anonymous and may receive an award.
What’s the limit on mudsuckers?
Question: I like to catch mudsuckers for eating but can’t figure out if they have a limit. I’ve been told there is a bag limit but the book does not state anything. (Truong A.)
Answer: While some species have fishing regulations that pertain only to them (rockfish, salmon, etc.), there are other species that do not.
Species for which there are no specific regulations, such as longjaw mudsuckers, are covered under section 27.60 on page 34 in the current Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.
The daily bag limit for species covered by subsection 27.60(a) is 10 fish of any one species, with a total daily bag limit of 20 fish. This means you can take up to 10 longjaw mudsuckers, plus 10 other fish per day, for a total of 20 fish.
Fish that fall under section 27.60 have no closed fishing seasons (open year-round) or size limits. Regulations pertaining to longjaw mudsuckers can be found in a table at the back of the regulations booklet (see pg. 100). www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ocean/regulations/sport-fishing .
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: Editor
January is the perfect month to purchase a 2016 sport fishing license. Purchasing a license now allows anglers to take advantage of a full year of access to great fishing found up and down the state.
In addition, sport fishing licenses make great gifts for family and friends. Gift vouchers may be purchased online and printed immediately.
With more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,172 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers, freshwater fishing opportunities abound in California.
The Golden State also features more than 1,100 miles of coastline that is home to hundreds of native fish and shellfish species. Here are just a few examples of the diverse fishing opportunities found here:
– Trout fishing in the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) raises and plants millions of trout each year for the enjoyment of anglers. You'll find some of the finest scenery anywhere while pursuing trout in the streams and lakes of California's mountains. To view trout planting schedules, visit the fish planting website at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/fishplants/ .
– Chinook salmon fishing in the ocean and rivers: Chinook salmon offer hard-fighting and excellent eating.
– Bass fishing for largemouth bass in Clear Lake, the California Delta and the trophy black bass lakes of Southern California: The next world-record bass could very easily come from California.
– Steelhead fishing in coastal streams in northern California: These fish are challenging to catch and are found in beautiful coastal settings. Once hooked, they often put on a show, leaping wildly while peeling line from the angler's reel.
– Lingcod, rock fish and halibut from a charter boat: Lingcod and rock fish are two of the best tasting fish anywhere.
– Spiny lobster: Hoop-net this delicacy in the ocean waters of Southern California.
– Striped bass and sturgeon in the California Delta: Catch and release a giant white sturgeon that is bigger than some anglers, or take a striped bass home for dinner.
– Fishing in the City: CDFW has a program that plants trout in urban ponds and lakes, so if you live in the city, chances are you can catch rainbow trout close to home. For more information on this program, visit the Fishing in the City Web page at www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing-in-the-city .
California sport fishing licenses may be purchased from any license agent or online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales , 24 hours a day. To locate a license agent, visit www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales/outletsearch/findoutlet .
Fishing license sales provide a dedicated source of funding for management and protection of California's fisheries and for fish hatchery operation. Purchasing a sport fishing license also helps support California's long-standing fishing heritage for today and future generations.
More information on fishing in California is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing .