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Recreation
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Is a fish caught on another angler’s line legal to keep?
Question: I am hoping you can resolve a question that came up in one of our recent fishing club meetings.
On a recent trip to Lake Isabella, I caught a very nice rainbow trout (18 inches long!). The way it was caught is the subject of debate within our club.
I was fishing on a pontoon boat and when I landed the fish, it wasn’t on my hook. Apparently, the fish had been hooked by someone else previously, and broke off. I don’t know who or when, but when I reeled the fish in it had a couple of feet of the previous fishing line, with a hook and split shot still attached to it.
The previous angler’s hook was still hooked into the fish’s mouth. Somehow the split shot and old line became tangled in my tackle. The fish was landed after a brief fight, netted and added to my bag limit.
The question is: Is this considered a legally caught fish? We await your response. (Luiz D.)
Answer: No fish may be retained that did not voluntarily take the bait or lure into its mouth (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 2.00(c)).
Although you accidentally snagged the broken off line from a previous angler, you may have saved that fish from an otherwise slow death.
If that old line had instead gotten hung up on a rock or bush, preventing the fish from freely moving around, the fish could have died of a lack of gill movement or starvation.
Since your fish had taken an angler’s bait or lure into its mouth, it was legal to keep. The intention of angling is that the fish take a hook in its mouth, and this was accomplished.
If you had instead snagged this fish by impaling or attempting to impale it in any part of its body other than the mouth by use of a hook, hooks, gaff, or other mechanical implements, this would have been illegal (CCR Title 14, section 2.00(b)). This does not include the lawful use of a gaff to land the fish.
Which firearms and ammo can be used for night hunting?
Question: I am having trouble finding a specific section related to which firearms you are allowed to hunt with at night.
Word of mouth has always been that only rimfire rifles and shotguns may be used at night.
I know that in other states you can use a regular centerfire rifle so I am wondering if we can also use them here.
If not, are we only allowed rimfire and shotguns? Also, are there any exceptions for mounting a flashlight to a gun? (Taylor F.)
Answer: If you are in an area where night hunting is legal, you may only take nongame mammals and furbearers.
Night hunting is restricted to the method of take allowed for these animals (under CCR Title 14, section 475).
You are not restricted related to the use of rimfire, centerfire or shotgun except you may only use and possess non lead ammunition in the condor zone.
For regulations on the use of lights, please check the California Mammal Hunting Regulations booklet at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations (CCR Title 14, section 264 on page 18 and Fish and Game Code, section 2005 on page 20).
Why is abalone season closing during July?
Question: Just curious, why is abalone season closed in July? (Ashton H.)
Answer: The July break in abalone season was instituted to help conserve the resource. Originally, a two-month summer closure was proposed for the recreational abalone season, but it was reduced to one month – July – to avoid the possible negative economic impacts on North Coast areas that rely on tourism.
Because weather and ocean conditions are usually better in July, and many people take vacations and visit the North Coast at that time, July was chosen as the summer month to give abalone a "break" from the heavy take that occurs during the summer.
This measure is to help California’s red abalone population remain a healthy resource.
Where’s the best beach to watch a grunion run?
Question: Where is the best beach to take my son to in Southern California to see the grunion run? I realize it’s a bit of a guess but I would really like him to see them.
Do you have any educated guesses? (Jeffrey D.H.)
Answer: You are correct that it really is anyone’s guess where grunion will run ashore since just about any sandy beach in Southern California is fair game to the grunion!
But, for a list of known grunion beaches, please visit our Amazing Grunion web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunion.asp#hunter (look under Best Locations).
Best of luck! I hope you and your son are able to see a grunion run!
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
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites all Californians to celebrate summer by fishing this Saturday.
July 4 is the first of two Free Fishing Days in 2015, when people can try their hand at fishing without having to buy a sport fishing license.
Free Fishing Days are also a great opportunity for licensed anglers to introduce non-angling friends and children to fishing and the outdoors.
All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect.
Every angler must have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for steelhead or sturgeon anywhere in the state, or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.
CDFW offers two Free Fishing Days each year – usually around July 4 and Labor Day weekend – when it's legal to fish without a sport fishing license.
This year, the Free Fishing Days are set for Independence Day and Labor Day weekend (July 4 and Sept. 5).
Free Fishing Days provide a low-cost way to give fishing a try. Some CDFW regions offer Fishing in the City, a program where children can learn to fish in major metropolitan areas.
Fishing in the City and Free Fishing Day clinics are designed to educate novice anglers about fishing ethics, fish habits, effective methods for catching fish and fishing tackle.
Anglers can even learn how to clean and prepare fish for eating.
Anglers should check the rules and regulations at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations for the waters they plan to fish because wildlife officers will be on duty to enforce them.
For more information on Free Fishing Days, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing/free-fishing-days .
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- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program is offering elk hunting opportunities on six new properties.
The SHARE program is now taking applications for new elk hunting opportunities taking place in September and October.
Three bull elk, eight antlerless and two junior-only antlerless elk tags will be available through a random draw process.
These hunts are in addition to those issued through the big game drawing and no preference points will be considered or used.
Applications will be on sale through Aug. 17.
Sibley Ranch and Magruder Ranch in Mendocino County will offer one bull and one antlerless elk hunt each.
Each hunter will coordinate with the landowners for five days of access between Sept. 23 and Oct. 4. Sylva Ranch in Siskiyou County will also offer one bull and one antlerless elk hunt.
Each hunter will coordinate with the landowners for five days of access between Sept. 24 and Oct. 4. Successful applicants will need to purchase an elk tag within one week after being drawn.
Three ranches under the Private Lands Management (PLM) program have donated antlerless elk tags to the SHARE program. Hunters drawn for these hunts will not have to purchase the elk tag.
Stover Ranch and Wiggins Ranch in Humboldt County will offer one junior-only antlerless elk hunt each. Stover Ranch is 7,000 acres of perennial grassland and oak/pine woodland located approximately 25 miles from Blue Lake.
Wiggins Ranch is 17,000 acres of mixed conifer forest located 15 miles south east of Korbel. Each hunter will coordinate with the landowner for two days of access in October.
The Smith River PLM Area is 25,000 acres of mixed conifer forest located one mile east of Smith River in Del Norte County. The property will offer five antlerless elk tags for the week of Oct. 1 to 7. There will be a mandatory orientation on Sept. 30.
For more information about each SHARE property, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/SHARE .
Hunters with a valid California hunting license may apply through the Automated License Data System through Aug. 17. Successful applicants will be notified on Aug. 19. An $11.37 non-refundable application fee will be charged for each hunt choice.
Elk hunters are reminded it is legal to take only one elk in California per year.
To apply for these hunts, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Online-Sales .
These opportunities were made possible by the SHARE Program, which offers incentives to private landowners who allow wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities on their property.
Participating landowners receive liability protection and compensation for providing public access to or through their land for wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
The goal of the SHARE Program is to provide additional hunting, fishing and other recreational access on private lands in California.
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- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Wrestling Club hosted a camp featuring NCAA All-Americans Braumon Creighton and Daniel Dennis June 18 through 21.
During the four-day camp the wrestlers received 20 hours of instruction.
The club thanked the following local businesses and individuals who made this camp possible: Mountain Vista Middle School and staff, BSG & Co., Chevron Food-Gas-Go, Northlake Pharmacy Group, Konocti Vista Casino & Resort, Chernoh Excavating, Fossa's Backhoe Service, Milano Marine Construction, Bruno's Foods, Michele Malm, Lesa Koloff, Rob Brown, Caroline Morris, Mathew and Christine Howard, Eric and Marlene Hoefler, Dennis and Molly Keithly, and Barbara Gonzalez.
