BajaNomad

Fishing Question for you CA folks

CortezBlue - 1-27-2015 at 06:15 PM

Is a CA Fishing Lic required to fish from the beach? I am assuming it is.

Tanks

Terry28 - 1-27-2015 at 06:17 PM

nothing needed if under 16...otherwise yes

willardguy - 1-27-2015 at 06:22 PM

most piers and jetties are free to fish


whoopsie, that wasn't your question, but might be helpful :P

[Edited on 1-28-2015 by willardguy]

woody with a view - 1-27-2015 at 06:36 PM

piers yes, jetties? no!

willardguy - 1-27-2015 at 06:42 PM

most of what we consider "jetties" are free to fish. (harbor entrances etc) ;)

woody with a view - 1-27-2015 at 06:57 PM

Willard, not to be arguementative (sp?) but here is what I found:

Anglers who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as anglers who are under 16 years of age, anglers who will be fishing from a public pier in ocean or bay waters, and anglers who will be fishing on Free Fishing Days

from this site: http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/fishregs.aspx

David K - 1-27-2015 at 07:01 PM

License is required to catch grunion with your bare hands, too.

willardguy - 1-27-2015 at 07:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Willard, not to be arguementative (sp?) but here is what I found:

Anglers who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as anglers who are under 16 years of age, anglers who will be fishing from a public pier in ocean or bay waters, and anglers who will be fishing on Free Fishing Days

from this site: http://www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/current/fishregs.aspx



a public access jetty IS considered a PIER, although a jetty built to stop erosion doesn't qualify, harbor entrances do. hey I didn't write the rule!:lol:


. Where and when can I fish in the ocean without a fishing license?
Anyone 16 years and older must have a fishing license displayed so that it is plainly visible above the waist to take any kind of fish, mollusk, invertebrate or crustacean in California, except for persons angling from a public pier for non-commercial purposes in ocean or bay waters. A public pier is defined in the sport fishing regulations as a publicly owned manmade structure that has the following characteristics: is connected, above the mean high tide, to the main coastline or to the landmass of a named and charted natural island; has unrestricted free access for the general public; and has been built or currently functions for the primary purpose of allowing angling access to ocean waters.

Additionally, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that are connected to land, as described above, that have free unrestricted access for the general public and whose purpose it is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are public piers. Jetties, breakwaters, promenades, sea walls, moles, docks, linings, barriers and other structures that are not the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor, are not public piers.

woody with a view - 1-27-2015 at 07:27 PM

any examples?

willardguy - 1-27-2015 at 07:52 PM

this from Ca.gov. fish and wildlife.
Answer: In California you can legally fish without a fishing license from public ocean piers and from the most seaward jetty of the harbor. Finfish may be caught by hook and line and crabs and lobsters by hoop nets from public piers and jetties, depending upon the area of the state where you are fishing. All regulations must still be followed, but you can fish without a fishing license in these locations only. There are also two designated free fishing days per year when people may fish in ocean and inland waters without a license.


examples, LA harbor breakwall, santa barbara breakwall, channel islands harbor entrance, I suppose most all harbor emtrances?

woody with a view - 1-27-2015 at 08:03 PM

breakwall, okay. we have numerous jetties in SD and none qualify as a "most seaward jetty of a harbor."

willardguy - 1-27-2015 at 09:30 PM

:lol: okay blue, don't fish off the jetties in san diego county! im tappin out!

paranewbi - 1-28-2015 at 05:54 AM

Well Woody on this one I might beg to differ...

Have fished many times on the Mission Bay channel jetties. Had conversations with differing officials while pole in water with no license on me or owned. (more concerned about species and size). Noted...this was in the 90's...not age, year.

If you throw a line on the OB side (aka Dog Beach) a little up into the river area on an incoming extreme high tide...(shhhh, been known to snag a big Halibut)

But then again, here's another conversation and perhaps Woody's stand is worth a consideration;
http://www.sdfish.com/forums/threads/jettys.94837/

woody with a view - 1-28-2015 at 08:11 AM

I have been wrong on occasion though not often. I still think MB jetties don't fall under the free zone.

willardguy - 1-28-2015 at 10:20 AM

this is so ridiburrous, okay here's my rant. (our taxpayers money at work?) for 10 years I was a liveaboard in channel islands harbor. I would regularly see fish and game writing tickets to poor mexicans fishing inside the harbor hoping to catch a mackerel or ronkie for the dinner table. they had no idea if they walked out to the jetty and fished it was legal.(and free)
my point is why not write simple laws for simple people, either make ALL jetties legal or NO jetties legal. its ridiburrous! (like not being able to say r i d i c u l o u s ! :lol:

[Edited on 1-28-2015 by willardguy]

Alan - 1-28-2015 at 11:13 AM

An activity in California where they don't tax, regulate or charge a fee? This won't last long. I'm sure they will be grateful for pointing out their oversight.