California Outdoors Q&A

Question: I fish in Southern California and have a question about black sea bass. I know they are illegal to keep when caught. However, when they are caught while targeting other species, what is the regulation for releasing them? After the hook is removed and swim bladder punctured, may a picture be taken with the fish out of the water...
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Question: My son and husband have been sport crab fishing for years. They always release the females but have noticed that the male-to-female ratio in their pots is much higher for males compared to females. I tell them that the females are smarter and stay out of the traps, but I'm sure there is a scientific reason for the...
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Question: Is it legal to spear leopard sharks from a kayak with a pole spear (better known as a Hawaiian sling)? I know I can legally fish for them here in the Morro Bay area, and I've read that the rules and regulations for fishing also apply to spear fishing. But, can I actually spear them while sitting...
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California Outdoors Q & A: Cherry Picking Crabs and Hunting the Wildlife Refuges vs Private Property Question: Recreational Dungeness crab fisherman often seem to hold onto crab in excess of their limit while they are still crabbing, then they cherry pick the best ones and throw back the extras after pulling all their pots. Is this legal? Say for example I'm fishing alone and...
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Question: For generations, our family has bought annual hunting and fishing licenses and then proudly saved each license over the years as collectable pieces of our family history. Why after so many years have you chosen to discontinue these traditional style licenses in favor of just computer printouts? Answer: While many may miss the traditional style licenses, this new computer system enables the Department of Fish...
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Question: More and more anglers are using hoop nets to "catch and release" bat rays and large sharks. The hoop nets are not being used for catching fish - the fish are hooked by rod and reel. Hoop nets are then used to pull big fish up onto the piers. The problem is that the smaller hoop nets are sometimes...
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