Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

I'm new to this site and don't yet have a kayak, but some day soon! I'm also quite new to fishing in southern california, (I live in Huntington beach) I've been fishing my whole life but 90% of it has been on the gulf coast (great fishing!) Here is my question to all the CA people, is there a better way to determine the species of fish I pull up and its regulation? I'm mainly refering to marine fish, the fresh water regualtions are not that difficult.

The closest thing i found is a picture-less chart of the names of fish, then to find out the regulation i have to refer to the section in the handbook! That sure seems difficult to do out on the water!!

Thanks for your help and hope to see many of the socal people out on the water!

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

I guess the lack of answers mean there isnt one! :(

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

I'd stop by a tackle shop and see if they have a laminated chart of marine species, as well as a measuring sticker of some sort.

Remember garibaldi and stay away from it, big ticket

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

Spend some time cruising the various fishing forums and you'll soon know difference between a sculpin, sand bass and a yellowtail!

The california DFG site has picture charts as well as the regs in PDF format.

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

Well i searched the dfg site all over. Sure the booklet has regulations, but im not even sure what the fish look like!! i guess i could memorize the pictures or make my own chart!

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

Great thing about learning the fish is you get time on the water, in the end you could learn 3 fish a trip and target those only

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

Thats not a bad idea, if I didn't break my pole last time I went out I'd be learning those species right now!

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

I know I have seen some charts in fishing stores with pictures...check around someone has got to have one!!!

Re: Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.
 

umm well if you dont have a way to get off the piers and surf it its pretty easy
these are the fish you will normally catch.

mackerel they are green and are related to tuna they might also look dark green

perch you seem to know about perches but there are different types and these are saltwater ones they look like bluegills (kinda)

halibut they are flat most of them have eyes in the right side

thresher sharks have a tail shaped like a scythe and the face looks like a mako and is kinda of stubby (blue)

well thats all i caught off piers and surf
srry i suck at describing