[alanw]

Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy

Lets think for a moment again about 28.65 that you bolded above under "General" ....

How can we interpret this to mean that a hook gaff, flying gaff, game clip, or lip-gripper is OK for the final assist of subduing and landing a (California halibut/Pacific halibut) where an undefined "3 1/2' hand-held straight gaff with a breakaway tip" is not, .. and how such undefined tool may or may not fall under spearfishing rules for a hand-held spear with a breakaway tip that looks and functions in exactly the same manner?

The way the regulations read is that everything is illegal, except hook and line or by hand.

There is an exception for a gaff, and one for spear/harpoon, so we know they are legal in the stated situations. A straight gaff is not legal because the definition of a gaff is spelled out as a "hook with or without a handle", which means that a (hook) gaff and a flying (hook) gaff must both be legal.

But, I also agree that there must be some flexibility in the regulations for things that the DFG figured were so commonplace that they didn't bother to spell it all out. Otherwise, technically using a lipgrip, "fish billy", game clip, knife, or any tool whatsoever besides the listed exceptions and your bare hands to land a fish is illegal.