2 rods on cattle boat

[alanw]

Originally Posted by Dirty Curti

Second Rod Validation $14.30 Required for all persons taking fish with two rods or lines in inland waters, except for waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used.

I hate legal mumbo jumbo but does this mean that if you are using artificial lures than you can only use 1 pole unless you are licensed for a second???

It has the word "ONLY" which screws me up when I'm reading this because we don't only use lures and barbless hooks. We are using live bait, cut bait, artificial lures and barbed hooks.

I'm confused. Should we be purchasing a second rod validation when we are fishing in the ocean?

I'm no expert, but I read it like this:

Bays & ocean = no rod limit except for special exceptions (like rockfish).
Inland = 1 rod max, or 2 rods max if you have the 2nd rod stamp.
Waters where the rules are "artificial lures only" or "barbless hooks only" = 2 rods (maybe more?), no 2nd rod stamp necessary

On top of the rod rules, there are also "number of hooks" rules to be aware of.