Species ID, and limits - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

cowboybill · 09-19-2010, 07:06 AM

I have been attempting to brush up on my Species/limits...

I swear the DFG website is like looking at Tax codes! And in this modern age they say no taking of yelloweye rock fish (color pic=GOOD), but they say no taking of Bronze spotted rockfish, with no pic I could find! And for a cowcod, there is a small black and white pic that looks like a 1920s encyclopedia picture! WTF?

And the species page is very condensed, with limits only sometimes mentioned...

Part of my interest is several people have told me different limits for same species...I am sure these change, but hard to keep updated when the authorities do not provide simple, clear information..

Anybody discovered a better way (websites, books, etc. )

Thanks
Cowboybill

tacmik · 09-19-2010, 01:42 PM

Like you, I couldn't figure it out completely either. So when in doubt, I catch and release.

Jason · 09-19-2010, 04:12 PM

Most tackle shops carry the DFG regulations booklet. Which, I believe, has color photos/illustrations and limits of just about every rockfish you could catch locally.

Jason

Jzo · 09-19-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboybill

I swear the DFG website is like looking at Tax codes!

I hear you.

jhook · 09-19-2010, 05:03 PM

I agree. The regulations are overly complicated and poorly explained. I think this DFG webpage is the most useful:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs5.asp
Note, that this site is for the southern management area only

And this one for "groundfish" (which doesn't include halibut. ?):
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/bfregs2010.asp

And here is a pdf with color pictures of most of the rockfish you should be concerned with (including the bronzespotted):
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/fishid2010.pdf

GregAndrew · 09-19-2010, 05:43 PM

Seems to me, the only way you can get good pics of all the types of rockfish, from the DFG, is if you send away for the posterboard you see on the cattle boats. Lots of the pics on the DFG website leave much to the imagination. One thing that helps out is that they usually have a description of what is unique to each species. In some cases, the description is better than a pic when there is a lot of variation in looks of a specie (Lingcod coloration, Sheepshead looks from juvinile to adult etc.).

Jzo · 09-20-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhook

I agree. The regulations are overly complicated and poorly explained. I think this DFG webpage is the most useful:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs5.asp
Note, that this site is for the southern management area only

And this one for "groundfish" (which doesn't include halibut. ?):
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/bfregs2010.asp

And here is a pdf with color pictures of most of the rockfish you should be concerned with (including the bronzespotted):
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/fishid2010.pdf

Great links in detail, thx.

cowboybill · 09-20-2010, 11:51 AM

I am just browsing this stuff now...

Thanks alot!

cowboybill

09-19-2010, 07:06 AM	#1
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	Species ID, and limits I have been attempting to brush up on my Species/limits... I swear the DFG website is like looking at Tax codes! And in this modern age they say no taking of yelloweye rock fish (color pic=GOOD), but they say no taking of Bronze spotted rockfish, with no pic I could find! And for a cowcod, there is a small black and white pic that looks like a 1920s encyclopedia picture! WTF? And the species page is very condensed, with limits only sometimes mentioned... Part of my interest is several people have told me different limits for same species...I am sure these change, but hard to keep updated when the authorities do not provide simple, clear information.. Anybody discovered a better way (websites, books, etc. ) Thanks Cowboybill

09-20-2010, 11:51 AM	#8
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	Thanks! I am just browsing this stuff now... Thanks alot! cowboybill

09-19-2010, 01:42 PM	#2
tacmik Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East County Posts: 914	Like you, I couldn't figure it out completely either. So when in doubt, I catch and release.

09-19-2010, 04:12 PM	#3
Jason Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 80	Most tackle shops carry the DFG regulations booklet. Which, I believe, has color photos/illustrations and limits of just about every rockfish you could catch locally. Jason

09-19-2010, 05:03 PM	#5
jhook Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 99	I agree. The regulations are overly complicated and poorly explained. I think this DFG webpage is the most useful: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs5.asp Note, that this site is for the southern management area only And this one for "groundfish" (which doesn't include halibut. ?): http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/bfregs2010.asp And here is a pdf with color pictures of most of the rockfish you should be concerned with (including the bronzespotted): http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/fishid2010.pdf

09-19-2010, 05:43 PM	#6
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Seems to me, the only way you can get good pics of all the types of rockfish, from the DFG, is if you send away for the posterboard you see on the cattle boats. Lots of the pics on the DFG website leave much to the imagination. One thing that helps out is that they usually have a description of what is unique to each species. In some cases, the description is better than a pic when there is a lot of variation in looks of a specie (Lingcod coloration, Sheepshead looks from juvinile to adult etc.).