California Fish and Game

[Rollout]

Hello everybody, got a newbie question here. California fishing license states that it needs to be at or above the waist while fishing.

For you guys that hunt in CA waters, what do you usually do with your fishing license while spearing? I know that they can be pretty strict out here about adhering to the rules, and I can't seem to find anything on the Fish and Game website.

Thanks

[Rollout]

OK, I found the answer:

Persons diving from a boat or shore may have their license on the boat or within 500 yards of shore, respectively (see Fish and Game Code Section 7145).

Moderator you can delete this thread as you wish. cheers

[jimqpublic]

Leave it up. It's important to know.

The 500 yard rule applies to where you exit the water. So if you enter from the parking lot, swim to the kelp bed, then drift with the current and eventually exit more than 500 yards from your car then it is a violation.

Also "boat" includes sit-on-top kayaks. In that case the license must be carried with the kayak. If you're abalone hunting (Northern Cal only), you must fill out the abalone report card as soon as you put each abalone into the kayak.

[Rollout]

Out of curiosity, what do most of you guys in California do with your licenses while you're in the water?

Fish and Game violations merit some hefty fines:
Fish and Game Code

Fishing without a license - $675
-with proof of valid license to court - $135

[Oldsarge]

I keep mine in the car at the top of the cliff. Vertical distance doesn't seem to count.

[deep thinker]

Im not from your area but I do have some advice on your question. I keep my lisence and what ever else needs to be kept save and dry in a water tight capsule with a screw top and o-ring in the top that keeps it dry. It can so be kept savely on the boat and also be tied to you weight belt / float when diving from the shore and so it will also comply with the on the waist or above it rule which I found a bit strange if not even funny cant decide yet but hey dont fight dem rules hey...
Seakodive makes em but I dont have a pic at the mo Ill post one if I remember to take one over the weekend

[jimqpublic]

For shore diving in the car seems the most sensible. License paper doesn't appear to want to get wet. Note that my little flip-top clear dry document case can handle being immersed but not the pressure of diving. Luckily money and credit cards aren't bothered by water- but I bet a license would have been ruined.

The "At or above the waist" rule requires that the license be in a clear holder so a game warden can see it with binoculars.

[ocean_314]

I keep mine in my car. Never had a problem. The biggest problem i have with wearing my license is when steelhead fishing. Walking trough bushes sometimes rips off the license off my vest, so now i wear it on my hat. Its a pain in the ass to have to wear a license. Took my hat off once and got my license stolen while it wwas in the bed of my pickup, right behind my back.

[Shadowkiller]

Im sure most of you guys use floats and flags to avoid getting run down by boats?

I photocopy my license (NSW one), get the copy laminated (50c total cost) and tape it to my float. That way I don't lose it and avoid being escorted by fisheries on the trek back to my car. The original stays in the car or on the boat.

[Rollout]

Originally Posted by Shadowkiller

Im sure most of you guys use floats and flags to avoid getting run down by boats?

I photocopy my license (NSW one), get the copy laminated (50c total cost) and tape it to my float. That way I don't lose it and avoid being escorted by fisheries on the trek back to my car. The original stays in the car or on the boat.

I like this idea. I shore dive, but think I will practice a variation of this and Deepthinker's idea.

Thanks

[LGHT]

Originally Posted by Rollout

I like this idea. I shore dive, but think I will practice a variation of this and Deepthinker's idea.

Thanks

I don't the a copy of it is valid, not sure if the F&G warden minds or do they make you go back and show them the real one?

I like this idea, but don't want to get an earfull for being wrong. The last guy I ran into tried to give 6 of us a ticket while camping because we had beers (which is allowed). The guy thought I was being a jerk because I told him it was FREE FISHING DAY and we don't need no stinking license! (I had a few beers). He had already started writing up the tickets when he got a call from another guy on the radio confirming that June 9th is considered a free fishing day!

Priceless

[deep thinker]

You could always make a copy to laminate and then take it to your nearest police station with the original so that they can declare that your copy is infact a true copy of the original, before you laminate it... Any officer of the court or so should be able to do this for you or at least thats what they do here.
Theyve got the same Im in charge mentalaty here too btw.

[kanakafari]

I just leave it in the car and if the Fish and Game guys really wanna write a ticket, then they are gonna have to walk with me to at least provide me the opportunity to produce proof of licensing. Don't let them tell you otherwise. As the Sarge said, vertical distance is not referrred to in the F&G regs. That is the "grey" area that keeps you legal.

[LGHT]

Originally Posted by kanakafari

I just leave it in the car and if the Fish and Game guys really wanna write a ticket, then they are gonna have to walk with me to at least provide me the opportunity to produce proof of licensing. Don't let them tell you otherwise. As the Sarge said, vertical distance is not referrred to in the F&G regs. That is the "grey" area that keeps you legal.

Well getting a ticket after trying to fight it is not what I plan on doing. I had a buddy get a ticket when his car was only a short walk away. They didn't bother going to the trouble of counting the how far it's away they just wrote him a ticket and said you have the right to fight it if you want.

I'm sure you can probably fight it and get away with it, but why bother.

[kanakafari]

But isn't that why we all hunt? For the figth to find, the fight to persevere, and the fight to land da big ones? and this is just opinion, da fight is what makes keeps most of us coming back for more. If you are in the right, then the victory of the fight is that much sweeter. Can I get an AMEN?!?!?!?! or not?