The reason for barbless hook is to safely release coho and undersized chinooks. So how do you do this with treble hooks? The Ocean salmon regs clearly requires barbless hooks in all areas. There is no mention that trebles or any barbed hooks are allowed. It does not make sense that one area is exempted from using barbless hooks.
I will personal inquire with DFG about this catch. BTW any angler fishing for salmon is required to carry a net for safe release of undersize fish. DFG really enforces this if salmon are around.
See 28.65 (d).
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...05&inline=true
2013-2014 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations
Gear Restrictions
28.65.
(d) No gaff hook shall be used to take or assist in landing any finfish shorter than the minimum
size limit. For the purpose of this section a gaff hook is any hook with or without a handle used to
assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily
in its mouth. No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters
without having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing under
size fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less
than eighteen inches in diameter