[Aaron&Julie]

Verbatim, under section 28.65 of the 2013-2014 handbook.


GENERAL: Except as provided in this article, fin fish may be taken only on hook and line or by hand. Any number of hooks and lines may be used in all ocean waters and bays except:>>
(a) San Francisco and San Pablo bays between Golden Gate Bridge and the west ffice:smarttags" />lace w:st="on">Carquinez Bridgelace>, where only one line with not more than 3 hooks may be used.

AND under (minus the Latin names)

(c) When rockfish , lingcod, cabezon, or kelp or rock greenlings are aboard or in possession, where only one line with not more than two hooks may be used pursuant to…

Bottom line is you can use as many hooks as you want for sand dabs. But, if you get caught using more than 2 hooks and any of the above named fish are aboard (on your deck) or in possession, then it’s only 2 hooks allowed.


We wouldn't bother with more than 2 hooks for dabs ourselves because even at that you could easily catch a couple of meals worth on a trip.


We always play it on the safe side when it comes to the regulations, but we were quite surprised to see the changes to the calico, sand, and spotted bay bass size and and daily limit. We hadn't read any feedback regarding this, but then again we had been “in the wings” for quite a while. We were hoping for that increase in size and reduction in take, and glad to see it started in March of this year.


Fortunately, we've caught up on that regulation now, and we won't have it bite us in the ass.