Fishing' the A Rig - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jlabs63 · 05-01-2018, 09:26 AM

That is a cool rig. I have been told they are not legal in CA, but it sounds like they are. Can you explain?

King Saba · 05-01-2018, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlabs63

That is a cool rig. I have been told they are not legal in CA, but it sounds like they are. Can you explain?

If I’m not mistaken, the issue is on yet number of books used. 3 Max in saltwater I believe.

alanw · 05-01-2018, 09:47 AM

Yep, 3 hooks maximum in CA "inland waters". That rig is no bueno in the bays.

https://californiaoutdoorsqas.com/20...in-california/

Baja_Traveler · 05-01-2018, 09:56 AM

I have the same exact rig - except I put two flashers in the top two spots instead of hooked softbaits. Caught a Barracuda almost that exact same size on it in last years tournament - too bad they are always short, catching a legal would surely win longest fish!

dpricenator · 05-01-2018, 10:13 AM

Right on! I have an A-rig in my box, but was always concerned it was not legal in CA. I know it has spots for 4 hooks, but the idea of adding a flasher instead would solve that. Thanks for the post, I've wanted to try it out for a while now.

Saba Slayer · 05-01-2018, 11:04 AM

Hey Alan...his link is for inland FRESH water not saltwater...I'll check around and see if I can find the saltwater regulation...

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanw

Yep, 3 hooks maximum in CA "inland waters". That rig is no bueno in the bays.

https://californiaoutdoorsqas.com/20...in-california/

Hunters Pa · 05-01-2018, 11:23 AM

Also, once you have rockfish on board it is two hooks, one rod I believe.

Saba Slayer · 05-01-2018, 11:32 AM

OK...I looked through the Saltwater Reg book from the DFW and as Shawn says...once you are fishing for or are in possession of rock fish THEN AND ONLY THEN are you required to have only two hooks (treble or regular) on a rig and use only one rod.
I just got off the phone with Benny Florintino from Coastal Charters and Shimano...he fishes the A rig a lot ( 13lbs catch of 4 Bass at once at San Clemente Island). I started using it based on his suggestions and recommendations at the Fred Hall Del Mar Show seminars. He says that it is legal to fish inshore with it in saltwater. He has discussed this more than once with DFW wardens in the field.

I trust Benny and I'll go with his word as he is a licensed and qualified guide and an excellent Bass fisherman.

alanw · 05-01-2018, 01:53 PM

Hey Jim I remember reading somewhere that bays can be considered inland because they usually have a stream dumping in to them somewhere, making them "brackish". Looks like that info was wrong though since it says upstream from the mouths of the streams. Glad to have it cleared up, fish on!

From the freshwater regs:
1.53. Inland Waters.
Inland waters are all the fresh, brackish and inland saline waters of the state, including lagoons and tidewaters upstream from the
mouths of coastal rivers and streams.

05-01-2018, 09:47 AM	#3
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Yep, 3 hooks maximum in CA "inland waters". That rig is no bueno in the bays. https://californiaoutdoorsqas.com/20...in-california/ __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe Last edited by alanw; 05-01-2018 at 10:03 AM.

05-01-2018, 11:32 AM	#8
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,870	OK... OK...I looked through the Saltwater Reg book from the DFW and as Shawn says...once you are fishing for or are in possession of rock fish THEN AND ONLY THEN are you required to have only two hooks (treble or regular) on a rig and use only one rod. I just got off the phone with Benny Florintino from Coastal Charters and Shimano...he fishes the A rig a lot ( 13lbs catch of 4 Bass at once at San Clemente Island). I started using it based on his suggestions and recommendations at the Fred Hall Del Mar Show seminars. He says that it is legal to fish inshore with it in saltwater. He has discussed this more than once with DFW wardens in the field. I trust Benny and I'll go with his word as he is a licensed and qualified guide and an excellent Bass fisherman. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

05-01-2018, 01:53 PM	#9
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Hey Jim I remember reading somewhere that bays can be considered inland because they usually have a stream dumping in to them somewhere, making them "brackish". Looks like that info was wrong though since it says upstream from the mouths of the streams. Glad to have it cleared up, fish on! From the freshwater regs: 1.53. Inland Waters. Inland waters are all the fresh, brackish and inland saline waters of the state, including lagoons and tidewaters upstream from the mouths of coastal rivers and streams. __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe Last edited by alanw; 05-01-2018 at 02:16 PM.

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05-01-2018, 09:26 AM	#1
jlabs63 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: SD - Carmel Valley Posts: 78	That is a cool rig. I have been told they are not legal in CA, but it sounds like they are. Can you explain?

05-01-2018, 09:56 AM	#4
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	I have the same exact rig - except I put two flashers in the top two spots instead of hooked softbaits. Caught a Barracuda almost that exact same size on it in last years tournament - too bad they are always short, catching a legal would surely win longest fish!

05-01-2018, 10:13 AM	#5
dpricenator Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: South OC Posts: 120	Right on! I have an A-rig in my box, but was always concerned it was not legal in CA. I know it has spots for 4 hooks, but the idea of adding a flasher instead would solve that. Thanks for the post, I've wanted to try it out for a while now.

05-01-2018, 11:23 AM	#7
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,361	Also, once you have rockfish on board it is two hooks, one rod I believe.