Watch out for the DFG guy.

[Nic D]

Originally Posted by driftwood

Yani and I were checked out by the a DFG official last night as we landed around 9pm. We went thru the usual drill, Yani went first. DFG wanted to see my license, my front and back hatch of my kayak. thank god he skipped the cavity check

so just to make sure I don't get nailed for anything lame, cause thats my luck

we have to have:
1) our license
2) a pfd on board
3) nothing illegal

am I missing anything?

[wade]

Originally Posted by Tamarack Studios

am I missing anything?

Oh you sure will be Nick...
It's called your United States Constitutional Fourth Amendment rights..
Somehow they go down the toilet once these F&G clowns get their woop-de-do badge..Be ready for the Fourth Reich..

[Hunters Pa]

Should have a net, even if stowed, in case they really want to be a pain

[MrPatrick]

and a whistle

[Billy V]

If you're out at night on the kayak you need some type of light.

Good to carry one because sometimes its dark when you land.

[dsafety]

Maybe some of you were just having a little fun but I doubt the DFG cares about whistles or even PFDs. I am not sure about the net however. I know that is a requirement on some inland waters. Anyone know for sure about the ocean?

Since this is not Arizona, I guess we will not have to be able to prove that we are legal residents. Sometimes I wonder exactly how I would prove that I am legal. A drivers license and credit cards would not do it because anyone can get those. The only thing I can think of that would work for sure is a passport.

Note to self... next time I go to visit my son in Arizona, be sure to pack the passport.

Bob

[Aaron]

I'm happy to get checked by the DFG. Makes me feel like I got my money's worth out of my license. lol.

If you ever have the time, schedule a ride-along with a DFG warden. You'll quickly see why they may be a bit "pessimistic" when they approach you. I got a ticket once for shooting ducks in a poorly marked restricted area on Baldwin Lake in Big Bear and decided I should go on a ride along with the very cop that wrote me the ticket. I quickly realized the BS that they put up with. 90% of the boaters we stopped at random on Big Bear Lake did not have a fishing license. We were lucky if they weren't drunk as well. Then came the excuses...blah blah blah, standard stuff.

If a Warden asks you to open up your hatch, you don't have to. You can ask them to get a warrant. If its not in plain view, you're covered under search and seizure constitutional rights. But why bother? I'll gladly open up my hatch for the guys that are keeping the idiots out of the water that are scooping up 18" WSB and kill everything else in site. I'll gladly take out my fishing license to show that I paid into our fisheries so that Game Wardens can crack down on those that don't. I've been good to those guys and have received some great info that resulted in me shooting more birds and catching more fish. I dunno, maybe I'm weird, but since getting a ticket and going on a ride along I have a bunch more respect for those guys. But I get it that they can sometimes come off a bit harsh.

[Dan]

totally agree with sapdawg. dfg field agents are the good guys.

[robmandel]

Originally Posted by Dan

totally agree with sapdawg. dfg field agents are the good guys.

most definitely!!! lady up in malibu is very cool. got checked a couple of times, no problem. she isn't power trippy at all. quite the opposite. in fact, I've never had a bad experience with them, ever.

and remember, the warden's association is on record opposed to the MLPA. they've even said there's no way they can or will enforce it. honestly, dfg and us are on the same side. they're good people, doing a tough ass job. we oughta be as cool with them as we can.

[batty1of3]

Originally Posted by sapdawg711

I'm happy to get checked by the DFG. Makes me feel like I got my money's worth out of my license. lol.

If you ever have the time, schedule a ride-along with a DFG warden. You'll quickly see why they may be a bit "pessimistic" when they approach you. I got a ticket once for shooting ducks in a poorly marked restricted area on Baldwin Lake in Big Bear and decided I should go on a ride along with the very cop that wrote me the ticket. I quickly realized the BS that they put up with. 90% of the boaters we stopped at random on Big Bear Lake did not have a fishing license. We were lucky if they weren't drunk as well. Then came the excuses...blah blah blah, standard stuff.

If a Warden asks you to open up your hatch, you don't have to. You can ask them to get a warrant. If its not in plain view, you're covered under search and seizure constitutional rights. But why bother? I'll gladly open up my hatch for the guys that are keeping the idiots out of the water that are scooping up 18" WSB and kill everything else in site. I'll gladly take out my fishing license to show that I paid into our fisheries so that Game Wardens can crack down on those that don't. I've been good to those guys and have received some great info that resulted in me shooting more birds and catching more fish. I dunno, maybe I'm weird, but since getting a ticket and going on a ride along I have a bunch more respect for those guys. But I get it that they can sometimes come off a bit harsh.

here here i am always happy to see the dfg guys out and about poachers beware i still wear my license in plain sight and mebbe its a bit mean but i love watching them run up on a bucketeer at the bay and whip out that ticket book for no license and undersized fish

[Lord Matthew34]

I'm of the mindset that I have nothing to hide and anyone is welcome to check my vessel. As long as you're following the rules then all it costs you is about 3 min's out of your life. BTW i got stopped by a pretty hot dfg chick last week at the dana launch ramp. Would be cool if there were more of them around

[Gino]

Originally Posted by dsafety

Maybe some of you were just having a little fun but I doubt the DFG cares about whistles or even PFDs. I am not sure about the net however. I know that is a requirement on some inland waters. Anyone know for sure about the ocean?

Since this is not Arizona, I guess we will not have to be able to prove that we are legal residents. Sometimes I wonder exactly how I would prove that I am legal. A drivers license and credit cards would not do it because anyone can get those. The only thing I can think of that would work for sure is a passport.

Note to self... next time I go to visit my son in Arizona, be sure to pack the passport.

Bob

When you buy a fishing liscense, the vendor is supposed to check your drivers liscense and compare it with what you have written on the fishing lisecense. A fishing liscense can be a form of pseudo Identification.
Not sure how Arizona has anythign to do with DFG asking for your liscense.

[dsafety]

Originally Posted by Gino

Not sure how Arizona has anything to do with DFG asking for your license.

Sorry, just a lame attempt at some political humor. I will drop that one from my next standup routine.

On a more serious note, I would really like to know if we are supposed to pack nets when fishing in the ocean. I could not find anything on the DFG site so I sent them an email. Today was a mandated furlough day so no one was working at the DFG today, (does this make sense to anyone?).

If I get an answer, I will post it here.

Bob

[GregAndrew]

Yes, a net is required by the DFG. It is supposed to have an opening of at least 18 inches. In practicality though, they rarely ask if you have one and really do not care if it is a bit smaller than 18 inches.

I don't think that the DFG will enforce the PFD requirement, but the Coast Guard and Harbor Police can and do.

I am fairly certain that a single white light is required on your yak at night, but also not enforced by the DFG.

[dick fabulous]

Originally Posted by Tamarack Studios

so just to make sure I don't get nailed for anything lame, cause thats my luck

we have to have:
1) our license
2) a pfd on board
3) nothing illegal

am I missing anything?

I'm just saying

[Hunters Pa]

Pretty sure the net is a requirement, which is why I bought the folding Promar. Makes you compliant. I'll look for the reg later today if the kids let me

[bubblehide]

I also like to see the DFG out there and feel like my license money is being utilized appropriately when there out there; only problem is that I hardly ever bump into them. But considering their proportion to the population hardly seeing them is understandable, there low numbers are not.

Years ago I had a few bad run-ins with a particular DFG officer; I was never in violation, so I was assertive but cooperative with him and everything always ended fine. But I would rather have them treat me (as they usually do) and anyone with dignity and respect until the situation calls for something different.

[driftwood]

I did have the privilege to speak with some of the the DFG guy's at a couple of the MLPA meetings and they told me they were on our side 100%.

But, does anyone know if the DFG officers have to meet a daily quota like the CHP officers?

The last two times i got checked out by the DFG, they seemed to be very disappointed that they had nothing on me. Why is that?

Has anyone else experienced this too? Or is it just me?

[roadx]

2010-2011 regs for nets



28.55 or 28.27, respectively.
(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 undersize fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less than eighteen inches in diameter.

[dsafety]

Originally Posted by roadx

2010-2011 regs for nets



28.55 or 28.27, respectively.
(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 undersize fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less than eighteen inches in diameter.

Thanks for finding the reg. So I guess I will be packing the net from now on. I have one, it has just never touched a fish. I release most of the fish I catch while they are still in the water and have never found the need for using a net. I bet I am not alone.

Bob