Chinook Salmon out of Dana Point

[alanw]

I know about the 18" net regs and always carry one. What I didn't know was that Salmon had to be netted, as the captain said gaffing Salmon was illegal in that radio interview. I can't find any regs to support that claim and think the captain may be wrong (odd for a captain boasting about knowing the regs). I think maybe he confused the regs for inland waters regs which says no gaffs can be possessed or used, but isn't Salmon specific. (CCR Title 14, Section 2.06). Good idea to net it and verify species and seasons, but not illegal to gaff.