California Outdoors Q&A

Question: Although the population of Pismo clams is seriously depleted in the Ventura/Oxnard area, I was blessed to dig this guy during the recent low tides. He is bulky and has many (growth) rings. Most are dark in color, but there are lighter ones as well. To determine the age of the clam do you only count the dark rings or...
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Question: I own property in a rural part of Monterey County although I don’t live there all the time. I am there most weekends and many weeklong stretches throughout the year. Twice in the last month, I found a gate open on my property that should always be closed. I know for sure I left it latched and there were no...
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Question: Are you allowed to keep black bass that are of legal size? The regulations are confusing as to if you are allowed to keep them or not. (Jake) Answer: California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 5.00 describes the black bass regulations for various bodies of water throughout California. In California, the term “black bass” is used to define four commonly caught...
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Question: Is there any regulation that would prohibit multiple GO IDs on crab buoys? For instance, if a group of friends wanted to share the same crab gear, could they each place their GO IDs on the buoys? (Steve Brown) Answer: For recreational fishing, there is no regulation prohibiting multiple GO IDs on crab trap buoys used under a sport fishing license (California...
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Question: Can you please clarify the difference between a bag limit and a possession limit? Is the possession limit always double the bag limit? (Anonymous) Answer: California Fish and Game Code, section 18 describes “bag limit” as the maximum limit, in number or amount, of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles or amphibians that may lawfully be taken by any one person during a specified period of time. FGC, section...
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