San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Sorry for the late post but I was just informed that F&G have requested 2 boats for this
Saturday and Sunday......what does that mean? Just be in compliance with the rules.....barbless hooks....no live bait(I can't believe that happens), valid fishing license, etc.

TommyP

Barbless hooks applies to just the one in your hand when F&G rolls up right…?

Anything tied to a rod, even if not actively fishing it counts. If a barbed hook is tied onto any reel in the boat they assume you're planning on using it! Wouldn't risk it either way. Smash em before you leave the house! A friend on my boat got a ticket a few years ago doing just that.

I have been at some places (Owens River) where the game warden would run a string or thread across the inside of the hook to verify it was completely debarbed. Difficult to achieve unless you have some pliers with flat jaws instead of the usual serrated jaws. But since I had made an effort to debarb, I got off with a warning.

I have picked up several lures from bushes or lures that broke off in fish at Barrett that had not been debarbed. Someone doesn't even try.

Found a spot on their webpage addressing the barbed hook rule. “ Lures allowed: Artificial lures with barbless hooks
only, barbs can be bent or broken off and it is not
necessary to do your entire tackle box, only the
hooks you are using.”

When I’ve been checked, they only checked the rod I was throwing when they approached. I had a couple lures on the other rods that still had barbs and they didn’t even ask to look. Just asked to swing my lure I was throwing at the time over into the boat.

Yesterday when the F&G came over to card me, they only requested to be flashed with my fishing license, they were looking for the big numbers on the top corner ( year and month )then they asked if I knew the fishing rules of the lake, also they asked to check the hook on the rod I was using at the time of the interview.
Since everything was in order; they went on their merry way and I kept slaying.... JK it was kinda tough bite......

They visited me yesterday, just looked at the hook on the rod I had in my hand and asked to see my license, then moved on. Super nice guys. Saw them again at Cap this afternoon.

ChristBwityou wrote: Fri May 08, 2026 12:19 pm Barbless hooks applies to just the one in your hand when F&G rolls up right…?

Not necessarily, last time I got checked they asked to see “the rod that I put down” as they were approaching. I think it’s a red flag for them when they see you crouch down and start cutting off lures or changing rods as they approach. Hooks are cheap compared to citations. Not to mention it’ll ruin the rest of your day.