Posted by Seasnake on January 29, 2002 at 13:12:26:
The new Sport and Commercial California Regulations for 2002 have just been leaked. Looking at these new regulations it’s apparent that the FG has given up on MLPA and has taken a whole different tact.
Here is a simple of the leaked Regulations.
Abalone
Open Season from the first Sunday after the 15 Th of January to the second Tuesday after the 4 of July.
Sport and Commercial fisherman can take Abalone from Pt. St. George to San Mateo Point.
Daily Bag Limits
Black Abalone 100 a day
Green Abalone 37 a day
Red Abalone 66 a day
White Abalone 99 a day
Pink Abalone 55 a day
There is no size limits for Abalone.
Special Regulations for Sport and Commercial fisherman for taking Abalone.
1. Abalone can not be taken out of the shell till preparation to eat.
2. Abalone must be taken by hand (the use of irons, knifes, tools of any kind is forbidden a $10,000 fine is mandatory for each Abalone taken with a tool).
3. No artificial breathing device can be used (no Scuba) you may only use your lungs.
4. No artificial propulsion device may be used (no fins, scooters, Jet Ski, boats, etc.) only your feet and hands may be used.
5. Abalone may be take at night, but no lights may be used.
6. A mask may be used to help take Abalone, but it must be oval in shape, and can not have a diameter of more then 5 in.
7. No thermo devices may be used (no wetsuits, no dry suits).
8. Fisherman may only wear an official FG Speedo with the FG Tag on it. The suit only comes in Size 32 (any body member sticking out the suit more then 6in. well be seen as a clear violation for baiting the abalone )
Some other high lights of the new regulations.
There will be no size or bag limits on any finned fish.
Special Regulations for Sport and Commercial fisherman for the taking of finned fish.
1. A Cane pole with an unbarbed hook and a 100 ft. of degradable line, is the only device that can be used to take finned fish (no other devices may be used no reels, no nets, no long lines, no traps, only a cane pole with line attached to the end, one per fisherman).
2. No live bait may be used.
3. Underwater fisherman may only use a pole spear to take finned fish (the pole must be made from a tree branch and can only be a maximum of 6 ft. in length. The tree branch can only be 1 in. in diameter, a 3 pronged tip maybe tied to the end of the tree branch or the spearfishman may use the sharpen end of the branch to spear the fish. No artificial breathing device may be used. Spearfishman may use mask, fins, and snorkel . A thermo suit maybe used, but the spearfishman must wear the official FG Speedo with the FG tag on it.
Fish and Game spokesman Jay Overight said: “with these new regulations there should be no need for MLPA. “