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MyspaceThere’s a massive mackerel run hitting the Gaviota Pier as you read this, with dozens of anglers plucking the small but tasty fish out of the sea and into their buckets to grill up over an oak fire back at camp or fry in the pan at home. The pier is just one of three spots in southern Santa Barbara County where you don’t need the state’s $45 fishing license to dip your stick in the ocean, the others being Stearns Wharf and the Goleta Pier. And there’s also no need to worry about the wardens on Saturday, September 3, when the California Department of Fish and Game celebrates one of two annual Free Fishing Days, a chance to try sport fishing on the ocean, lakes, or creeks. See dfg.ca.gov for more info.
Free Fishing for All
Mackerel and More Hitting Our Piers
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Previous Month
Comments
And as a result of all the anglers there have been a massive number of pelicans hooked and wrapped with fishing line by careless (and worse) anglers. Please be careful!
What's the reasoning for no license being required at the three piers but a $45 license required to fish on the beach at the foot of the piers?
at_large (anonymous profile)
August 31, 2011 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
According to the CA Fishing Regulations 2011-2012:
Q: Is a fishing license required while fishing from a public fishing pier in ocean waters?
A: No, but it must be a public fishing pier. A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required to take sturgeon from a public pier in ocean waters. A Spiny Lobster Report Card is required to take spiny lobster from a public pier in ocean waters.
(a) A sport fishing license is not required to take fish for any purpose other than profit by means of angling from a public pier in the ocean waters of the state. (b) For purposes of this section, ocean waters include, but are not limited to, the open waters adjacent to the ocean and any island; the waters of any open or enclosed bay contiguous to the ocean; the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, with any tidal bay belonging thereto; and any slough or estuary, if found between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge (Fish and Game Code Section 7153).
A public pier is defined in the sport fishing regulations as a publicly owned man-made structure that has the following characteristics: is connected, above the mean high tide, to the main coastline or to the land mass of a named and charted natural island; has unrestricted free access for the general public; and has been built or currently functions for the primary purpose of allowing angling access to ocean waters (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1.88)
Additionally, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that are connected to land, as described above, that have free unrestricted access for the general public and whose purpose it is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are public piers. Jetties, breakwaters, promenades, sea walls, moles, docks, linings, barriers and other structures that are not the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor, are not public piers.
Even though licenses and stamps are not required while fishing from a public pier, all other regulations apply (including minimum size, bag limits, seasons and report card requirements).
Gaviota Pier, Stearns Wharf and Goleta Pier are public piers, and therefore NO LICENSE is required, as far as I can tell.
VetteGuy (anonymous profile)
September 2, 2011 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)