Thursday, 28 March 2024

Recreation

Question: Why do lobster report cards run calendar year (Jan. to Dec) instead of from the beginning of the season to the end (Oct. to March)?

It seems it would be less labor-intensive and more accurate to receive landing data once a year rather than twice a year, and you wouldn’t be charging fishermen double to be able to fish the full season. (Jack)

Answer: Lobster report cards run calendar year because they have been linked to fishing licenses, which have always run calendar year.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is not “charging double” because a report card purchased in early January can be used for the last 2-1/2 months of one lobster season, and the first three months of the next lobster season.

However, your question is timely.

The Fish and Game Commission is considering changing lobster report cards to run through the season beginning in October with the 2013-2014 lobster season.

This is possible with the recent implementation of the Automated License Data System (ALDS). Under the proposal, the new deadline for the return of seasonal lobster report cards would be April 30.

Anyone who fails to return or is late returning their report card by the deadline will be charged a $20 non-return fee when purchasing a lobster report card for the following season.

Details and full language of the regulation change proposal are posted at: www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2013/ .

If you’d like to provide comments to the Fish and Game Commission, the deadline is March 5 and you can do so by e-mail at www.fgc.ca.gov/contact/ .

One of the main reasons for the institution of a report card was to determine the number of sport fishermen who target lobster and the number of lobsters that are being taken.

Nearly 30,000 lobster report cards were sold each year from 2008-2011, and more than 37,000 cards were sold in 2012.

By contrast, there are about 150 active commercial lobster fishermen. CDFW is mandated by state law to manage the lobster resource, which includes both the commercial and recreational lobster fisheries.

The CDFW is currently developing a Lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Details at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/lobsterfmp/ .

For lobster report card data summaries, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/lobsterfmp/lit.asp .

Alabama rig revisited

Question: I work for a Southern California county lake and saw a new rig that is being sold in stores known as the “Alabama Rig.”

It consists of a set-up where you can clip 3-5 lures onto a swivel-type attachment to make it appear like a school of bait fish.

I try to stay current with the state freshwater regulations so I can keep fishermen informed as well. I remember seeing in the current state freshwater regulations that there is a maximum two hook set-up per line. Are these “rigs” legal to use? I would greatly appreciate your answer. (Matt T.)

Answer: Yes, an Alabama rig may be used, but only when modified to use no more than three hooks. When the Alabama rig is configured to comply with California law, many call it a California Rig.

See a previous entry on Alabama rigs from this column at http://californiaoutdoors.wordpress.com/2011/12/page/2/ .

Is it legal to hunt with my .223 caliber AR 15?

Question: Unless laws change by the time the season opens, will I be able to hunt deer in California with a .223 caliber AR 15? (John C.)

Answer: Fish and Game hunting laws authorize using any firearm rifle using centerfire cartridges for taking deer, as long as the firearm is otherwise legal to possess in California. Although the caliber is legal, the .223 round is considered by most big game hunters to be too small for the take of deer.

Selling antique deer heads and a deer antler chandelier?

Question: I’m an antique dealer in Riverside County and have an old deer head and a deer antler chandelier. Is it permissible to sell these items in my shop? (Sharon C.)

Answer: Yes and no. If those birds or mammals are found in the wild in California, the sale or purchase of those animals, and/or their parts, is prohibited (Fish and Game Code, section 3039).

If the items you have are made from species of deer NOT found in California (e.g. white-tailed deer, caribou, reindeer, etc.), then you may sell them.

Only black-tail and mule deer occur naturally in California. However, shed antlers or antlers taken from domestically-reared animals that have been manufactured into products or handcraft items, or that have been cut into blocks or units which are to be handcrafted, may be purchased or sold.

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

clhsbaseball2

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clear Lake Cardinals played their first intersquad baseball game this past weekend.  

Both varsity and junior varsity teams are off to a great start.

New varsity coaches this year are Head Coach Rick Moreno, moving up from junior varsity with two league championships under his belt; Assistant Coach Derick Brodnansky, junior varsity assistant coach last year; and returning manager Zane Jensen.

The men plan to have this team in shape for a run at the title this year.

Junior varsity Head Coach Dave McKinney and Assistant Coach John Vertrees are ready to take the junior varsity squad to new heights.  

You will find them practicing everyday on the field at Clear Lake High School.

The Cardinals start off the season on Friday, March 1, in Healdsburg at 6 p.m. under the lights.

Their first home game is Saturday, March 2. It is a double header starting at 12 p.m. against Justin Sienna with the second game to follow against St. Bernards.  

The boys are fired up; come out and support your Cardinals this baseball season.

clhsbaseball1

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Glory Days Flag Football League held its 2013 Winter Season Championship game on Saturday, Feb. 9, at Haverty Field in Clearlake.

Mean Machines of Clearlake were defeated by Upper Lake, although the final score of 37-18 did not necessarily indicate how competitive the contest was.

Through almost three quarters, control of the game was not defined until Upper Lake’s experience finally gained them the edge needed to procure the title of repeating league champions.

Players on both teams and fans in attendance commented on how much fun the game was.

The league would like to express its appreciation for the fans coming out to show their support.

Special thanks to Fantasy Faces and Body Art by Chayo for coming out to the field and helping entertain the fans and league members.

They also were grateful to Esther Allen and her barbecue crew for helping feed everyone. Shannon Nailor offered his announcing/commentating talent, which was combined with Jesse Boyd’s (Four Corners Hardware) donation of some equipment to assist Bruno Sabatier and LCPTV Channel 8’s video crew in getting some footage of the action on the field that they will use to produce a video. That video will be aired at a later date.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued the 2013-14 Freshwater Sports Fishing Regulation pamphlet.

Changes this year include new regulations on sturgeon, salmon and steelhead retention, new areas where hatchery trout or steelhead may be retained, and a black bass slot limit removal on five waters. Regulation changes are highlighted in the front of the pamphlet for quick reference.

New sturgeon fishing regulations establish a new method of measuring sturgeon and a new size limit of 40-60 inches. Barbless hooks are required when fishing for sturgeon and snares are prohibited. Fish longer than 68 inches fork length may not be removed from the water. For more information: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=58288&;inline=1 .

Salmon and steelhead anglers in inland valley waters can not fillet steelhead or salmon until they reach their permanent residence, a commercial preservation facility or the fish is being prepared for immediate consumption. All steelhead and salmon must remain in such a condition that their species and size can be identified.

Anglers will be allowed to harvest hatchery trout and hatchery steelhead in most catch and release areas under new regulations.

There will be no slot limit regulation for black bass in McClure, Millerton, Oroville, Orr and Siskiyou lakes. The statewide standard daily bag limit and 12-inch minimum total length regulations will apply on these waters.

Other changes include:

  • Yellow Perch have been removed from the sunfish bag limit. Yellow perch have a year-round season with no bag limit.
  • Spearfishermen will be allowed to harvest striped bass by spearfishing in the Valley District and all of Black Butte Lake will be open to spearfishing.
  • Eulachon may not be taken or possessed.
  • Wolf Creek (Mono Co.), Chowchilla River, and Eastman Lake will be open to fishing.
  • The Sisquoc River will be closed to all fishing all year to protect listed steelhead.
  • Silver King Creek tributaries (Alpine Co.) below Tamarack Lake Creek will be closed to all fishing all year to protect threatened Paiute cutthroat trout.
  • Davis and Pine creeks in Modoc County will be closed to the harvest of trout. Catch and release fishing is allowed.
  • Smith River Low Flow Regulations – The minimum flow trigger on the Smith River has been increased from 400 cubic feet per second to 600 cubic feet per second.
  • Eight amphibians and three reptiles have been removed from the list of species authorized for take with a sport fishing license.

There are other changes to the freshwater sport fishing regulations, so please review all of the 2013-2014 regulations pertaining to the species you intend to pursue.

Question: I have a business where I sell different types of exotic meats for human consumption. If legal to do, I would like to offer the meat of the following species of rattlesnakes: eastern, western and prairie rattlesnakes.

I know I cannot bring western diamondbacks into the state, but are there any restrictions to selling eastern diamondbacks and prairie rattlesnakes from Montana in California?

What about selling rattlesnake sausages and rattlesnake cakes made in Colorado? Can I sell processed food in California or is there a restriction? (Anshu P.)
 
Answer: There are no restrictions in California Fish and Game laws against importing and selling the meat of any species of reptile or amphibian that is not found in the wild in California, as long as they are not otherwise prohibited by federal law.

For a list of species found in the wild in California, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/list.html .
 
Lobster hooping?
 
Question: I understand from the regulations that if hoop netting from a kayak, you need to keep your license and card with you. However, if you are scuba diving, you can keep it in your car 500 yards away.

I want to hoop from land, but most likely I will have to swim or get wet at certain areas. Can I also keep my license in my car or do I have to bring it with me? (Ping Lee)
 
Answer: When a person is diving from a boat, the license may be kept in the boat, or in the case of a person diving from the shore, the license may be kept within 500 yards on the shore (Fish and Game Code, section 7145(a)).

Therefore, the Fish and Game law that allows the license to remain in the vehicle is specific to a person who is diving from the shore and within 500 yards of the vehicle.

Under all other circumstances, the law requires you to have your license in your immediate possession.
 
Bluegill for bait?
 
Question: I have had some discussions with other fisherman over the use of bluegill for bait in the body of water it was caught in.

I can’t seem to find anything on the Web site this year pertaining to using them for bait. Am I looking in the wrong area? Have the regulations changed?

Please lend us a hand with some info because we don’t want to fish out of our limits. Thanks a million and tight lines to you. (Randall S.)
 
Answer: California sportfishing regulations for freshwater generally prohibit using live or dead finfish for bait.

Although certain species of finfish may be used in the waters where taken, bluegill may only be used in the Colorado River District (see California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 4.15(a)) and portions of the Valley and South Central Districts (see CCR Title 14, section 4.20(d)). See sections 4.00 - 4.30 in the Freshwater Sportfishing Regulations for a complete listing of fish that may be used for bait, and keep in mind that bluegill are sunfish pursuant to CCR Title 14, section 1.77.

The regulations are available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ .
 
New big game random drawing tags?
 
Question: What's the latest on the special big game tags this year? Will any new tags be available via the random drawing system? (George S., Modesto)
 
Answer: Yes! Hunters can apply for four different fund-raising random drawing tags. These tags raise funds needed for vital wildlife conservation programs.  
 
According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Big Game Program Analyst Lai Saechao, the 2013 fund-raising random drawing tag for bighorn sheep will be valid in two hunt zones.

The hunter will have a choice between the Marble/Clipper Mountains or the South Bristol Mountain hunt zones. In addition, Dry Creek Outfitters has offered free guide services to the winner of the Fund-Raising Random Drawing Bighorn Sheep Tag.
 
Also available, one open zone deer tag which allows the hunter to hunt during the authorized season dates of any deer hunt, using the specific method and meeting any special conditions of the tag for that hunt.

There’s also an Owens Valley elk tag which allows the hunter to hunt in any of the Owens Valley zones (Bishop, Independence, Lone Pine, Tinemaha, Tinemaha Mountain and Whitney) with any legal method.

Last but not least, a Northeastern California antelope tag will be valid in the Mount Dome, Clear Lake, Likely Tables, Lassen, Big Valley and Surprise Valley zones with any legal method.
 
Opportunities to apply for these four fund-raising random drawing tags are available to all interested hunters.

Hunters can now apply at any CDFW license sales office, through license agents or online at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/ .

Hunters may also apply for these fund-raising random drawing tags at the CDFW booth at the Fred Hall Shows in Long Beach and Del Mar next month.
 
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Public Services Director Caroline Chavez announced the spring 2013 schedule for docent-led hikes on Mt. Konocti.

Hikes are planned for the following dates: Saturday, March 30; Saturday, April 20; Sunday, May 19; and Sunday, June 9.

The meeting spot will take place at the main parking lot of the park and the approximately four hour guided hikes will begin at 8 a.m.

The park is accessed by taking Konocti Road up the mountain from Kelseyville.

The hike is moderately strenuous and will cover approximately six miles roundtrip. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes appropriate for rugged terrain and to bring a lunch, a supply of water, a daypack, as well as binoculars and/or a camera.

The number of spaces for the docent led hikes is limited, and reservations are required. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Inclement weather cancels the hike.

The hike, which will be led by experienced docents, will include visits to the historic Downen Cabin and the top of Wright Peak, with an optional climb to the top of the Cal Fire lookout tower.

At 4,299 feet in elevation, Wright Peak is the highest point on the mountain, and the tower, which was built in 1976 and used until recently by fire lookout crews, provides stunning 360-degree panoramas.

The climb to the top of the tower requires accompaniment by a guided docent, and it will be accessible only to those 18 years of age and older.

Hikers who wish to climb the tower will be required to sign a release of liability form. Tower access requires a moderately strenuous climb up several flights of exterior stairs, and thus, may not be appropriate for those prone to vertigo or with heart-related and other health conditions.

Tom Nixon, a retired State Parks Ranger and member of the Konocti Regional Trails Team (KRTT), leads the docent tour program.

The docents are knowledgeable about a range of topics including the mountain and its geology, history, flora, fauna, and even folklore.
 
Mount Konocti County Park is primarily an undeveloped park with somewhat rugged terrain and gravel areas. Three waterless vault restrooms have been installed on the mountain, as well as several picnic tables and benches. Smoking is strictly prohibited.

As with other county-owned parks, glass and alcohol are prohibited. Rattlesnakes are present, and care should be taken to avoid disturbing rocks.

In its monumental 2011 acquisition, the county of Lake purchased 1,520 acres of land on top of Mount Konocti, a dormant volcano that is one of Lake County’s most dominant and recognizable natural features. This acquisition created the new Mount Konocti County Park and placed it into public hands for perpetuity. The county-owned land is contiguous with an additional 821 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The reservation deadline for the first guided hike is March 15, 2013. All other reservations need to be made by April 1, 2013.

To reserve a space, contact the Lake County Public Services Department at 707-262-1618.

For information on Mount Konocti County Park, including a downloadable map, visit www.konoctitrails.com .

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

Mini Calendar

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