CDFW Officer Hassle factor...
- Thread starter Aram
- Start date
What kind of lures are you casting? If you are using anything that spins but don't have a swivel could the issue be
due to line twist?
With that 15 foot pole I have to give you props for using it with artificials... Lots of work there. Much easier to just
set it up as a "bait and wait" with a bell while you use your 9 footer for the lures. Sounds like you got a workout!
That's a beautiful section of coast there. Glad you had a good trip even if the overall fishing was sub optimal. Can
you post a picture of the crab trap you are talking about? Is it a square with four triangles attached to it? Sorry.
Just trying to envision how something like that would work. I've only ever used the circular ones and recently got
an ambush trap in the hopes of trying to catch some lobster one of these days (if I ever get around to fishing during
lobster season. I've missed three so far).
due to line twist?
With that 15 foot pole I have to give you props for using it with artificials... Lots of work there. Much easier to just
set it up as a "bait and wait" with a bell while you use your 9 footer for the lures. Sounds like you got a workout!
That's a beautiful section of coast there. Glad you had a good trip even if the overall fishing was sub optimal. Can
you post a picture of the crab trap you are talking about? Is it a square with four triangles attached to it? Sorry.
Just trying to envision how something like that would work. I've only ever used the circular ones and recently got
an ambush trap in the hopes of trying to catch some lobster one of these days (if I ever get around to fishing during
lobster season. I've missed three so far).
I guess that is a thought.. Yea it is a mystery... it's like the line turned into a spring... Very irritating when trying to cast/fish.. I suppose the stronger characteristics make it stiffer and more spring like. As soon as the line was a little loose on the the reel 'POP' and 3-4 for turns jump right off.. Ooooh I hate that.
I had a good swivel, and it was a two hook jig w/2 oz weight. You're not kidding about the workout... I was non stop too. Yes you are correct. The crab trap is a pyramid trap. That requires a crab license vs. hoop traps. Honestly the Chinese guy was doing just as well with the round hoop trap. I have one of those too.
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I haven't been keeping up with current crab regulations so didn't read this but you made me curious and from best I
could see you would need to get a "trap validation" for this type of trap since it's not specifically mentioned in the
allowable traps or gear and, in general, the crab trap info seems to pertain mainly to crab traps that are dropped by
boats rather than used from pier or shore. Would be nice if they were addressed specifically because they seem like
a better trap (environmentally speaking) to use than hoop nets unless I'm missing something obvious.
I actually use braid on most of my reels... When I want something else I'll use braid and then top the reel off with 20-30
feet of mono or fluoro tied to the braid with an FG knot.
could see you would need to get a "trap validation" for this type of trap since it's not specifically mentioned in the
allowable traps or gear and, in general, the crab trap info seems to pertain mainly to crab traps that are dropped by
boats rather than used from pier or shore. Would be nice if they were addressed specifically because they seem like
a better trap (environmentally speaking) to use than hoop nets unless I'm missing something obvious.
I actually use braid on most of my reels... When I want something else I'll use braid and then top the reel off with 20-30
feet of mono or fluoro tied to the braid with an FG knot.
Going back to the original topic—
Hi, former CDFW employee here,
I'm really sorry you've had less than favorable encounters with CDFW staffers. The biggest issue I've seen is lack of budget and excessive turnover. Contrary to popular belief, state employees (at least rank-and-file) get paid very little. The scientific aid positions, which require a college degree, get paid minimum wage, do not get any benefits, and are seasonal. Thus, many staffers are simply there just to get something on their resumes and move on to better work. This results in the majority of public encounters being with green, fresh college graduates trying to make ends meet, or with jaded wardens who have seen/heard enough BS to fill several olympic size swimming pools.
Now there are a lot of passionate and talented people that go through CDFW, but their passion and talent usually takes them higher to biologist/supervisor positions or to the private sector. In my experience at my office, a pretty good portion of the staffers do actually go outdoors and fish/hunt in their free time as opposed to shouting "Save the Whales!" on street corners. But then again, most of these people are sitting inside crunching numbers or on the water pulling research nets, so again, what's left to go engage with the public most of the time are fresh hires who may or may not share our values. For CDFW to retain the kind of talent that makes a good impression on the public, it should offer more to entry level positions so that people don't just leave after one season, and instead gain experience and knowledge interacting with the public. But, that's a budget and inevitably political question, so I'll stay out of it.
As for the regulations themselves, they very much are confusing, but not by design. The state is just so huge and covers so many different fisheries that there isn't a clear cut, one-size-fits-all solution to the ridiculous size of the regulations booklet. On their website, there are summaries for regulations based on region, so that's some help, but it's still a lot of information. There are definitely a lot of grey areas (especially in inland regulations), that need to be addressed, but unfortunately, like any other agency, CDFW and the Cal Fish and Game Commission move at the speed of bureaucracy (slow).
Hi, former CDFW employee here,
I'm really sorry you've had less than favorable encounters with CDFW staffers. The biggest issue I've seen is lack of budget and excessive turnover. Contrary to popular belief, state employees (at least rank-and-file) get paid very little. The scientific aid positions, which require a college degree, get paid minimum wage, do not get any benefits, and are seasonal. Thus, many staffers are simply there just to get something on their resumes and move on to better work. This results in the majority of public encounters being with green, fresh college graduates trying to make ends meet, or with jaded wardens who have seen/heard enough BS to fill several olympic size swimming pools.
Now there are a lot of passionate and talented people that go through CDFW, but their passion and talent usually takes them higher to biologist/supervisor positions or to the private sector. In my experience at my office, a pretty good portion of the staffers do actually go outdoors and fish/hunt in their free time as opposed to shouting "Save the Whales!" on street corners. But then again, most of these people are sitting inside crunching numbers or on the water pulling research nets, so again, what's left to go engage with the public most of the time are fresh hires who may or may not share our values. For CDFW to retain the kind of talent that makes a good impression on the public, it should offer more to entry level positions so that people don't just leave after one season, and instead gain experience and knowledge interacting with the public. But, that's a budget and inevitably political question, so I'll stay out of it.
As for the regulations themselves, they very much are confusing, but not by design. The state is just so huge and covers so many different fisheries that there isn't a clear cut, one-size-fits-all solution to the ridiculous size of the regulations booklet. On their website, there are summaries for regulations based on region, so that's some help, but it's still a lot of information. There are definitely a lot of grey areas (especially in inland regulations), that need to be addressed, but unfortunately, like any other agency, CDFW and the Cal Fish and Game Commission move at the speed of bureaucracy (slow).
Sir thank you for that post. That was very helpful. Sounds like typical government office politics/bureaucracy. And we must add that whatever is being taught in colleges nowadays is probably being deployed in this department. We need some sort of management, but let me ask you a question. With your experience what would your rule book look like?
Actually the braid is the base of the line and the mono/fluro is at the end. Generally you want to avoid connecting braid directly to your
terminal tackle since it's notorious for not being very abrasion resistant. This way there is far less there to tangle or pop off the spool or
have other similar problems, and you can still attach the line directly to your terminal tackle without using a swivel and long leader if that's
what you want to do.
terminal tackle since it's notorious for not being very abrasion resistant. This way there is far less there to tangle or pop off the spool or
have other similar problems, and you can still attach the line directly to your terminal tackle without using a swivel and long leader if that's
what you want to do.
From pg 41 of the regulations:
I don't see any reference to pyramid traps either for crustaceans in general or specifically for crabs.
Steve
Gear Restrictions for Recreational Take of Saltwater Crustaceans (T14 CCR §29.80)
(a) General Provisions
(1) Saltwater crustaceans may be taken by hand.
(2) Nets, traps or other appliances may not be used except as provided in this Section.
I don't see any reference to pyramid traps either for crustaceans in general or specifically for crabs.
Steve
I think the "$3 crab tag" is the crab trap inspection tag not just an extra fee... To make sure that the trap is complaint
with the trap regulations if it's not an already approved trap... Once again I think the issue here is that most people
fishing from shore are not using traps but rather hoop nets of various shades, and the people who are using traps
generally use larger traps than the pyramid style trap from the pictures.
with the trap regulations if it's not an already approved trap... Once again I think the issue here is that most people
fishing from shore are not using traps but rather hoop nets of various shades, and the people who are using traps
generally use larger traps than the pyramid style trap from the pictures.