I was fishing in a catch and release river with a good friend, a true sportsman, and fly fisherman last year when a CA Fish & Game warden appeared and asked to inspect my friend’s hook. In California, only barbless hooks are allowed in catch and release areas. But I was not worried, as I had seen him pinch the barb on his hook when he tied on the fly. But then the warden pulled out a cotton swab. Really? We need a cotton swab to see whether a barb has been pinched? Really?
Of course, it was perfectly clear by looking at my friend’s hook, the barb was pinched. But a small berm of metal, which is perfectly normal when pinching barbs, apparently picked up a small strand of cotton and a citation was issued. Now, this might seem like a small part of what CA Fish & Game does, but at the same time, it sure has the appearance that our wardens have become pick-pockets for the State and the Department. That small strand of cotton remaining on my friend's hook carried a $500 fine.
So what is CA Fish & Game’s definition of a barbless hook? And where is that regulation clearly defined? Is it sound policy to check compliance with a cotton swab? Or is it that fly fishermen create a much easier revenue source for the Department than, say, abalone poachers?
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