Live bait

[bonsaibp]

Can a bluegill be used for bait in CA If yes where in regs can it be found.
Thanks

[Rbass519]

There is a loooooong thread about this on calbassin in the striper forum. If I remember right they referenced the pertinent regs.

[clearlakeoutdoors]

In the freshwater fishing regulation booklet.sect 4.20 d you can only use them in the delta. you can only use the ones you catch in the delta. They are great bait for stripers. THE MEAT FISHERMAN use them most of the time .
Dave

[Oldschool]

I have not read the 2010 regs yet. Bluegill are considered a fresh water game fish in California and it is illegal to use any fresh water game fish for bait. The Colorado river and California delta zones have some exemp areas where live game fish or parts of game are allowed to be used for bait.
Suggest getting a copy of the 2010 regs are read them., as regulations can change.
Tom

[WishinIwerFishin]

Here's it is straight from the 2010 CA fishing regulations book. This is the only area's live or dead "fin fish" are allowed to be used in CA.

(d) In addition, except for trout and salmon, fin fish lawfully taken in the following waters by angling or with bait fish methods approved in Section 4.05 may be used only in the waters where taken:
(1) Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay and their tributaries and saltwater tributaries.
(2) Sacramento River and tidewater of tributaries downstream from the Highway 32 bridge near Hamilton City, Feather River downstream from the Oroville Hatchery Fish Barrier Dam, Yuba River downstream from Daguerre Point Dam, and American River downstream from Nimbus Dam.
(3) San Joaquin River and tidewater of tributaries downstream from Interstate 5 bridge.
(e) Live threadfin shad, Mississippi silverside and lamprey may be used only at the location where taken.
(f) Fin fish may not be used in Keller Lake (Glenn Co.), Letts Lake (Colusa Co.), Merced Lake (San Francisco Co.), Upper and Lower Plaskett Meadow Ponds (Glenn Co.), Whale Rock Reservoir (San Luis Obispo Co.).