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Landing a big fish from a pier

With a big halibut or ray on the line, the hard part is the last few feet up to the rail. Here are the tools for it, and the rules California sets for each.

First rule: hook it first

  • Fish are caught on hook and line. A net or gaff only helps land a fish that has already taken the hook; using one to catch the fish isn't allowed.

    14 CCR §28.65 · CDFW, General Ocean Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “Except as provided in this article, fin fish may be taken only on hook-and-line or by hand.”

Drop net (pier net)

A wide hoop net on a rope. Lower it to the water, lead the tired fish over it with your rod, and lift it up hand over hand. It's safer than a gaff for any fish you plan to release.

Gaff

A hook on a pole or a rope, set into the fish to lift it. It wounds the fish, so only gaff one you've already measured as legal and plan to keep.

  • Never gaff a fish shorter than its minimum size. Any hook used to land a fish that didn't bite it counts as a gaff.

    14 CCR §28.65(e) · CDFW, General Ocean Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “No gaff hook shall be used to take or assist in landing any finfish shorter than the minimum size limit. For the purpose of this section a gaff hook is any hook with or without a handle used to assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth.”

Hoop net

A baited net set on the bottom and pulled straight up. It's for lobster and crabs, not for landing fish.

  • Hoop nets may take only spiny lobster and crabs. Each ring is 10 to 36 inches across inside.

    14 CCR §29.80(b) · CDFW, Invertebrate Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “Hoop nets may be used to take spiny lobsters and all species of crabs. … each ring measuring no greater than 36 inches in inside diameter nor less than 10 inches in inside diameter”

  • Pull every net up and check it at least every 2 hours.

    14 CCR §29.80(b)(2)–(3) · CDFW, Invertebrate Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “The owner or operator of a hoop net shall raise the hoop net to the surface and inspect the contents of the hoop net at intervals not to exceed 2 hours. … It is unlawful to abandon or leave unchecked a hoop net for more than 2 hours.”

  • On a public pier, use at most 2 rods, hand lines, or crab nets and traps.

    14 CCR §28.65(b) · CDFW, General Ocean Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “On public piers, no person shall use more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets, traps or other appliances used to take crabs.”

  • For lobster south of Point Arguello, the limit is 5 hoop nets per person.

    14 CCR §29.80(b)(4)(A) · CDFW, Invertebrate Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “not more than five hoop nets shall be possessed or deployed by a person”

  • A net dropped from a pier or jetty needs no surface buoy. The buoy rule is for nets set from boats.

    14 CCR §29.80(b)(5) · CDFW, Invertebrate Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “All hoop nets shall be marked with a surface buoy except those hoop nets deployed by persons on shore or manmade structures connected to the shore.”

  • South of Point Arguello, no hoop nets in the 24 hours before lobster season opens.

    14 CCR §29.80(b)(6) · CDFW, Invertebrate Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “Hoop nets shall not be deployed and used in ocean waters south of Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County, during the 24-hour period prior to the opening of the recreational spiny lobster season.”

  • Measure each lobster right away and put back any short one at once.

    14 CCR §29.90 · CDFW, Invertebrate Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “All lobsters shall be measured immediately and any undersize lobster shall be released immediately into the water. … Hoop netters may measure lobsters out of the water, but no undersize lobster may be placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person's possession or under his or her direct control.”

  • Carry a Spiny Lobster Report Card whenever you fish for lobster.

    14 CCR §29.90(d) · CDFW, Invertebrate Fishing Regulations ↗

    CDFW's words

    “Any person fishing for or taking spiny lobster shall have in their possession a non-transferable Spiny Lobster Report Card”

Never gaff or haul up

Some piers post their own rules; check the signs. Quotes are word for word from CDFW's General Ocean and Invertebrate fishing regulations (Title 14, California Code of Regulations), read Nov 2, 2026.