feeder crickets as bait?

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BIG_ONE;4695508; said:
No it is not legal, any bait home raised or anything out of your tank should not be entering any parts of the water in California. When you buy live crickets from the bait shop, they give you a receipt for a reason so you won't get cited. Been fishing up and down California delta, lakes, rivers, and piers/beaches since the last time I can remember anything dealing with fishing.
If home grown/raised crickets is legal, then that would be to say that home bred bluegill is legal. But no it isn't legal at all so I would highly advise you to be aware with it. The reason why it is not legal because of the fear with some sort of parasites or anything that enter in the water may possible cause some danger into the ecosystem. And they don't know what can possibly enter the water, it can be anything.
One example is the carp disease at Clear Lake a few years back. Fortunately some dumb idiots released a few koi into Clear Lake, which the koi is full of diseases and parasites. Almost every single carp left to right up and down anywhere in the lake you name it. They all died because of a few koi was being released into the lake. Although non of the other species were harm at all, but carp almost went extinct in Clear Lake. Now I go fishing at Clear Lake, the number of carp is dramatically down before the carp killing spree diseases that occurred in Clear Lake.
Please don't get yourself in trouble by the warden for something you thought it is correct. And don't fight back with a warden saying you are right and they wrong, they will pull out the Fish and Game Regulation Book and fight back at you. Unless you know exactly what is being said in the booklet, you can do your thing against warden. Just be aware and don't use anything home bred/raised or even a bluegill you caught at the river/lake that you took home and take it out the next morning.
As far as bluegill goes, the only safe measure is that the bluegill is freeze over night which will get rid most of the dangerous infestation parasites. Keep in mind that certain lake may run its own law in terms of using bluegill as live bait or even for just for bait. Such as Lake Amador, it is illegal to catch a bluegill to use for bait or even bring a frozen bluegill at home to use for bait. I don't know why by the law is the law and no one can override it legally. Happy fishing and tight lines...:D

he is Jamaica man not Commiefornia chill out.
 
likestofish;4695749; said:
he is Jamaica man not Commiefornia chill out.

I'm sorry if it feels offensive just because I point out reasons why it is not legal. But you can get cited for using home bred and raised cricket as bait. And it ain't something you can just go to court, pay your fine and leave as a lesson learned. The cost is going to pull an arm and a leg off from you. From the last time I've heard from a guy being cited for using home bred/raised fathead minnows...$850? Is it worth reading my post and feel like it is impulsive but know that it isn't legal and why it isn't, in return avoiding getting cited. Or rather just get a big fine that you'll regret.
I'm trying to give as much info as anyone can make a mistake when you come across a California Fish and Game Warden and how to avoid it. What should else should I do? :irked:
 
Thanks for the advice, I'll just feed the extras to my cat in the future.

I'm not really from jamaica lol
 
umoa;4695999; said:
pretty sure they are legal but what do i know?


Bluegills are illegal because they are gamefish.

Not really, bluegills are legal around the delta and rivers in California. If your using bluegill as live bait, you can't catch it at one spot and fish it at another spot. It has to be at the same exact area where your fishing at. And one reason is because the fear of transportation any other fish/crustacean that may effect the ecosystem(zebra mussels for example here) or any parasites that the fish may have at that area and it may spread at another.
The reason why I state that in some lakes it is illegal to use is not because they are game fish, but because the lake is not being run by the Fish and Game Warden in terms of California Fishing Regulation. But because the lake is owned by owners and not a public place or government owned. Although Fish and Game Warden still patrol those lake to look for any poachers or illegal fishing, but the play by the rule book is not going to be the same as the delta and river. I hope this is clear...;)
 
You can use crickets as bait...trout love em. ANd why else would bait shops use em? Id use the hekk out of em :)
 
Thanks Big One! You know fishing laws like a fish lawyer!
 
I solely fish the southern district in FW so i automatically assumed OP was also here my bad. You are totally correct about different areas allowing certain baits. Totally blows.:screwy:


but here is the rule re the crickets.


4.00. BAIT-GENERAL
Legally acquired and possessed invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians (except salamanders), fish eggs and treated and processed foods may be used for bait, except:

(a) No species specified as endangered, threatened, candidate, fully-protected, or otherwise protected under state and federal law may be used as bait.
(b) No salamander may be used as bait. See section 5.05 for other amphibians that may be used as bait.
(c) See Section 5.35 for restrictions on crayfish;
(d) See Section 7.50(b)(74) for restriction on bait collecting in Hat Creek;
(e) No trout may be maintained or possessed in a live condition in any container on or attached to any boat;
(f) Except for restrictions listed under special regulations, dead ocean fish may be used as bait statewide. This section supersedes the provisions of sections 4.10, 4.15, 4.20, 4.25 and 4.30.
 
fisher12889;4704844; said:
According to the regs umoa posted, it would be perfectly level to breed your own crickets for bait....

I highly doubt it, there are many things that is not even listed on there. If that's the case, using a goldfish must be legal also? But read it carefully here "Legally acquired and possessed". Just because they are cricket doesn't mean they are legal, or just because they are minnows doesn't mean they are legal. Most DFG Warden doesn't really care to actually try and find out if the bait is home bred/raised or bought from the bait shop. But trust me, there are DFG Wardens who will confirm it regardless if you say you lost the receipt or what not. They will ask you for which bait shop did you buy it from, and will confirm it by sending one of the warden down to that shop(this has happened to me and the bait shop owner confirmed my purchased a few hours before I went out fishing).
I been fishing in the California waters for over 10 years and at least 50/365 days a year. I once fished 208/365 days a year and came through a lot of DFG warden around the area where I fish at. I would suggest you to highly take my advice and not take the risk for an arm and a leg. If you have more question you would like to ask regarding to California FW regulations, feel free to PM me. If not, you can go onto FishSniffers website which is the largest fishing forum known in the West Coast in general. Sign up is free and I'm a proud member on that board with many reports, information and so on. ;)
 
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