Cal. FGC § 8780
This is the official text of Cal. FGC § 8780, part of California’s Fish and Game Code — regulates hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Official statutory text
(a) As used in this chapter, the term “bait net” means a lampara or round haul type net, the mesh of which is constructed of twine not exceeding Standard No. 9 medium cotton seine twine or synthetic twine of equivalent size or strength. Notwithstanding Section 8757, except for drum seines and other round haul nets authorized under a permit issued by the department pursuant to this section, the nets may not have rings along the lead line or any method of pursing the bottom of the net.
(b) Bait nets may be used to take fish for bait in Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 19B, 20A, 21, 118, and 118.5.
(c) In District 19A, bait nets may be used only to take anchovies, queenfish, white croakers, sardines, mackerel, squid, and smelt for live bait purposes only. Bait nets may not be used within 750 feet of Seal Beach Pier or Belmont Pier.
(d) No other species of fish may be taken on any boat carrying a bait net in District 19A, except that loads or lots of fish may contain not more than 18 percent, by weight of the fish, of other bait fish species taken incidentally to other fishing operations and that are mixed with other fish in the load or lot.
(b) Bait nets may be used to take fish for bait in Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 19B, 20A, 21, 118, and 118.5.
(c) In District 19A, bait nets may be used only to take anchovies, queenfish, white croakers, sardines, mackerel, squid, and smelt for live bait purposes only. Bait nets may not be used within 750 feet of Seal Beach Pier or Belmont Pier.
(d) No other species of fish may be taken on any boat carrying a bait net in District 19A, except that loads or lots of fish may contain not more than 18 percent, by weight of the fish, of other bait fish species taken incidentally to other fishing operations and that are mixed with other fish in the load or lot.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in California?
Find a California lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.