I've had no issues taking the kellet's whelk that were in my hoops. The DFG told me as long as they were not taken from inside any MPA's I'm ok. They also said a lot of people catch then in there hoop nets here in SoCal.
To make sure, I sent email to DFG and this is what I got.
Q:
Hello,
I went hoop netting for lobster this weekend at long beach, I saw that there were bunch of kellet's whelk in the hoop net. I didn't know the regulation, so I threw all back, but is it ok to keep those? Any size limits?
A:
Daniel,
According to Chapter 4, subsection 29.10(a) of
the CA Ocean Sportfishing Regulations, "Except as otherwise provided in this article, saltwater mollusks, including octopus, may be taken only on hook-and-line or with the hands," so you did the right thing letting them go as they cannot be caught using hoop nets. When fishing by hand or with hook-and-line, there is no minimum size for Kellet's whelk and the daily bag limit is 35 (Chapter 4, subsection 29.05(a)).
Thank you, and good luck fishing,
CDFW Lobster Management Team,
[email protected]
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Invertebrates/Lobster
You probably are right that many DFG warden just let you go, but I am not taking any chances.
And the link to the youtube on how to clean.
