Outdoors: Scooping up scallops at night OK

Question: Is it legal to dive for scallops at night? I have found in the regulations where it says that clams cannot be taken at night, but I cannot find regulations that apply to scallops. — George B., Newport Beach

Answer: Yes, you can dive for scallops at night. The restriction on digging for clams at night does not apply.

Q: My uncle recently passed away and left me in charge of his estate. One of the items he left is a full size cheetah taxidermy. Is it legal for me to sell it? If not what do you recommend that I do with it? — Michael C., Modesto

A: You are allowed to give it away but you cannot sell or trade it (California Penal Code, section 653o). You might want to contact a museum, service club or local school to see if they may have a use for it.

Q: I am a licensed agent and last year, just two days before the waterfowl season opened, a customer of 25 years came into my store to buy his license. He had experienced a fire in his home the previous summer and had lost some possessions, including his hunting license evidence. I explained that DFG doesn't accept declarations anymore, and I couldn't sell him a license.

I know he had taken the hunter safety course in the past, and hunted since he was a teenager. What would have been the best course of action for the hunter and a license agent in this situation? What can other long-time hunters do if they find themselves in a similar situation? When will DFG accept declarations again? — Kevin Jeffs, San Gabriel

A: It is unlikely that declarations will be accepted again. However, according to DFG analyst Glenn Underwood, there might be something we can do for hunters in this situation. If he applied for waterfowl or big game drawings in the past, we might have his information in our database. The hunter should contact DFG's License and Revenue Branch at (916) 928-5805 and explain what happened. If the division can find proof he had a hunting license in the past, they can update his hunter education status and he will be able to buy a hunting license.

Q: When fishing in a reservoir, can I use live minnows purchased from a bait shop? — Roger L.

A: While moving live fish (or putting live fish into a different body of water from where they originated) is usually illegal, there is an exception. Depending on which district you are fishing, certain species are allowed to be purchased and used as bait, while other species can only be allowed as bait if captured from the specific water you are fishing. Live bait regulations are found starting with Title 14 Section 4 of the California Code of Regulations.

Q: I know you can use as many rods and hooks as you want outside the Golden Gate, but can I use multiple rods to catch striped bass and halibut from the shore? I already know that only one rod can be used for salmon, rockfish and lingcod. I have heard if you have a striped bass or a halibut in possession, then only one rod can be used. Is this true? — Eddie H.

A: Outside the Golden Gate, if you are fishing from shore for halibut and striped bass, you can use as many rods and hooks as you want. If you were to catch a species like salmon or rockfish, however, you would have to release it, as only one line may be used for these species.

Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. Contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.