VALLEY

Question: I support the work of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and want to congratulate and say thank you for all your services. However, I was watching an episode of "Wild Justice" recently and something didn't seem right about the way the game wardens carried out a couple of operations. On the show, game wardens busted a poacher with 42 abalone.

VALLEY

Question: I have a question about safely bringing large halibut onboard. Because the Pacific halibut caught in Alaska are often over 100 pounds, deckhands use pistols or small shotguns to kill the fish before bringing them on board. This is to prevent the fish from causing damage or hurting anyone once on the deck. Would this method be legal to use in California ocean waters with large fish? Of course, the fish would already be "landed" by first being gaffed. Is it even legal to carry a pistol while fishing on a private boat near shore? — Timothy B., Morro Bay

VALLEY

VALLEY

Question: I heard this asked on the radio last season while fishing for salmon in Monterey. The answers from mostly experienced and knowledgeable anglers were mixed. No one seemed to be certain.

Half Dome cables day-use permits for the 2013 hiking season will be available by reservation starting Friday through March 31.

Fishing Report 2/27/13

Fishing Report: 2/20/13

Question: Why do lobster report cards run calendar year (January to December) instead of from the beginning of the season (October) to the end (March)? It would be less labor-intensive and more accurate to receive landing data once a year rather than twice a year, and you wouldn't be charging fishermen double to be able to fish the full season.

Question: What's the latest on the special big-game tags this year? Will any new tags be available via the random drawing system?

Question: A friend told me state Fish and Wildlife fish hatcheries are now producing and stocking triploid fish. Is this true?

This week I asked a few people to play a word association game with "Napa." The most frequent responses were: "wine," "wineries," "grapes," "romantic," and "vacation." A few others turned up: "Snobby" and "wine snobs."

Modesto-area fishing report