California Code, Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8370

(a) Any striped bass, salmon, or sturgeon, if alive, that is taken in any type of net in any district shall be immediately liberated from the net by the fishermen and immediately returned to the water without further harm.

(b) Any striped bass, salmon, or sturgeon that is taken in any type of nets in any district shall be removed from the net by the fisherman and immediately returned to the water, regardless of the condition of the fish.

(c) The holder of a commercial fishing license shall not have in his or her possession, except when releasing fish from the net, any striped bass, salmon, or sturgeon, whether dead or alive, at any time when conducting netting operations or when going to or from those operations.

(d) Fish returned to the water in accordance with this section is not deterioration, waste, or spoilage of fish for purposes of Section 7704.