While on a recent trip to the California Delta I found myself in the middle of an unfortunate circumstance. It appears that I unknowingly fished in an area that is closed to boat traffic. When situations of this nature happen there are two options. 
The first and most attractive is to hide the mistake and hope other anglers don’t hear about it.
The second option is to step out and make an example of your mistake in the hopes that other anglers can learn from it and not fall into the same situation. With this post I am choosing the later.
Let me begin by stating very clearly that the small stretch of 7 Mile Slough that parallels the East shore of Brannan Island State Park near 3 Mile Slough is closed to boat traffic.
I’m sorry to admit this came as a surprise to me when an officer met me at the Brannan Island launch ramp to discuss where I had been fishing. The officer was understandably upset and I drove home with a hefty ticket in my possession. 
I was quite surprised by the situation as I had never realized this area was closed. There are marked buoys at the mouth of the slough but they appear to clearly define a seperation between the swim beach and a boat lane. No other signage is present but that does not change the fact that despite the appearance, the entire slough is closed.
It seems that if I choose to fish this area again in the future it will be from shore. I hope my error finds each of you before you make a similar mistake.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter. Were you already aware of this off-limits area or does it come as a surprise to you? I hope that through this post we are able to have improved signage placed at the confluence of 3 and 7 mile sloughs to help prevent similar occurances in the future.
8. November 2011 at 2:37 PM
The area in question is closed to motorized boat traffic, I was told even an electric trolling motor would be a violation.
Regarding the closed portion of 7 mile, there is no law against fishing exactly, but there is no public access to do so. Launching from the shore is not allowed on the Brannan side of 7. If you launch and leave your truck, you may find a ticket on it when you return. From a legal perspective, that waterway is a public access, but you cannot tresspass to get to it. You must enter at a public access, or have permission from both the underlying property owner, and the District. Any other access constitutes a tresspass.
28. June 2011 at 8:36 AM
FastLane,
7 mile is very much accessible. You need to find somewhere legitimate to put your pontoon boat in the water but once you’re on water that slough is perfectly legal to fish throughout.
27. June 2011 at 6:24 PM
Hey Matt,
Is 7 Mile Slough also closed? I was there this Sunday, June 26th, 2011 and saw many, many signs saying that the levees of twitchell island are private property and trespassing, hunting, parking and dumping are not allowed. I’m guessing that means fishing as well as you can’t fish without trespassing. I guess that means “NO” to my pontoon boat as well?
What have you heard about 7 Mile Slough itself?
FastLane
8. March 2011 at 7:35 PM
Bummer Matt that you were not aware but yes, all us “locals” know that area’s been off-limits and posted for at least 10-15 yrs. In fact Gabe Bolivar had his day one weight DQ’ed for fishing in there unknowingly during an FLW Tourney about 7 yrs ago. Live and learn and yes they should place the buoys in a more obvious pattern to more clearly block the opening.
Good fishing!
Charley Almassey
22. February 2011 at 5:47 AM
I tried to enlarge your photo to see a clear picture of the buoys. An open diamond with a cross through it is a boat exclusion area. it looks like the buoys have diamonds however I cannot see the cross’. An open diamond is a danger area.
Every boater has the responsibility to know the Coast Guard buoy designations if you boat.
Here is a link with some good information for those who are unaware of the designations.
Good Luck!
http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/reviewpages/boatusf/project/info5d.htm
13. February 2011 at 11:28 PM
I fished that exact spot a few weeks back and never realized it was off limits….until now. Thanks for the heads up
13. February 2011 at 7:32 PM
Thank you for the info. My husband fishes there from time to time, I will make sure he never does again in the future!
13. February 2011 at 6:22 PM
I have fished a large portion of the delta and also agree that there are portions of the delta that are not marked well. They need to improve signage in several different areas, 7 mile slough included.
13. February 2011 at 5:46 PM
The only reason I know it is off limits is because I was told by a fellow fisherman. I agree. If is off limits to boats, it should be clearly marked as such.
13. February 2011 at 4:50 PM
Matt, I’m sorry to hear about the ticket. Thank you for making sure no one else gets stuck in the same situation.
13. February 2011 at 3:48 PM
Matt
Sorry to hear that!! I haven’t been out that way in years but it was not too well marked then!!!
13. February 2011 at 2:56 PM
If you have the time, I’d take some photos and a copy of any maps you use. This sounds like a ticket you can fight. It probably is supposed to be off limits, and signed but maybe its not in Ca’s budget or maybe its part of it plan for revenue.
13. February 2011 at 1:13 PM
Wow, really sorry to hear about that Matt. I’ve never fished in there, but have never seen nor heard about it being off limits… you’d think clear signs would be in order if they wish to ticket you.. how hard would it be to have a giant white sign on the levee or in the middle saying no fishing…?
Hope things get worked out
13. February 2011 at 12:16 PM
I agree that this spot as well as many others on the Ca Delta are not marked well enough. If they are off limits,they need to say so.
13. February 2011 at 11:58 AM
I did not know that, thanks for the heads up Matt.
13. February 2011 at 10:32 AM
My husband and I have fished around there and had no idea. thanks for sharing…
13. February 2011 at 10:28 AM
Thanks for sharing. The area is poorly marked, I’ll make sure not to go in there.
13. February 2011 at 9:33 AM
Been in that area many times. I have also seen numerous boats there. I never recall seeing anything posted. You would think they would post signs or put a log boom across that area. Thanks for letting us know.
13. February 2011 at 6:25 AM
That sucks. If no signs were posted that it is a no boating zone then there needs to be one. How can you be charged with a crime when you don’t know it is a crime.
13. February 2011 at 1:43 AM
Wow Matt… I’m really sorry that they gave you a ticket. It’s very unclear there, and I have been there myself. In fact, there were several boats in there at that time, and I would have never guessed that it was an off limits area completely. There needs to be something done to circumvent this problem. Seems almost a crime to recieve a fine with it still being marked so poorly.
13. February 2011 at 12:13 AM
Matt I know this area you speak of. I had no idea that this area was closed. Thanks for the notice and I hope they make it more obvious that this area is closed. Usually places closed to boating have log booms or some kind of barrier across the closed area. Thanks for the info!
12. February 2011 at 10:45 PM
Matt,
That is really unfortunate. I do know the area and have seen the signs. They are very unclear as to what is off limits. I have always thought it was the swim beach that is off limits and not the slough itself. Someone really needs to step up and make better signage out there so more good folks like your self arent accidentally fishing it and getting ticketed because there arent proper signs. Just my opinion!
12. February 2011 at 10:28 PM
I didn’t know that area was closed, maybe CA should POST A SIGN!!! If they’re going to give a ticket for going in there. thank for the heads up.
12. February 2011 at 9:33 PM
wow you’d think if they didnt want you in there they would put bueys across it instead of down the middle. I’ve seen it in person and it simply does not make sense where you can and cant be. thanks for posting i will inform my local community so they will not make the same mistake…
12. February 2011 at 9:23 PM
I’ve fished in there numerous times i had no idea! i’ve never had anyone say anything to me while i was in there. Not really marked seems like its navigable water but i guess not. I really appreciate you sharing this so we dont make the same mistake.
12. February 2011 at 9:22 PM
Matt Leverich,
First and foremost WHATS UP MAN! On to business The Coast Guard does not circumvent state laws regarding areas you can and can not fish unless it is in the U.S. EEZ off the coastline. Second if the waterway is not used for shipping the Coast Guard usually supports state law but does not enforce it. Hope this makes sense. Hit me up on FaceBook.
12. February 2011 at 9:22 PM
It’s a swim area but I’ve fished it from a canoe, and in front of park personnel. While I don’t remember the exact wording of the signage, it said something to the effect of being off limits to power boats.
12. February 2011 at 8:54 PM
Matt,
That sucks!!!!! I hope the case is thrown out. It is very difficult to see where you can and can’t fish in this area. I too have fished in there without realizing I was doing something wrong. Thank you for informing me so that I don’t do it again. Best of luck!
12. February 2011 at 8:52 PM
I have never heard of any closed waters in that area to boaters. To avoid confusion, there should be a sign with specific instructions warning boaters to keep out of the area. Or, the bouys should atleast be arranged in a blatantly OBVIOUS manner so that a boater has a clearly defined view of what’s closed and open. I had this happen once a few years back in Florida where I blew through a Manatee zone due to vague signage. I had absolutely no idea I was in violation until I got stopped and ticketed one day, which sounds like the same type of situation you faced.
12. February 2011 at 8:50 PM
Matt,
Great write up … They need to improve the signs there for sure… I had heard that area was off limits from dock talk but until I had to find a park ranger and question a DFG I knew and explain the area to them did they then tell me it was off limits . If I would have just went in there with out hearing the dock talk I could have been in violation myself … Thanks for keeping us informed ..
12. February 2011 at 8:38 PM
i thought all the delta was navigatable water? i thought there were no places in the delta that are off limits? What did the coast guard have to say about this citation? Either way, there should be better signage posting off limit areas. Good luck SuperMatt
12. February 2011 at 8:31 PM
Thanks for writing this Blog. With no signs posted I almost went in there fishing. I had another angler in the area shout at me. I respected his advice….but to this day have never seen a no fishing sign there. Wierd.