Editorial Methodology
RigMyFish separates practical setup guidance from legal fishing regulations. Rig measurements, diagrams, knot instructions, and bait-presentation explanations are educational guidance. Season and regulation statements are checked against primary agency sources when they are included.
1. Match the fishing situation first
Recommendations begin with where the angler is fishing—surf, pier, jetty, boat, kayak, river, or lake—then narrow by species. This avoids recommending a technically valid rig that does not fit the actual platform or water conditions.
2. Keep measurements explicit
Whenever possible, rig pages specify line class, leader material and length, hook range, sinker type and weight, swivel, and spacing. If conditions can change the number, the page treats the range as a starting point rather than a universal rule.
3. Prefer primary sources for seasons and rules
California saltwater season and regulation context is checked against California Department of Fish and Wildlife resources. Federal or interstate information is checked against the relevant agency when applicable. Current regulations always override any summary on this site.
4. Review corrections openly
When a source changes or a species page needs correction, the goal is to update the page and its review date rather than preserve an outdated statement. Guides display an editorial review date so readers can judge freshness.
5. Avoid pretending technique is law
A recommended hook, leader, or sinker is a practical starting point, not a legal regulation unless explicitly labeled as one. Before keeping fish, anglers should verify current size limits, bag limits, seasons, area closures, and marine protected areas.
6. Treat visual references as educational, not legal identification
Rig and habitat visuals are built to explain setup and structure. Species images are illustrative reference visuals and are not a substitute for an official fish-identification resource when identification affects retention, size, bag limits, or protected-species rules. Use CDFW identification and regulation resources before keeping a fish.
7. Separate tide data from the fishing-conditions score
NOAA tide predictions are displayed as tide data. The separate fishing-conditions indicator combines tide movement with available wind, wave, swell, and light-timing model data as a general planning aid. It is not a bite guarantee and it is not a marine-safety forecast.