Contact Information
Main Office: 21 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100
Monterey, CA 93940
Information: (831) 649-2870, AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov
Regional Manager:
Marija Vojkovich
Executive Secretary:
Sherrie Vicario
(562) 342-7107
Marine Region Ocean Fishing California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Map Current Ocean Fishing Regulations: Oregon Border to the 40°10' LineCurrent California Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations
Northern Management Area: 42°00 N. Latitude (Oregon Border) to 40°10 N. Latitude (near Cape Mendocino in Humboldt County)
(Includes all of Del Norte County and most of Humboldt County)
This summary of current regulations was updated on January 1, 2012.
Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks and other manmade objects connected to the shore.
Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object.
Boat-based anglers are fishermen angling from boats or vessels of any size or any other type of floating object, including kayaks and float tubes.
Important Information
- The recreational fisheries for lingcod, rockfish, sub-groups of rockfish, California scorpionfish, cabezon, kelp and rock greenlings, California sheephead, ocean whitefish and other federal groundfish may close early if the annual harvest guideline for any one specie or species group is met or is expected to be met prior to the end of the year.
- Check this website, call the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline at (831) 649-2801, send an e-mail to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov, or call the nearest DFG office for the latest information (Note: Your questions sent to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov, and the Department's response, may be posted on the Internet or published in periodicals to help others with similar questions. If you do not wish your question to be used in this manner, please indicate this in your email).
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The recreational fishery for rockfish (Sebastes sp.) is open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. The fishery is closed to boat-based anglers as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 12, 2012 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). These species may only be taken or possessed3 in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of all species within the RCG Complex (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings) per person, with a sub-limit on bocaccio (2 per person, minimum size limit of 10 inches total length, also included in the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit). Yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, bronzespotted rockfish, and cowcod may not be retained (bag limit: zero).
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
The recreational fishery for cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) is open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. The fishery is closed to boat-based anglers as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 12, 2012 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Cabezon may only be taken or possessed3 in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 3 fish within the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings), with a minimum size limit of 15 inches total length. Note that new regulations require anglers to use no more than one line and two hooks for cabezon– same as rockfish and lingcod.
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
Kelp Greenling and Rock Greenling
The recreational fishery for kelp and rock greenlings (Hexagrammos spp.) is open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. The fishery is closed to boat-based anglers as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 12, 2012 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Greenlings may only be taken or possessed3 in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 2 fish within the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings), with a minimum size limit of 12 inches total length. Note that new regulations require anglers to use no more than one line and two hooks for kelp greenling and rock greenling– same as rockfish and lingcod.
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
The recreational fishery for lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. The fishery is closed to boat-based anglers as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 12, 2012 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Lingcod may only be taken or possessed3 in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 2 fish, with a minimum size limit of 22 inches total length.
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
The recreational fishery for leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. The fishery inside Humboldt Bay is open to boat-based anglers year-round. The fishery outside of Humboldt Bay is closed to boat-based anglers as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 12, 2012 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Leopard sharks may only be taken or possessed3 in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 3 fish with a minimum size limit of 36 inches total length.
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
Soupfin Shark and Spiny Dogfish
The recreational fisheries for soupfin shark (Galeorhinus zyopterus) and spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) are open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. These fisheries are closed to boat-based anglers as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 12, 2012 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). These species may only be taken or possessed3 in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The bag and possession limit for soupfin shark is one fish with no minimum size limit. The daily bag and possession limit for spiny dogfish is 10 fish within the 20-fish general bag limit, and there is no minimum size limit.
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
All Other Federally Managed Groundfish and Associated State-Managed Species1
The recreational fisheries for all other federally managed groundfish and associated state-managed species1 are open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. These fisheries are closed to boat-based anglers as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 12, 2012 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). These species may only be taken or possessed3 in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. Refer to the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for size limits, bag limits and other regulations pertaining to these species.
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
Open all year, except that white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) may not be taken or possessed at any time. The bag limits for sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) and sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) allow take of one fish per day with no size limit. The bag limits for shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus), and blue shark (Prionace glauca) allow take of two fish per day with no size limit.
Pacific Sanddab and Other Flatfish
The recreational fishery is open year-round to all anglers and divers2 for the following species: Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus), butter sole (Isopsetta isolepis), curlfin sole (Pleuronichthys decurrens), flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon), rex sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus), rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata), and sand sole (Psettichthys melanostictus). Refer to the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for size limits, bag limits and other regulations pertaining to these species.
View a summary of groundfish regulations.
The recreational fishery for California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) remains open year round. The daily bag and possession limit is three fish north of Point Sur, Monterey County. The minimum size limit is 22 inches total length.
The recreational fishery for surfperch (family Embiotocidae) is open year-round. The daily bag and possession limit is 20 fish in combination of all species (except shiner perch), with not more than 10 fish of any one species. Shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata) have a separate bag and possession limit of 20 fish. Redtail surfperch (Amphistichus rhodoterus) have a minimum size limit of 10 1/2 inches total length.
Identification Guide: Common Surfperches of California
The recreational fishery for white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) remains open all year. The daily bag and possession limit is one fish that must be between 46 inches and 66 inches total length. The annual limit is three (3) sturgeon per person. Short or oversized sturgeon must be released unharmed immediately. The sturgeon must voluntarily take the bait or lure in its mouth. No sturgeon may be taken by trolling, snagging, or by the use of firearms. Sturgeon may not be gaffed, nor shall any person use any type of firearm to assist in landing or killing any sturgeon. Any person fishing for sturgeon shall have in their possession a non-transferable Sturgeon Fishing Report Card and complete it in accordance with Section 27.90, Title 14 California Code of Regulations.
Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) may not be taken or possessed at any time.
See the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for complete sturgeon information.
The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is open from November 5, 2011 through July 30, 2012. The daily bag limit is 10 crab. Both male and female crab may be taken in the sport fishery, and the minimum size limit is 5 3/4 inches. Recreational crabbing is not allowed from vessels licensed for commercial Dungeness crab fishing. Review crab measurement methods and the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet for more Dungeness crab fishing information.
View additional information about Dungeness crab and other species of crab.
The recreational season for California sea mussel (Mytilus californianus) and bay mussel (Mytilus trossulus) remains open year-round. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 pounds (in the shell) of California sea mussels and bay mussels in combination.
Note that the California Department of Public Health monitors and annually quarantines mussels to prevent human cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning and domoic acid poisoning.The quarantine is usually in effect from May through October, and applies only to sport-harvested mussels intended for human consumption. For updated information on quarantines and naturally-occurring shellfish toxins, call the California Department of Public Health's Shellfish Bio-toxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.
See the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet for complete regulations, including regulations for species not covered here.
NOTE - The Department may modify the seasons, depth constraints, bag limits or size limits for any species of federally-managed groundfish, California sheephead, ocean whitefish and greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos. Check this website regularly or call the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline ((831) 649-2801) for the latest information.
The recreational fishery for ocean salmon is closed statewide as of October 31, 2011 for the remainder of the year. The 2012 season for ocean waters north of Horse Mountain will be decided in April 2012 by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the California Fish and Game Commission.
For more ocean salmon fishery information, please visit the Summary of California Ocean Salmon Seasons web page.
For 2011 salmon management information, please visit the Pacific Fishery Management Council website.
For news, articles and images related to California's salmon fisheries, visit the Salmon Fishery Information web page.
The recreational fishery for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is closed as of November 1, 2011 and will reopen on May 1, 2012.
The recreational fishery for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) is closed from December 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012, and will reopen on April 1, 2012. For proposed changes to recreational red abalone fishing regulations that are under review for the 2012 season, see the Fish and Game Commission web page. For more information, visit the Invertebrate Management Project web page.
Some marine protected areas restrict or prohibit sport fishing. Please visit the MLPA website for more information.
For complete regulation information, see the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations.