Current California Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations

Morro Bay South-Central Management Area: The 36°00' Line (near Lopez Point) to Point Conception
(includes a portion of Monterey County, all of San Luis Obispo County, and a portion of Santa Barbara County)

This summary of current regulations was updated on May 15, 2009.

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Click on a fishery below for more detailed information. What's Open Rockfish Cabezon Kelp and Rock Greenlings Lingcod California Sheephead California Scorpionfish Ocean Whitefish Leopard Shark Soupfin Shark and Spiny Dogfish Other Federally-managed groundfish and associated state-managed species Sharks (State-managed) Pacific Sanddab and "Other Flatfish" California Halibut White Seabass Surfperch Dungeness Crab Other species Partial Closure* None at this time What's Closed Ocean Salmon Abalone * Partial closure enforced by fishing mode (diver, boat-based, shore-based). For more information, read below.   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 that fish from boats or vessels of any size or any other type of floating object, including kayaks and float tubes.

Important Note - 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 web site, 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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What's Open:

Rockfish

The recreational fishery for rockfish (Sebastes sp.) is open year-round to divers² and shore-based anglers. The fishery is open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). These species may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 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).

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

Cabezon

The recreational fishery for cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) is open year-round to divers² and shore-based anglers. The fishery is open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Cabezon may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 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 15 inches total length.

Click here for 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 open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Greenlings may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 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.

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

Lingcod

The recreational fishery for lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is open to all anglers and divers² as of May 1, 2009. For boat-based anglers, the fishery will run through November 15, 2009; for shore-based anglers and divers², the fishery will run through November 30, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Lingcod may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 2 fish, with a minimum size limit of 24 inches total length.

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

California Sheephead

The recreational fishery for California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) is open year-round to divers² and shore-based anglers. The fishery is open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). California sheephead may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 5 fish with a minimum size limit of 12 inches total length.

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

California Scorpionfish (a.k.a. sculpin)

The recreational fishery for California scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata) is open year-round to divers² and shore-based anglers. The fishery is open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section).  California scorpionfish may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 5 fish with a minimum size limit of 10 inches total length.

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

Ocean Whitefish

The recreational fishery for ocean whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps) is open year-round to divers² and shore-based anglers only. The fishery is open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Ocean whitefish may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish with no minimum size limit.

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

Leopard Shark

The recreational fishery for leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is open year-round to divers² and shore-based anglers. The fishery is open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). Leopard sharks may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 3 fish with a minimum size limit of 36 inches total length.

Click here for 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 open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section).  These species may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 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 ten fish with no minimum size limit.

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

Sharks (State-managed)

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"³

The recreational fishery for Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) and "other flatfish³" is open year-round to all anglers and divers². Refer to the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for size limits, bag limits and other regulations pertaining to these species.

Click here for 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 open to boat-based anglers from May 1, 2009 through November 15, 2009 (see important NOTE at the end of this section). These species may only be taken or possessed⁴ in waters less than 240 feet (40 fathoms) deep.  Refer to the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for size limits, bag limits and other regulations pertaining to these species.

Click here for a summary of groundfish regulations.

California Halibut

The recreational fishery for California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) remains open year round. The daily bag and possession limit is five fish south of Point Sur, Monterey County. The minimum size limit is 22 inches total length.

White Seabass

The recreational fishery for white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) remains open year round. The daily bag and possession limit is three fish except that only one fish may be taken in waters south of Point Conception between March 15 and June 15. The minimum size limit is 28 inches total length or 20 ½ inches alternate length.

Surfperch

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.

Dungeness Crab

The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is open from November 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The daily bag limit is 10 crab, and the minimum size limit is 5 3/4 inches (Other size and bag limits apply in certain areas when fishing from a commercial passenger fishing vessel or "party boat"). Review crab measurement methods and Section 29.85 in the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet for more Dungeness crab fishing information.

View additional information about Dungeness crab and other species of crab.

Other Species

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 Web site regularly or call the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline ((831) 649-2801) for the latest information.

 

What's Closed:

Ocean Salmon

The recreational fishery for ocean salmon is closed south of Horse Mountain, Humboldt County during 2009 to protect Sacramento River fall Chinook. In 2010, the area south of Horse Mountain is scheduled to open for recreational salmon fishing on Saturday, April 3. There is a possibility the season will be closed by emergency action from the Pacific Fishery Management Council and California Fish and Game Commission in March 2010.

For more ocean salmon fishery information, please visit the Summary of 2009 California Ocean Salmon Seasons Web page.

For 2009 salmon management information, please visit the Pacific Fishery Management Council Web site.

For answers to frequently asked questions about California’s salmon fisheries, visit the Salmon News & FAQ page.

Abalone

The recreational fishery for abalone (Haliotis sp.) is closed year-round south of the mouth of San Francisco Bay.

Existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Click here for information on existing MPAs in this region.

For complete regulation information, see the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations.

 

¹ Associated state managed species include cabezon, greenlings, California sheephead and ocean whitefish.

² Except for spearfishing gear, all other types of fishing gear are prohibited to be aboard a vessel or non-motorized watercraft while spearfishing for the purpose of retaining federal groundfish and associated state managed species during a seasonal closure affecting boat-based anglers.

³ In closed areas or during closed periods, Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus), and "other flatfish" as defined in Section 1.91(a)(10): 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), may be taken.

⁴ These species may be possessed aboard vessels that are transiting deeper waters only when all fishing gear is stowed.