Laws and Regulations

Sport Fishermen, check out our easy-to-use California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Map. Simply click the portion of the California coast where you plan to fish, and you will access a summary of current Sport Fishing Regulations for that area.

Learn more about this 21 pound 5 ounce Pacific bonito and other California record ocean sportfish.

For Current Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations, call
(831) 649-2801.

For Current Ocean Salmon Regulations, call
(707) 576-3429.

A new fishing incentive and recognition program to highlight and promote fishing throughout the state. Pick up your free copy of the California Fishing Passport book listing 150 different popular fresh and saltwater finfish and shellfish that occur throughout the state. Try to catch one of every species listed, and you will receive stamps in your passport book documenting each achievement.

Lost fishing gear - both commercial and recreational - sits on the seafloor, gets caught on rocks, and floats in the water column. Lost gear can remain in the marine environment for years, harming habitats and continuing to catch fish and invertebrates.

Please report sightings of lost recreational and commercial fishing gear. Anonymous reports are accepted.

1-888-491-GEAR or www.lostfishinggear.org