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California Fishing Regulations

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Minimum Sizes & Fishing Regulations

Freshwater Fishing Regulations in PDF Format
California Fish Diving Records PDF

Species Time Period² Depth Limit² Daily Bag Limit² Size Limit^1,2,3

RCG Complex (includes all species of Rockfish that are not prohibited or restricted, Cabezon and Greenlings as defined in Section 1.91) Open all year Jan-Apr: No depth restrictions May-Dec: May only be taken in less than 180 ft (30 fm) 10 fish in combination per person; see sub-limit for cabezon, greenlings and bocaccio see individual species below

Canary, Cowcod, and Yelloweye Rockfishes CLOSED all year; NO RETENTION NO RETENTION (zero)

Bocaccio Open all year Same as RCG Complex above 2 fish per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit. 10" TL

Black Rockfish Open: Jan-May 15⁵ Jun-Aug; Closed: May 16-May 31⁶, Sep-Dec Jan-Apr: No depth restrictions May 1-May 15, Jun-Aug: May only be taken in less than 180 ft (30 fm) 10 fish per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit. none

Cabezon Open all year Same as RCG Complex above 3 fish per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit 15" TL

Kelp and Rock Greenlings Open all year Same as RCG Complex above 2 fish in combination per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit 12" TL

Lingcod Open: Jan-Oct;
Closed: Nov-Dec Jan-Apr: No depth restrictions May-Oct: May only be taken in less than 180 ft (30 fm) Jan-Mar: 2 fish per person Apr-Oct: 1 fish per person Jan-Mar: 24” total length Apr-Oct: 30" total length

Other Federal Groundfish (click here for a list of regulated species) Open all year Same as RCG Complex above see regulations for individual species see regulations for individual species

Sanddabs⁴ Open all year Jan-Dec: No depth restrictions No bag or possession limit none

1. See regulations for information on gear restrictions and fillet lengths

2. Subject to in-season change. Check the Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd, send an email to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov or call your nearest DFG office for the latest information.

3. Total length is the longest straight-line measurement from the tip of the head with the mouth closed to the end of the longest lobe of the tail. Click here for a measurement method graphic.

4. The sport fishery for sanddabs, using gear specified in federal and state regulations, is exempt from the in-season closures and depth restrictions placed on other federally managed groundfish as of May 1, 2004.

5. The sport fishery for black rockfish is open from May 1 through May 15 in state waters only (from 0 to 3 nautical miles offshore) in less than 180 ft (30 fm).

6. The sport fishery for black rockfish is closed from May 16 through May 31 in federal waters (from 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore) and state waters (from 0 to 3 nautical miles offshore). Black rockfish may not be taken from May 16 through May 31 by shore-based or boat-based anglers, or divers.

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Species Time Period^3,5 Depth Limit³ Daily Bag Limit³ Size Limit^1,3,6

RCG Complex (including all species of Rockfish that are not prohibited or restricted, Cabezon and Greenlings as defined in Section 1.91) Boat-Based Anglers⁵ Open: Jan-Feb, Aug-Oct; Closed: Mar-Apr, May-Jul, Nov-Dec
Shore-Based Anglers, Divers⁵: Open: Jan-Feb, May-Dec; Closed: Mar-Apr Jan-Feb: May only be taken in less than 180 ft (30 fm)²; Aug, Sep, Oct: May only be taken in less than 120 ft (20 fm)² 10 fish in combination; see sub-limits for cabezon, bocaccio and greenlings see individual species and groups below

Canary, Cowcod, and Yelloweye Rockfishes CLOSED ALL YEAR; NO RETENTION NO RETENTION (zero)

Bocaccio Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 1 fish per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit 10“ total length

Cabezon Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 3 fish per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit 15“ total length

Kelp and Rock Greenlings Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 2 fish in combination; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG complex bag limit 12“ total length

California Scorpionfish Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 5 per person 10“ total length

Ocean Whitefish Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 10 per person

California Sheephead Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 5 per person 12“ total length

Lingcod Boat-Based Anglers⁵: Open: Jan-Feb, Aug-Oct; Closed: Mar-Apr, May-Jul, Nov-Dec
Shore-Based Anglers, Divers⁵: Open: Jan-Feb, May-Oct; Closed: Mar-Apr, Nov-Dec Same as RCG Complex above during open season Jan-Mar: 2 fish per person Apr-Oct: 1 fish per person Jan-Mar: 24” total length Apr-Oct: 30" total length

Other Federal Groundfish (click here for a list of regulated species)^{7, 8} Boat-Based Anglers⁵: Open: Jan-Apr, Aug-Oct; Closed: May-Jul, Nov-Dec
Shore-Based Anglers, Divers⁵: Open: Jan-Dec Same as RCG Complex above see regulations for individual species see regulations for individual species

Sanddabs⁷ Open all year Jan-Dec: No depth restrictions No bag or possession limit None

Leopard shark⁸ Boat-Based Anglers⁵ Outside of SF Bay: Open: Jan-Apr, Aug-Oct; Closed: May-Jul, Nov-Dec; Boat-Based Anglers⁵ Inside SF Bay: Open all year Shore-Based Anglers, Divers⁵: Open all year Boat-Based Anglers⁵ Outside of SF Bay: Same as RCG Complex above Inside SF Bay: No depth restrictions
3 fish per person 36” total length

1. See regulations for information on gear restrictions and fillet lengths

2. Around the Farallon Islands and Noonday Rock fishing is prohibited between the shoreline and 60 feet (10 fathoms); fishing is prohibited at Cordell Bank

3. Subject to in-season change. Check the Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd, send an email to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov or call your nearest DFG office for the latest information.

4. Prior to May 1, 2004, the Central Rockfish and Lingcod Management Area included ocean waters between 40°10’ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) and 34° 27’ N. latitude (Point Conception). As of May 1, this area has been split into two sections, the North-Central Section and the South-Central Section, at 36° 00’ North latitude, near Point Lopez in Monterey county.

5. Shore-based anglers and divers are exempt from the May 1 in-season changes shortening the seasons for the RCG complex, lingcod, ocean whitefish, California scorpionfish, California sheephead, and other federally managed groundfish. For the purposes of the May 1 in-season regulation changes, the following definitions describe boat-based and shore-based anglers, and divers:

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.

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.

6. Total length is the longest straight-line measurement from the tip of the head with the mouth closed to the end of the longest lobe of the tail. Click here for a measurement method graphic.

7. The sport fishery for sanddabs, using gear specified in federal and state regulations, is exempt from the in-season closures and depth restrictions placed on other federally managed groundfish as of May 1, 2004.

8. The sport fishery for leopard shark inside San Francisco Bay is exempt from the in-season closures and depth restrictions placed on other federally managed groundfish as of May 1, 2004.


Central Management Area: South-Central Section

Species Time Period^3,5 Depth Limit³ Daily Bag Limit³ Size Limit^1,3,6

RCG Complex (including all species of Rockfish that are not prohibited or restricted, Cabezon and Greenlings as defined in Section 1.91) Boat-Based Anglers⁵: Open: Jan-Feb, May-Jun, Aug-Dec; Closed: Mar-Apr, Jul
Shore-Based Anglers and Divers⁵: Open: Jan-Feb, May-Dec; Closed: Mar-Apr Jan, Feb, May, June, Aug: May only be taken in less than 180 ft (30 fm)²; Sept-Dec: May only be taken in less than 120 ft (20 fm)² 10 fish in combination; see sub-limits for cabezon, greenlings and bocaccio see individual species and groups below

Canary, Cowcod, and Yelloweye Rockfishes CLOSED ALL YEAR; NO RETENTION NO RETENTION (zero)

Bocaccio Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 1 fish per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit 10“ total length

Cabezon Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 3 fish per person; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG Complex bag limit 15“ total length

Kelp and Rock Greenlings Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 2 fish in combination; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG complex bag limit 12“ total length

California Scorpionfish Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 5 per person 10“ total length

Ocean Whitefish Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 10 per person

California Sheephead Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 5 per person 12“ total length

Lingcod Boat-Based Anglers⁵: Open: Jan-Feb, May-Jun, Aug-Oct; Closed: Mar-Apr, Jul, Nov-Dec;
Shore-Based Anglers and Divers⁵: Open: Jan-Feb, May-Oct; Closed: Mar-Apr, Nov-Dec Same as RCG Complex above during open season Jan-Mar: 2 fish per person Apr-Oct: 1 fish per person Jan-Mar: 24” total length Apr-Oct: 30" total length

Other Federal Groundfish (click here for a list of regulated species)⁷ Boat-Based Anglers⁵: Open: Jan-Apr, May-Jun, Aug-Dec; Closed: Jul
Shore-Based Anglers and Divers⁵: Open: Jan-Dec Same as RCG Complex above see regulations for individual species see regulations for individual species

Sanddabs⁷ Open all year Jan-Dec: No depth restrictions No bag or possession limit None

1. See regulations for information on gear restrictions and fillet lengths

2. Around the Farallon Islands and Noonday Rock fishing is prohibited between the shoreline and 60 feet (10 fathoms); fishing is prohibited at Cordell Bank

3. Subject to in-season change. Check the Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd, send an email to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov or call your nearest DFG office for the latest information.

4. Prior to May 1, 2004, the Central Rockfish and Lingcod Management Area included ocean waters between 40°10’ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) and 34° 27’ N. latitude (Point Conception). As of May 1, this area has been split into two sections, the North-Central Section and the South-Central Section, at 36° 00’ North latitude, near Point Lopez in Monterey county.

5. Shore-based anglers and divers are exempt from the May 1 in-season changes shortening the seasons for the RCG complex, lingcod, ocean whitefish, California scorpionfish, California sheephead, and other federally managed groundfish. For the purposes of the May 1 in-season regulation changes, the following definitions describe boat-based and shore-based anglers, and divers:

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.
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.

6. Total length is the longest straight-line measurement from the tip of the head with the mouth closed to the end of the longest lobe of the tail. Click here for a measurement method graphic.

7. The sport fishery for sanddabs, using gear specified in federal and state regulations, is exempt from the in-season closures and depth restrictions placed on other federally managed groundfish as of May 1, 2004.

Southern Management Area

Species Time Period³ Depth Limit³ Daily Bag Limit³ Size Limit^1,3,4

RCG Complex (including all species of Rockfish that are not prohibited, Cabezon and Greenlings as defined in Section 1.91) Open: Mar-Dec;
Closed: Jan-Feb May only be taken in less than 360 feet (60 fathoms)² Sep-Oct: May only be taken in less than 180 feet (30 fathoms)² 10 fish in combination; see sub-limits for cabezon, greenlings and bocaccio see individual species and groups below

Canary, Cowcod, and Yelloweye Rockfishes CLOSED all year; NO RETENTION NO RETENTION (zero)

Cabezon Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 3 fish; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG complex bag limit 15“ total length

Kelp and Rock Greenlings Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 2 fish in combination; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG complex bag limit 12“ total length

Bocaccio Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 1 fish; also included in the 10-fish aggregate RCG complex bag limit 10“ total length

Ocean Whitefish Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 10 per person

California Sheephead Same as RCG Complex above Same as RCG Complex above 5 per person 12“ total length

Lingcod Open: Mar-Oct;
Closed: Jan-Feb, and Nov-Dec Same as RCG Complex above during open season Mar: 2 fish per person Apr-Oct: 1 fish per person Mar: 24” total length Apr-Oct: 30" total length

California Scorpionfish Open: Mar, Apr, Nov, and Dec;
Closed: Jan, Feb, May-Oct Same as RCG Complex above during open season 5 per person 10“ total length

Other Federal Groundfish (click here for a list of regulated species)⁵ Open: Jan-Dec Same as RCG Complex above see regulations for individual species see regulations for individual species

Sanddabs⁵ Open all year Jan-Dec: No depth restrictions No bag or possession limit None

1. See regulations for information on gear restrictions and fillet lengths

2. In the Cowcod Conservation Areas fishing is prohibited in waters greater than 120 feet (20 fathoms).

3. Subject to in-season change. Check the Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd, send an email to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov or call your nearest DFG office for the latest information.

4. Total length is the longest straight-line measurement from the tip of the head with the mouth closed to the end of the longest lobe of the tail. Click here for a measurement method graphic.

5. The sport fishery for sanddabs, using gear specified in federal and state regulations, is exempt from the in-season closures and depth restrictions placed on other federally managed groundfish as of May 1, 2004.

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