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Red rock crab held by person.

Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Opens from California/Oregon Border to Humboldt Bay

24 April | by steve.gonzalez@wildlife.ca.gov | 0 Comment

Following a recommendation from state health agencies, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced the reopening of the commercial rock crab fishery in northern California from the California/Oregon border (42° 00.00’ N. Lat.) to the Humboldt Bay entrance at the north jetty (40° 46.15’ N. Lat.). This area has remained closed for nearly a decade following a domoic acid outbreak and lack of sampling effort in subsequent years.

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California Fish and Game Commission: Pintail Limit Raised, Barred Sand Bass Limit Reduced

23 April | by Krysten.Kellum@Wildlife.ca.gov | 0 Comment

Last week, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) increased the northern pintail bag limit to three for the first time in almost 30 years. While population estimates are sufficient to support more pintail hunting opportunities, depleted population estimates for the recreational barred sand bass fishery called for the Commission to reduce a five-fish bag limit to four. The Commission took these and other actions affecting California’s natural resources at its April 16-17 meeting in Sacramento.

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A map of California fishing zones.

Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing Opportunity Continues in Northern Management Area, will Close in Central Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement

21 April | by steve.gonzalez@wildlife.ca.gov | 0 Comment

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced changes to both commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries in the Central Management Area. These changes, which will go into effect at 6 p.m. on May 1, 2025, are intended to minimize entanglement risk as humpback whales return to forage off the coast of California.

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