One of the main goals of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) Groundfish Project is to manage groundfish stocks sustainably, based on state or federally mandated harvest limits. Each year, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) sets the harvest limits for all federally defined stocks based on the respective stock assessments, rebuilding plans, and harvest control rules. Regulations are designed to allow fishing up to, but not exceeding, the established harvest limits. Some species are more challenging to manage because the amount of allowable harvest is very small, with the most common (but not the only) factors being:
- A federal overfished designation – The size of the population is smaller than the overfished threshold.
- The stock is in the precautionary zone – The population size is below the target for sustainable fishing, but isn't formally declared overfished.
- Overfishing – The population has experienced an unsustainable rate of harvest.
- Risk sensitivity – The population is particularly sensitive to one or more of these factors due to its unique life history, population structure, history of being overfished/overfishing, or environmental changes or pressures. Additionally, a high degree of uncertainty or lack of data for the stock can make fishing sustainably a challenge.
Species of concern include those on the federal Overfished and Overfishing Lists that extend into California by their stock definition, but can also include additional species as the factors above indicate. Managing federal species of concern requires close harvest monitoring with regard to the harvest limit. Management measures (or regulations) that help keep harvest mortality within the limit typically include prohibiting or limiting angler retention of the species, limiting fishing during spawning seasons, or limiting harvest in depths or areas where the species are primarily found.
Effective fisheries management strives to balance accessing healthy stocks while rebuilding depleted stocks, which can be complicated for rockfish species since they co-occur in similar depths, regions and habitats. Additionally, the list of species of concern can and does change over time, with species being removed or added to the list as a result of new information. CDFW Groundfish Project staff work to monitor all groundfish species, with special attention on species of concern, and publish reports on estimated harvest, which are compared to the harvest limits on the PFMC website. A complete report on groundfish harvest for the year is usually published in the following year's PFMC March meeting briefing book. For example, the CDFW report on 2024 groundfish harvest was posted in March 2025. You can find a selection of recent CDFW harvest reports in the list of resources below.
Anglers can help reduce the mortality of species of concern by:
- Using a descending device (current state regulations require that one be available onboard per Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 27.20(b)(2))
- Properly handling fish that are to be released
- Accurately reporting catches and encounters to California Recreational Fishery Survey samplers
- Knowing and abiding by all fishing regulations
- Being able to distinguish species of concern from other rockfish
Being a responsible angler minimizes mortality on these stocks of concern, so that fishing opportunities on healthy stocks may continue. All anglers can do their part to help. By reading and understanding the information in the following resources, recreational anglers can help ensure future fishing opportunities.
- Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations
This regularly updated web page provides a summary of area-specific groundfish seasons, bag/size limits, and other regulations.
- Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations
This booklet provides a comprehensive source of information on recreational fishing regulations.
- Nearshore Rockfish of California
This flyer lists identifying features that can be used to differentiate between nearshore rockfish species.
- Yelloweye Rockfish, Vermilion/Sunset Rockfish, and Canary Rockfish ID Flyer
This flyer lists identifying features that can be used to differentiate between yelloweye rockfish, vermilion/sunset rockfish, and canary rockfish.
- Quillback Rockfish, Copper Rockfish, and Gopher Rockfish ID Flyer
This flyer lists identifying features that can be used to differentiate between quillback rockfish, copper rockfish, and gopher rockfish.
- Quillback Rockfish, China Rockfish, and Black-and-Yellow Rockfish ID Flyer
This flyer lists identifying features that can be used to differentiate between quillback rockfish, China rockfish, and black-and-yellow rockfish.
- Copper Rockfish, Canary Rockfish, and Gopher Rockfish ID Flyer
This flyer lists identifying features that can be used to differentiate between copper rockfish, canary rockfish, and gopher rockfish.
- Select CDFW Inseason Reports on Groundfish Harvest in California
These reports detail estimated groundfish harvest in comparison to the harvest limits for recent years. Complete reports for additional years can typically be found in the following year's PFMC March briefing book. Progress reports are also posted throughout the year.
- Rockfish and Barotrauma: Bring That Rockfish Down!
A brochure with tips and techniques for successfully releasing rockfish suffering barotrauma injuries.
- Contact Us
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact our Marine Region staff at AskMarine@wildlife.ca.gov, or the Groundfish Project at Groundfish@wildlife.ca.gov.