CDFW News

CDFW Releases Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools

Fri, 22 May 2026 13:47:49 GMT

CDFW Releases Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce the launch of new digital tools to track the recreational and commercial in-season harvests of ocean salmon.

The new tools, available at CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information page, will allow recreational anglers to easily track the number of salmon caught and number of salmon remaining under each regional harvest guideline. In-season management allows fishery managers to close salmon seasons early should harvest guidelines be reached.

With recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing seasons underway, anglers may be interested in knowing how much catch has accrued, and when fisheries in each area will close.

“We’re excited to give salmon anglers the data they need to better plan their fishing seasons while at the same time leveraging technology to support in-season management and sustainable fisheries,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel.

Sport anglers can expect to see updates to the recreational catch tracker twice a month throughout the duration of the salmon season. Recreational catch estimates are calculated based on half-month sample periods, broken out into the first half and second half of each month. The recreational catch tracker will be updated following the conclusion of each sample period. Updates may become more frequent when total catch is approaching a harvest guideline. Any notices of fishery closures will be posted on the page when they are determined.

The 2026 recreational ocean salmon fishery opened in the Monterey area south of Pigeon Point (37°11’ N. Latitude) to the U.S.-Mexico border on April 11. Opening day for the California Klamath Management Zone and Fort Bragg area (from the California/Oregon Border south to Point Arena, 38° 57.5’ N. Latitude) is June 13, and the San Francisco (Point Arena to Pigeon Point) area will open June 27. Each fishing area is managed under a regional specific harvest guideline. Fishing will continue through scheduled open periods between June and August or until the harvest guideline is reached, whichever occurs first. Fishing will reopen in September for a portion of the San Francisco area and in the Monterey area under a separate fall harvest guideline.

Anglers are always advised to check for updated information when planning an ocean salmon fishing trip. Season dates, bag limits, possession rules and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information page. Public notification of any in-season change to regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (800) 662-9825 or the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429.

Annual state regulations for ocean salmon automatically conform to federal regulations set by NMFS using the process described in Section 1.95(b)(2), Title 14, California Code of Regulations. Federal regulations for ocean salmon fisheries off California were published in the Federal Register (91 FR 29092) on May 19, 2026, and took effect on May 16, 2026.

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Kandice Morgenstern, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 494-4621
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714 

San Francisco and Mendocino California Recreational Groundfish ‘Offshore-Only’ Season and Northern ‘All-Depth’ Season Opens May 15

Fri, 12 May 2023 16:40:13 GMT

The recreational groundfish “offshore-only” season will open on May 15, 2023 in the San Francisco (Point Arena to Pigeon Point) and Mendocino (Cape Mendocino to Point Arena) Groundfish Management Areas (GMA) where, for the first time in over two decades, anglers can enjoy fishing for groundfish in deeper offshore waters. The new “offshore-only” season will be in effect seaward (away from land) of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line, defined by a series of straight lines connecting specific coordinates. This change will provide access to healthy deeper water shelf (PDF) and slope (PDF) rockfish species and lingcod while prohibiting the take and/or possession of nearshore rockfish species (PDF), cabezon and greenlings.

Anglers are encouraged to learn nearshore rockfish species (PDF) and groundfish identification skills as retention or possession of nearshore rockfish species during the “offshore-only” season is prohibited. Take of bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod and yelloweye rockfish continues to be prohibited year-round in all areas and depths.

In the Northern GMA (California-Oregon state line to Cape Mendocino), the recreational groundfish “all-depth" season will be open from May 15 through Oct. 15 and will allow access to nearshore rockfish (PDF), cabezon, and greenling along with deeper shelf (PDF) and slope (PDF) rockfish species and lingcod. From July 16 through Dec. 31 the San Francisco and Mendocino GMAs will change to an “all-depth” season as well. The authorization to fish for groundfish in the offshore or “all-depth” seasons do not supersede state and federal marine protected areas or other special area closures. Anglers can view closed areas utilizing CDFW’s Ocean Sport Fishing Interactive Web Map.

Note that if you are leaving from a port in a closed or partially closed GMA, you may not be able to transit back with fish taken in an adjacent GMA. Per CCR T14 §27.20(b)(1)(A) and §27.20(c), when a species or species group is closed to take and/or possession in part of a GMA, that species or species group may be possessed aboard a vessel in transit through the part of the GMA that is closed if there is no fishing gear deployed in the water. However, that vessel cannot transit into another GMA if that entire GMA is closed to the take of the species or species groups that are in possession onboard the vessel, regardless of where the fish were taken or if fishing gear was deployed or not. For example, the Central GMA is open in all depths and all groundfish species may be taken and possessed in the area from May 1 through Sept. 30. From May 15 through July 15, the San Francisco GMA is open only seaward of 50 fathoms and per CCR T14 §27.35(b)(2)(B) the take and/or possession of nearshore rockfish, cabezon or greenlings is prohibited in the entire GMA. An angler may not legally take and retain nearshore rockfish, cabezon or greenlings onboard a vessel in the open Central GMA and then transit into the San Francisco GMA during this time. However, they can legally take and retain shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod in the Central GMA and then transit into the San Francisco GMA during this time. Between July 16 and Sept. 30, when both the San Francisco and Central GMAs have the same all-depth and groundfish regulations, anglers may fish and transit between GMAs.

Similarly, anglers should exercise caution if transiting between the Northern and Mendocino GMA. The Northern GMA is open in all depths and all groundfish species may be taken and possessed in the area from May 15 through Oct. 15. From May 15 through July 15, the Mendocino GMA is open only seaward of 50 fathoms and per CCR T14 §27.30(b)(2)(B) the take and/or possession of nearshore rockfish, cabezon or greenlings is prohibited in the entire GMA. An angler may not legally take and retain nearshore rockfish, cabezon or greenlings onboard a vessel in the open Northern GMA and then transit into the Mendocino GMA during this time. Between July 16 and Oct. 15, when both the Northern and Mendocino GMAs have the same “all-depth” and groundfish regulations, anglers may fish and transit between GMAs.

Regulations provide an exemption for divers and shore-based anglers from the boat-based season restrictions affecting rockfish and other federally managed groundfish and allows for year-round diving and shore-based angling.

All recreational GMAs in California are scheduled for up to five and a half months of “all-depth” fishing time in 2023. The 2023 fishing seasons for the GMAs are:

Southern Groundfish Management Area (PDF): Closed January 1 - March 31; “All-Depth” Season April 1 - Sept. 15; “Offshore-only” Season Sept. 16 - Dec. 31
Central Groundfish Management Area (PDF): Closed January 1 - April 30; “All-Depth” Season May 1 - Sept. 30; “Offshore-only” Season: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31
San Francisco Groundfish Management Area (PDF): Closed January 1 - May 14; “Offshore-only” Season May 15 - July 15; “All-Depth” Season July 16 - Dec. 31
Mendocino Groundfish Management Area (PDF): Closed Jan. 1 - May 14; “Offshore-only” Season May 15 - July 15; “All-Depth” Season July 16 - Dec. 31
Northern Groundfish Management Area (PDF): Closed Jan. 1 - May 14; “All-Depth” Season May 15 - Oct. 15; Closed Oct. 16 - Dec. 31

For more detailed information on the new 2023 recreational groundfish regulations visit CDFW’s 2023 Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations web page. For information on groundfish fishery science, management and other frequently asked questions, please visit CDFW’s Marine Region Groundfish web page.

CDFW photo by Edgar W. Roberts III.

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Media Contacts:
James Phillips, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 576-2893
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

Big Changes to Sport Groundfish Regulations Coming in 2023

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 13:43:44 GMT

Significant changes to California’s groundfish sport fishing regulations are expected starting next year, in response to recent scientific information suggesting some nearshore groundfish species are in decline. To reduce pressure on these stocks, fishing seasons will be shorter in nearshore waters, but new opportunities in deeper water are anticipated.

The upcoming changes were developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) over the past year and reflect outcomes of a public decision-making process where the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) worked with fishing industry representatives, non-governmental organizations, and state, federal and tribal governments to balance the need for fishing season closures in nearshore waters with the needs of these communities and industries. The PFMC approved the recommendations for 2023 and 2024 at its June meeting.

Based on these recommendations, the National Marine Fisheries Service has begun the process of amending federal regulations, which are expected to take effect in January 2023. The California Fish and Game Commission is considering the same changes to ocean sport fishing regulations for state waters.

California’s sport groundfish regulations divide the state into five “Groundfish Management Areas” – in which the fishing seasons, Rockfish Conservation Areas or depth constraints, and bag limits may differ. In 2022, nearshore groundfish fishing season lengths ranged from eight to 10 months, but in 2023, they are expected to shrink to not more than five and a half months in all areas.

Within the 10-fish daily combined rockfish, cabezon and greenling bag limit, the sub-bag limits of one fish each for quillback and copper rockfish, and four fish for vermilion rockfish will continue in 2023. These sub-bag limits have been in effect since January 2022 and were necessary because new information in 2021 indicated severe declines in the populations of quillback and copper rockfish off California, and recreational vermilion rockfish catch continued to be greater than sustainable harvest limits.

Both the sub-bag limits and shortened fishing seasons are expected to achieve necessary reductions in copper, vermilion and quillback rockfish catch.

While groundfish fishing seasons will be shorter for nearshore waters and some bag limits are reduced, new opportunities to fish in deeper water beginning in 2023 will allow anglers to target healthy populations of shelf and slope rockfish in deeper waters, like schooling mid-water widow and yellowtail rockfish, or bottom-dwelling blackgill rockfish. Additionally, the sport fishing seasons for some other federally managed groundfish species like sablefish (sometimes called “black cod” or “butterfish”) will be open year-round without depth constraints. Access to these previously closed depths means new experiences for anglers as they explore new habitats, new fishing locations, new target species, and new gear configurations to assemble and deploy.

“Next year is expected to bring a momentous shift in the sport groundfish fishery as all but one of the overfished shelf species that drove management decisions for the better part of the past two decades are now healthy,” said CDFW Environmental Program Manager Marci Yaremko. “While concerns for quillback and copper rockfish will impact the nearshore fishery in the coming years, there are also a number of new opportunities for anglers, and CDFW looks forward to supporting their development.”

To stay informed of in-season regulatory changes, please call the Recreational Groundfish Hotline at (831) 649-2801 or visit CDFW’s summary of recreational groundfish fishing regulations.

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Media Contacts:
Caroline McKnight, CDFW Marine Region, (831) 277-7683
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Photo: CDFW photo of a copper rockfish, by Ed Roberts