Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations

Boundary Lines

Access the map viewer to see the 20-fathom groundfish boundary line and the 50-fathom rockfish conservation area line along the mainland coast and those around the Channel Islands for reference.

Coordinates delineating the 20 Fm Boundary line can be downloaded here DOWNLOAD 20-fm Boundary Waypoint file(.csv). Coordinates delineating the Federal Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) lines and other groundfish closures can be downloaded at NOAA Fisheries West Coast Groundfish Closed Area webpage. 

Regulations

• Northern Management Area
  The California-Oregon border to Cape Mendocino (40°10' N. latitude)
• Mendocino Management Area
  Cape Mendocino (40°10' N. latitude) to Point Arena (38°57.5' N. latitude)
• San Francisco Management Area
  Point Arena (38°57.5' N. latitude) to Pigeon Point (37°11' N. latitude)
• Central Management Area - North
  Pigeon Point (37°11' N. latitude) to Point Lopez (36°00' N. latitude)
• Central Management Area - South
  Point Lopez (36°00' N. latitude) to Point Conception (34°27' N. latitude)
• Southern Management Area
  Point Conception (34°27' N. latitude) to the U.S.-Mexico border
• Cowcod Protections - Groundfish Exclusion Areas
  Found within the Southern Management Area

Northern Management Area

Ocean waters between 42°00' N. latitude (CA-OR Border) and 40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino)
Includes all of Del Norte County and most of Humboldt County

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Mendocino Management Area

Ocean waters between 40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) and 38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena)
Includes a portion of Humboldt County and most of Mendocino County

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San Francisco Management Area

Ocean waters between 38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena) and 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point)
Includes a portion of Mendocino County, all of Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, and most of San Mateo County

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Central Management Area - North

Ocean waters between 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point) and 36°00' N. latitude (Point Lopez)
Includes all of Santa Cruz County, and parts of San Mateo and Monterey Counties

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Central Management Area - South

Ocean waters between 36°0' N. latitude (Point Lopez) and 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception)
Includes all of San Luis Obispo county, and parts of Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties

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Southern Management Area

Ocean waters between 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception) and the U.S.-Mexico Border, excluding the Cowcod Conservation Areas
Includes a portion of Santa Barbara County, and all of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties

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