Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations

Some marine protected areas (MPAs) restrict or prohibit sport fishing within MPAs. Visit the MPA pages for more information.

• 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
  Pigeon Point (37°11' 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 Conservation Areas

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

Ocean waters between 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point) and 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception)
Includes all of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, and parts of Santa Barbara and San Mateo 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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Cowcod Conservation Areas

Ocean waters between 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception) and the U.S.-Mexico Border:
Area 1 is located south of the northern Channel Islands. Area 2 is located west of San Diego.
View a map and exact location coordinates.

In these areas, only the groundfish listed within this table may be caught or possessed (See EXCEPTION at end of table).

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