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

California Groundfish Management Area Map - click to enlarge in new window
Click to enlarge in new window

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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NorthernMA_Image


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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screenshot of Mendocino Management Area regulations summary - click to open PDF in new tab


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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screenshot of San Francisco Management Area regulations summary - click to open PDF in new tab


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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screenshot of Central Management Area - North regulations summary - click to open PDF in new tab


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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screenshot of Central Management Area - South regulations summary - click to open PDF in new tab


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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Regulations table for the Southern Management Area regulations summary - click to open PDF in new tab

Marine Region (Region 7)
Regional Manager: Dr. Craig Shuman
Main Office: 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100, Monterey, CA  93940
Email CDFW's Marine Region  |  (831) 649-2870
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