Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations

Update

Effective September 18, 2025: Recreational regulations allow take of rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in all depths in state and federal waters in the Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Groundfish Management Areas through December 31, 2025. Recreational regulations for other groundfish species can be found on the CDFW Sport Fishing Regulations page and the Ocean Sport Fishing interactive map.

Regulations

Updated September 18, 2025. Red, italicized text indicates in-season change.

These regulations are subject to in-season change. It is the reader's responsibility to know and abide by all regulations in effect at the time of fishing activity. Check for current regulations on this page and on the Ocean Sport Fishing interactive map prior to fishing. (Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from seasons and depths¹.)

See Boundary Line Descriptions for information on groundfish boundary lines.

Certain areas within the management area may further prohibit or restrict fishing ¹, ³ such as:

• Marine protected areas
• Cordell Bank: This federal area in the San Francisco Management Area restricts certain fishing activities (50 CFR 660.360(c)(3)(i)(C))
• Groundfish Exclusion Areas: Eight Groundfish Exclusion Areas in the Southern Management Area restrict certain fishing activities (§27.50)
• Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line descriptions

Descending Devices Required⁴: No one may take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without a descending device in possession.

These Rockfishes May Not Be Taken or Possessed in California - No Retention at Any Time: Bronzespotted Rockfish (JPG), Cowcod, Quillback Rockfish, and Yelloweye Rockfish (CCR T14, §28.55). Fishing is closed year-round, at all depths, no retention at any time (zero fish per person).

Statewide Daily Bag Limits and Minimum Size Limits

Groundfish Regulations For All Anglers and Spearfishing Divers

Species	Daily Bag Limit3	Min. Size Limit5	Filleting Aboard a Vessel6
RCG Complex includes all species of Rockfishes, Cabezon and Greenlings (§1.91 (a)(1), 1.91(a)(3), 1.91(a)(4), 28.55, 28.28, and 28.29).	10 fish in combination per person, except: Copper rockfish (PDF): 1 fish per person Vermilion/sunset rockfish (PDF): 4 fish per person combined in Northern Management Area 2 fish per person combined in all other areas Canary rockfish (PDF): 2 fish per person	All Rockfish: No minimum size limit Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum size limit	All Rockfish: No minimum length. Fillets must have entire skin attached Cabezon and Greenlings: No minimum length. Fillets must have the entire skin attached
Lingcod (§28.27)	2 fish per person	22" total length	Minimum 14" in length with the entire skin attached

Seasons, Depth Restrictions, and Groundfish Management Areas

Jump to

• 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 Protections - Groundfish Exclusion Areas
  Found within the Southern Management Area

Northern Management Area Recreational Groundfish Regulations Summary ¹, ²,³

42°00’ N. latitude (CA-OR Border) to 40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) (CCR T14, §27.25(a))
Printable PDF of this table

Nearshore (PDF) Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenlings	Shelf (PDF) and Slope (PDF) Rockfish and Lingcod
Nearshore Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(1): black, black and yellow, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, and olive rockfishes; treefish Cabezon and Greenlings (CCR T14, §28.28 and §28.29)	Shelf Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(3)): bocaccio; canary, chilipepper, dusky, flag, greenblotched, greenspotted, greenstriped, harlequin, honeycomb, Mexican, pink, redstripe, rosethorn, rosy, shortbelly, silvergray, speckled, squarespot, starry, stripetail, tiger, vermilion/sunset, widow, and yellowtail rockfishes Slope Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(4)): aurora, bank, blackgill, darkblotched, redbanded, rougheye, sharpchin, shortraker, splitnose, and yellowmouth rockfishes; Pacific ocean perch Lingcod (CCR T14, §28.27)
Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters
April 1 - April 30: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	April 1 - April 30: 50 Fathom - Offshore Only Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)
May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00	May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00
August 28 - December 31: Open all depths	August 28 - December 31: Open all depths

Mendocino Management Area Recreational Groundfish Regulations Summary ¹, ²,³

40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) to 38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena)(CCR T14, §27.30(a))
Printable PDF of this table

Nearshore (PDF) Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenlings	Shelf (PDF) and Slope (PDF) Rockfish and Lingcod
Nearshore Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(1): black, black and yellow, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, and olive rockfishes; treefish n Cabezon and Greenlings (CCR T14, §28.28 and §28.29)	Shelf Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(3)): bocaccio; canary, chilipepper, dusky, flag, greenblotched, greenspotted, greenstriped, harlequin, honeycomb, Mexican, pink, redstripe, rosethorn, rosy, shortbelly, silvergray, speckled, squarespot, starry, stripetail, tiger, vermilion/sunset, widow, and yellowtail rockfishes Slope Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(4)): aurora, bank, blackgill, darkblotched, redbanded, rougheye, sharpchin, shortraker, splitnose, and yellowmouth rockfishes; Pacific ocean perch Lingcod (CCR T14, §28.27)
Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters
April 1 - April 30: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	April 1 - April 30: 50 Fathom - Offshore Only Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)
May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00	May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00
August 28 - December 31: Open all depths	August 28 - December 31: Open all depths

San Francisco Management Area Recreational Groundfish Regulations Summary ¹, ²,³

38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena) to 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point)(CCR T14, §27.35(a))

Cordell Bank: This federal area restricts certain fishing activities (50 CFR 660.360(c)(3)(i)(C))

Printable PDF of this table

Nearshore (PDF) Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenlings	Shelf (PDF) and Slope (PDF) Rockfish and Lingcod
Nearshore Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(1): black, black and yellow, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, and olive rockfishes; treefish Cabezon and Greenlings (CCR T14, §28.28 and §28.29)	Shelf Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(3)): bocaccio; canary, chilipepper, dusky, flag, greenblotched, greenspotted, greenstriped, harlequin, honeycomb, Mexican, pink, redstripe, rosethorn, rosy, shortbelly, silvergray, speckled, squarespot, starry, stripetail, tiger, vermilion/sunset, widow, and yellowtail rockfishes Slope Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(4)): aurora, bank, blackgill, darkblotched, redbanded, rougheye, sharpchin, shortraker, splitnose, and yellowmouth rockfishes; Pacific ocean perch Lingcod (CCR T14, §28.27)
Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed -unlawful to possess in all waters	Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters
April 1 - April 30: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	April 1 - April 30: 50 Fathom - Offshore Only Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)
May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00	May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00
August 28 - December 31: Open all depths	August 28 - December 31: Open all depths

Central Management Area Recreational Groundfish Regulations Summary ¹, ²,³

37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point) to 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception)(CCR T14, §27.40(a))
Printable PDF of this table

Nearshore (PDF) Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenlings	Shelf (PDF) and Slope (PDF) Rockfish and Lingcod
Nearshore Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(1): black, black and yellow, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, and olive rockfishes; treefish Cabezon and Greenlings (CCR T14, §28.28 and §28.29)	Shelf Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(3)): bocaccio; canary, chilipepper, dusky, flag, greenblotched, greenspotted, greenstriped, harlequin, honeycomb, Mexican, pink, redstripe, rosethorn, rosy, shortbelly, silvergray, speckled, squarespot, starry, stripetail, tiger, vermilion/sunset, widow, and yellowtail rockfishes Slope Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(4)): aurora, bank, blackgill, darkblotched, redbanded, rougheye, sharpchin, shortraker, splitnose, and yellowmouth rockfishes; Pacific ocean perch Lingcod (CCR T14, §28.27)
Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters
North of 36°00’ N. Lat.: April 1 - April 30: Closed - unlawful to possess all waters May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00	North of 36°00’ N. Lat.: April 1 - April 30: 50 Fathom - Offshore Only Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C) May 1 - Aug 27: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line, which is defined by connecting the appropriate set of waypoints found in CCR T14, §35.00
South of 36°00’ N. Lat.: April 1 - June 30: Open All Depth July 1 - Aug 27: 50 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)	South of 36°00’ N. Lat.: April 1 - June 30: Open All Depth July 1 - Aug 27: 50 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)
August 28 - December 31: Open all depths	August 28 - December 31: Open all depths

Southern Management Area Recreational Groundfish Regulations Summary ¹, ²,³

34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception) to the U.S.-Mexico Border (CCR T14, §27.45(a))

Groundfish Exclusion Areas: Eight Groundfish Exclusion Areas here restrict certain fishing activities (§27.50)

Printable PDF of this table

Nearshore (PDF) Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenlings	Shelf (PDF) and Slope (PDF) Rockfish and Lingcod
Nearshore Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(1): black, black and yellow, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, and olive rockfishes; treefish Cabezon and Greenlings (CCR T14, §28.28 and §28.29)	Shelf Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(3)): bocaccio; canary, chilipepper, dusky, flag, greenblotched, greenspotted, greenstriped, harlequin, honeycomb, Mexican, pink, redstripe, rosethorn, rosy, shortbelly, silvergray, speckled, squarespot, starry, stripetail, tiger, vermilion/sunset, widow, and yellowtail rockfishes Slope Rockfish (CCR T14, §1.91(a)(4)): aurora, bank, blackgill, darkblotched, redbanded, rougheye, sharpchin, shortraker, splitnose, and yellowmouth rockfishes; Pacific ocean perch Lingcod (CCR T14, §28.27)
Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	Jan 1 - Mar 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters
April 1 - June 30: Open All Depths	April 1 - June 30: Open All Depths
July 1 - Sep 30: 50 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)	July 1 - Sep 30: 50 Fathom - Inshore Only Take is prohibited seaward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)
Oct 1 - Dec 31: Closed - unlawful to possess in all waters	Oct 1 - Dec 31: 50 Fathom - Offshore Only Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C)

Footnotes

¹Certain areas may prohibit or restrict fishing, including state and federal marine protected areas, and other state and federal conservation areas. Check marine protected area regulations, or the Ocean Sport Fishing interactive map for fishing regulations, closures, and other restrictions, as well as marine protected area regulations.

²Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG Complex and other federally managed groundfish (CCR T14, §27.20(b)(1)(C) and (b)(1)(D)). Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions for shore-based anglers and divers are as follows:

• When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man-made structures connected to the shore), all species, except those listed in CCR T14, §28.55(b)(1), may be taken and/or possessed year-round. No vessel or watercraft (motorized or non-motorized) may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision.
• When diving or spearfishing, as authorized in CCR T14, §28.90, all species, except those listed in CCR T14, §28.55(b)(1), may be taken and/or possessed year-round. When boat-based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, are prohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft (motorized or non-motorized) when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.

³Transit Provision: In waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed to take or possession but authorized for take or possession in other areas, those species or species groups may be possessed aboard a vessel that is anchored, drifting, or transiting in or through that closed area. While anchored, drifting, or transiting through an area closed to take or possession of these groundfish species or species groups, no gear may be deployed other than for the take of crustaceans with hoop nets used pursuant to CCR T14, §29.80(b), Dungeness crab traps used pursuant to CCR T14, §29.80(c), and dip nets used pursuant to CCR T14, §28.80 (§27.20(b)(1)(A)).

• It is unlawful to possess a groundfish species or species group within a Groundfish Management Area where the take and possession of those species are prohibited in all waters of that Groundfish Management Area or in excess of the bag limit of that Groundfish Management Area, regardless of if the groundfish species or species group were taken in a different Groundfish Management Area where the take or possession is authorized (§27.20(b)(1)(A)(1)).

⁴No person shall take or possess any federal groundfish as defined in CCR T14, §1.91 and all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without having a descending device in possession and available for immediate use to assist in releasing rockfish to the depth of capture (CCR T14, §27.20(b)(2)).

⁵Total length is the longest straight-line measurement from the tip of the head with the mouth closed to the end of the longest lobe of the tail (CCR T14, §1.62). A measurement method illustration is available in the current Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet, available on the CDFW website.

⁶For the purpose of these regulations, the definition of fillet is the flesh from one side of a fish extending from the head to the tail which has been removed from the body (head, tail, and backbone) in a single continuous piece (CCR T14, §27.65(a)). No person shall fillet on any boat or bring ashore as fillets any fish except in accordance with requirements established in CCR T14, §27.65(b). See regulations for information on gear restrictions (CCR T14, §28.65 - 29.00) and species-specific fillet regulations (CCR T14, §27.65).

Boundary Line Descriptions

Access the map viewer to see the 50-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area line along the mainland coast and around the Channel Islands for reference.

Coordinates delineating the Federal Rockfish Conservation Area lines and other groundfish closures can be downloaded at NOAA Fisheries' West Coast Groundfish Closed Areas page.