This page contains information about unscheduled, in-season regulation changes for recreational and commercial ocean fishing.
CDFW is required to notify the public of in-season regulation changes for groundfish at least 10 days before the new regulations becomes effective, via news release.
"The department shall give the public and the National Marine Fisheries Service no less than 10 days notice of any fishery closure or rule change implemented pursuant to this Section via a department news release." - Section 27.20(f) of Title 14, California Code of Regulations(opens in new tab)
Further information may be obtained by calling your local CDFW office. You may also sign up for the Marine Region News Service to receive automatic notification of in-season regulation changes.
News Releases, Updates and Informational Notices
January 11, 2023
CDFW Lifts Trap Restrictions in the Commercial and Recreational Dungeness Crab Fisheries
December 22, 2022
CDFW Opens Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Statewide but Continues Partial Recreational Crab Trap Restriction
December 8, 2022
CDFW Continues Partial Recreational Crab Trap Restriction And Delay Of The Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Statewide
November 21, 2022
CDFW Continues Partial Recreational Crab Trap Restriction and Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Delay to Protect Whales from Entanglement and Due to Low Crab Quality
November 3, 2022
Razor Clam Fishery Closes in Del Norte County Due to Public Health Hazard
October 28, 2022
CDFW Restricts Recreational Crab Traps and Delays the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Protect Whales from Entanglement
Summary of Regulation or Season Changes
January 11, 2023
The restriction on the recreational setting and use of crab traps south of Mendocino County (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6) will end at 8:01 a.m. on Saturday, January 14.
The 50 percent trap reduction that applies to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery south of Mendocino County (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6) will end at 8:01 a.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2023.
A Fleet Advisory will be issued for the recreational fishery and will be continued for the commercial fishery. Crabbers should remain vigilant and avoid setting gear in areas where whales are transiting or foraging, while also following best practices for crabbing with traps(opens in new tab).
December 22, 2022
The recreational setting and use of crab traps will continue to be temporarily restricted south of Mendocino County (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6) due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with trap gear. Dungeness crab may be taken statewide recreationally by hoop nets and crab snares, and by hand. The temporary trap restriction applies in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 until lifted by the CDFW Director.
CDFW will open the commercial Dungeness crab fishery statewide on Dec. 31, 2022. Fishing Zones 3-6 (all areas south of Mendocino County) will open under a 50 percent trap reduction on Dec. 31, 2022 at 12:01 a.m., with a 64-hour gear setting period to begin on Dec. 28, 2022 at 8:01 a.m
CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment to take place on or around Jan. 18, 2022, at which time Director Bonham will re-evaluate the commercial trap reduction and temporary recreational crab trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3-6.
December 8, 2022
The recreational setting and use of crab traps will continue to be temporarily restricted south of Mendocino County (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6) due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with trap gear. Dungeness crab may be taken statewide recreationally by hoop nets and crab snares, and by hand. The temporary trap restriction applies in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 until lifted by the CDFW Director.
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 will also remain delayed due to the presence of high numbers of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with lines and traps in this fishery. In addition, the commercial Dungeness crab season will be delayed in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties (Fishing Zones 1 and 2) because the crab have not met minimum meat recovery criteria(opens in new tab). The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in this area is delayed until 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, pending another round of meat recovery testing.
CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or before Dec. 22, 2022, at which time the CDFW Director will re-evaluate the temporary recreational crab trap restriction and commercial fishery delay in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6. That risk assessment is expected to inform the potential for a commercial fishery opener and modification of the recreational trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 on Dec. 31, 2022.
November 21, 2022
The recreational crab trap restriction will be lifted in Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties (Fishing Zones 1 and 2) at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 28. The recreational setting and use of crab traps will continue to be temporarily restricted south of Mendocino County (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6) due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with trap gear. Dungeness crab may be taken statewide recreationally by hoop nets and crab snares, and by hand. The temporary trap restriction applies in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 until lifted by the CDFW Director.
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 will also remain delayed due to the presence of high numbers of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with lines and traps in this fishery. In addition, the commercial Dungeness crab season will be delayed in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties (Fishing Zones 1 and 2) because the crab have not met minimum meat recovery criteria(opens in new tab). The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in this area is delayed until 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, pending another round of meat recovery testing.
CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or before Dec. 7, 2022, at which time the CDFW Director will re-evaluate the temporary recreational crab trap restriction and commercial fishery delay in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6. That risk assessment is expected to inform the potential for a commercial fishery opener and modification of the recreational trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 on Dec. 16, 2022.
November 3, 2022
CDFW has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County after state health agencies determined that consuming razor clams from the area poses a significant health risk due to domoic acid exposure.
October 28, 2022
The recreational setting and use of crab traps will be temporarily restricted statewide when the Dungeness crab season opens on Saturday, Nov. 5 due to the presence of humpback and blue whales and the potential for entanglement with trap gear. Note that crab traps may not be set or used during the week before the Dungeness crab season opens, as well. Beginning Nov. 5, Dungeness crab may be taken recreationally by hoop nets and crab snares, and by hand. The temporary restriction applies in all fishing zones until lifted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director.
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line was scheduled to open on Nov. 15, 2022 in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6. However, the season opener has been delayed in those zones due to the presence of high numbers of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement.
CDFW anticipates that the next risk assessment will take place on or before Nov. 23, 2022, at which time the Director will re-evaluate the temporary recreational crab trap restriction and commercial fishery delay south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line, as well as the need for any management actions for the commercial fishery in Fishing Zones 1 and 2. That risk assessment is expected to inform the potential for a statewide commercial fishery opener on Dec. 1 and the potential to modify the recreational trap restriction.