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. - California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 27.20(f)
For information about new and proposed in-season regulation changes separate from those under Fish and Game Commission rulemaking authority, visit CDFW's Proposed Regulations page.
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 23, 2026
Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open in Humboldt County
January 8, 2026
Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open in Portions of Northern California, One Area Further Delayed Due to Public Health Hazard
December 30, 2025
Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open in Last Closed Area of Humboldt County after Delay Due to Public Health Risks
December 19, 2025
Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open Jan. 5 in Central California; Recreational Crab Trap Restrictions Lifting Jan. 2
December 12, 2025
Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open in Del Norte, Mendocino, and Parts of Humboldt Counties After Delay Due to Public Health Risks
October 24, 2025
Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishing Begins Nov. 1 With Limitations, Commercial Season Delayed
Summaries of Regulation or Season Changes
January 23, 2026
The waters off Humboldt County from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock state marine protected areas (41° 17.6' N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) will open for commercial Dungeness crab fishing on Jan. 30, preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period beginning at 8:01 a.m. on Jan. 27 under a 15 percent gear reduction.
January 8, 2026
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open at 12:01 a.m., Jan. 15, 2026 under a 15 percent gear reduction in the following areas:
- California/Oregon border (42° 0.0’ N. latitude) to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock state marine protected areas (41° 17.6' N. latitude)
- Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (38° 46.125’ N. latitude).
From the southern boundary of the Reading Rock state marine protected areas (41° 17.6' N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) the commercial Dungeness crab fishery will remain closed due to unhealthy levels of domoic acid in the crab. Commercial Dungeness crab fishing in this area will reopen when state health officials determine that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health.
December 30, 2025
The recreational Dungeness crab fishery opened from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock marine protected areas (41° 17.6’ N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) in Humboldt County after being delayed due to elevated levels of domoic acid. While the area is open to fishing, the California Department of Public Health issued a health advisory to not eat crab viscera (also known as guts) and to clean crab prior to cooking. Crab may currently only be taken with hoop nets, crab snares, or by hand in accordance with the declared trap prohibition in RAMP Fishing Zone 1. Effective 8:01 a.m., Jan. 2, 2026, crab trap restrictions in this area will be lifted and all recreational gear types may be used statewide.
December 19, 2025
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (38°46.125’ N. latitude) to Point Conception (34°27’ N. latitude) beginning Jan. 5, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., with pre-soak to begin on Jan. 2, 2026, at 8:01 a.m. This area (fishing zones 3, 4 and 5) will be subject to a 40 percent trap reduction. The Dungeness crab season will be further delayed from the California/Oregon border (42° N. latitude) to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (fishing zones 1 and 2) because of the inability to conduct meat quality testing due to elevated levels of domoic acid. Pending results of ongoing domoic acid testing, the season will open on Jan. 15, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., under a 15 percent trap reduction in both fishing zones. A pre-soak period will begin on Jan. 12, 2026, at 8:01 a.m. The temporary recreational crab trap restriction will be lifted beginning Jan. 2, 2026, at 8:01 a.m., between the California/Oregon border and Cape Mendocino (40°10’ N. latitude) and between the Sonoma/Mendocino county line and Lopez Point, Monterey County (36° N. latitude) (fishing zones 1, 3 and 4).
December 12, 2025
The recreational Dungeness crab fishery was opened in Del Norte and Mendocino counties and part of Humboldt County, though trap restrictions remain in place due to elevated entanglement risk. State health agencies determined that the fishery could open from the California/Oregon border (42° 0.0' N. latitude) to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock marine protected areas (41° 17.6’ N latitude) and from Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (38° 46.125’ N. latitude). Some areas are under health advisories issued by state health officials, and some portions of Humboldt County will remain closed due to elevated levels of domoic acid. Only hoop nets or crab snares may be used from the California/Oregon border to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock marine protected areas. Anglers may use crab traps from Cape Mendocino to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line. A crab trap restriction also remains in effect from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Lopez Point, Monterey County, and a statewide Fleet Advisory remains in effect.
The commercial Dungeness crab season remains delayed due to entanglement risk, elevated levels of domoic acid and crab quality testing. The next risk assessment will likely take place in mid-December to inform a possible opening of the commercial fishery and lifting of recreational trap restrictions.
October 24, 2025
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery has been delayed until at least the New Year. From the California-Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line, the recreational Dungeness crab fishery is closed until further notice due to unhealthy levels of domoic acid in the crab. CDFW's Director will open the northern California recreational fishery when state health officials determine that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health. When the season opens south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line on Nov. 1, state health officials advise not eating the viscera (internal organs) of Dungeness crab from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Point Reyes to avoid potential domoic acid exposure. When the season opens, crab traps may not be set or fished in ocean waters from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Lopez Point due to an elevated risk of marine life entanglement. The use of hoop nets and crab snares will still be permitted in this area. The next risk assessment will likely take place in mid-December to inform a possible opening of the commercial fishery and lifting of recreational trap restrictions.