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)(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
September 28, 2023
California Spiny Lobster: Reminders and Advisories for the 2023-2024 Season(opens in new tab)
September 22, 2023
Spiny Lobster Recreational and Commercial Fisheries Set to Open With Delays in Portions of Los Angeles and Orange Counties Due to Public Health Hazard
August 21, 2023
Fish and Wildlife Closes Nearshore Groundfish Fishery in Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Management Areas
August 17, 2023
Changes to Recreational Spiny Lobster Fishing Regulations for the 2023-2024 Season
August 11, 2023
Fish and Wildlife Closes Nearshore Groundfish Fishery in Northern Management Area
August 7, 2023
Fish and Wildlife Director Opens Razor Clam Fishery in Humboldt County
August 2, 2023
Recreational Pacific Halibut Fishery to Close August 4 at 11:59 p.m.
July 28, 2023
Quillback Rockfish Retention Prohibited Statewide, Effective Aug. 7
July 6, 2023
Fish and Wildlife Director Opens Razor Clam Fishery in Del Norte County; Fishery in Humboldt County Remains Closed Due to Public Health Hazard
May 19, 2023
Recreational Ocean, In-River Salmon Fisheries in California to Close for Remainder of 2023; Emergency California Halibut Regulations Adopted to Protect Ocean Fishery
May 2, 2023
CDFW Announces Depth Restriction for the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery in Fishing Zones 1 and 2, and Recreational Crab Trap Prohibition in Zones 3-6 to Protect Humpback Whales
April 21, 2023
Razor Clam Fishery Closes in Humboldt County Due to Public Health Hazard
April 6, 2023
PFMC Recommends Closure of 2023 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
March 30, 2023
CDFW Announces Closure of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Off Central California to Protect Humpback Whales
January 11, 2023
CDFW Lifts Trap Restrictions in the Commercial and Recreational Dungeness Crab Fisheries
Summaries of Regulation or Season Changes
September 28, 2023
State health agencies determined that spiny lobster sampled off of mainland Los Angeles County had elevated levels of domoic acid and recommended a delayed opening of the recreational and commercial fisheries in the area. Test results made available the week of the recreational season opener indicate that domoic acid levels in lobster are still above the health hazard threshold. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will continue to delay the start of the recreational and commercial spiny lobster fisheries within specific areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties. The delay areas will remain in effect until state health agencies determine that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health.
September 22, 2023
State health agencies determined that spiny lobster sampled off of mainland Los Angeles County had elevated levels of domoic acid and recommended a delayed opening of the recreational and commercial fisheries in the area. Following this recommendation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife acted to delay the start of the recreational and commercial spiny lobster fisheries within specific areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties. The delay areas will remain in effect until state health agencies determine that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health.
August 21, 2023
The all-depth recreational boat-based groundfish fisheries in the Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central groundfish management areas (from Cape Mendocino to Point Conception) will shift to an 'offshore-only' fishery beginning Friday, Sept. 1. The offshore-only fishery permits fishing for lingcod, shelf rockfish, and slope rockfish seaward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line. Nearshore rockfish, cabezon, and greenlings may not be taken in these groundfish management areas beginning Sept. 1. The shift to an offshore-only fishery is due in part to exceeding the federal quota for quillback rockfish, one of 13 nearshore rockfish species(opens in new tab).
August 17, 2023
Beginning this year, the recreational California spiny lobster season will start at 6:00 p.m., 12 hours earlier than prior years. When fishing south of Point Arguello, hoop nets may not be deployed during the 24 hours leading up to the recreational lobster season opener. Where there is more than one hoop net operator fishing for lobster, only the GO ID number of one operator is required on each hoop net buoy, though all persons involved in fishing for lobster must still have the appropriate sport fishing license and report card. The definitions for "beginning fishing activity" and "possession" in these regulations have been clarified as well.
August 11, 2023
The all-depth recreational boat-based groundfish fishery in the Northern Groundfish Management Area (from the CA-OR border to Cape Mendocino) will shift to an 'offshore-only' fishery beginning Monday, Aug. 21. The offshore-only fishery permits fishing for lingcod, shelf rockfish, and slope rockfish seaward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line. Nearshore rockfish, cabezon, and greenlings may not be taken in the Northern Groundfish Management Area beginning Aug. 21. The shift to an offshore-only fishery is due in part to exceeding the federal quota for quillback rockfish, one of 13 nearshore rockfish species(opens in new tab).
August 7, 2023
CDFW has reopened the razor clam fishery in Humboldt County. The reopening follows recommendations from state health agencies indicating that eating razor clams from Humboldt County no longer poses a significant threat due to domoic acid.
August 2, 2023
The recreational Pacific halibut fishery will close statewide on Friday, Aug. 4 at 11:59 p.m. Based on the latest catch projections, CDFW expects the 2023 California recreational quota of 39,520 net pounds to be reached by this date.
July 28, 2023
Effective August 7, 2023, recreational and commercial fishermen may not retain quillback rockfish. The combined recreational and commercial take of quillback rockfish will exceed the harvest limits specified in federal regulation for 2023, unless in-season action is taken.
July 6, 2023
CDFW has reopened the razor clam fishery in Del Norte County. The reopening follows recommendations from state health agencies indicating that eating razor clams from Del Norte County no longer poses a significant threat due to domoic acid. In Humboldt County, the razor clam fishery remains closed until further notice.
May 19, 2023
The California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to close California’s recreational salmon fishing season, following the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommendation for closure of both commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries off the California coast due to projections showing Chinook salmon abundance at historic lows.
The Commission also voted unanimously to reduce the daily bag and possession limit for California halibut from three fish to two fish in California waters north of Point Sur, Monterey County. The California halibut two-fish bag limit is expected take effect June 1, 2023. The Pacific halibut fishery is unaffected by the Commission’s action; the daily bag and possession limit for Pacific halibut remains one fish with no size limit.
May 2, 2023
The recreational setting and use of crab traps is restricted south of Mendocino County (in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6) effective May 15, 2023 at noon due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with trap gear. Dungeness crab may still be taken statewide recreationally by hoop nets and crab snares, and by hand. The recreational trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 will continue until lifted by the CDFW Director.
CDFW has implemented a 30-fathom depth constraint for commercial Dungeness crab traps in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the Oregon state line) effective May 15, 2023 at noon, due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with trap gear. Traps used in the commercial fishery are prohibited in waters seaward of the 30-fathom contour as defined in federal regulation. The trap depth constraint in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 will continue until lifted by the CDFW Director.
A Fleet Advisory remains in effect for the recreational and 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 (PDF)(opens in new tab).
CDFW anticipates humpback whales will continue arriving in the coming weeks. All crabbers should be prepared to act quickly to remove fishing gear from remaining open areas should entanglement risk become further elevated.
April 21, 2023
CDFW has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Humboldt County after state health agencies determined that consuming razor clams from county beaches poses a significant health risk due to domoic acid exposure.
April 6, 2023
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended a full closure of California’s commercial and recreational ocean salmon seasons. This action follows recent projections showing Chinook salmon abundance off California is at historic lows. After reviewing the Council’s recommendation, it is expected that the National Marine Fisheries Service will take regulatory action to enact the closure in mid-May. Following the PFMC’s recommendation of a full closure, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his administration's request for a Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration to support impacted communities(opens in new tab).
March 30, 2023
CDFW closed the commercial Dungeness crab fishery south of Mendocino County (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6) at noon on April 15, 2023, to minimize entanglement risk for humpback whales as they return to forage off the coast of California. The use of recreational crab traps north of Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County is permitted, but may be subject to a future trap restriction.
A Fleet Advisory remains in effect for the recreational and 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 (PDF)(opens in new tab).
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) ended 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) ended 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 (PDF)(opens in new tab).