Ocean Sport Fishing

These regulations are taken verbatim from California Code of Regulations Title 14, and Fish and Game Code.

• General Definitions and Provisions
• Selected General Ocean Finfish Fishing Regulations
• Ocean Finfish Fishing Gear Restrictions
• Selected General Ocean Invertebrate Fishing Regulations
• Kelp and Ocean Plant Regulations

The following links lead to sport fishing regulations taken verbatim from California Code of Regulations Title 14 (except for species whose seasons, size limits, or bag limits may possibly change in-season).

Where no bag limit is listed, the following limits apply:
Fish (Finfish) - 20 finfish in combination of all species with not more than 10 of any one species
Shellfish (Invertebrates) – 35 of any one species

• Abalone (fishery currently closed)
• Anchovy, northern
• Barracuda, California
• Bass - kelp, barred sand, spotted sand
• Bass, striped
• Bonito, Pacific
• Butterfish, Pacific (pompano)
• Cabezon
• Clam, gaper and Washington
• Clam, geoduck
• Clam: littleneck, soft-shell, chiones, northern quahogs, and cockles
• Clam, Pismo
• Clam, razor (fishery currently closed in Del Norte and Humboldt counties)
• Cod, Pacific
• Crabs
• Eelgrass (Zostera spp.) (no-take)
• Finescale codling
• Flounder, arrowtooth
• Flounder, starry
• Garibaldi (no-take)
• Greenling, rock and kelp
• Grenadiers
• Groundfish (includes rockfish)
• Grouper, gulf and broomtail (no-take)
• Grunion, California
• Halibut, California
• Halibut, Pacific
• Herring, Pacific
• Herring, Pacific (eggs)
• Jacksmelt
• Kelp
• Kelp - Sea palm (Postelsia spp.) (no-take)
• Lingcod
• Lobster, California spiny
• Mackerel, Pacific and jack
• Marlin
• Mussels
• Queenfish
• Ratfish
• Rockfish
• Sablefish (black cod)
• Salmon (ocean) (fishery currently closed)
• Sanddab, Pacific
• Sardine, Pacific
• Scallops, bay (speckled) (no-take)
• Scallops, rock
• Scorpionfish, California (sculpin)
• Sea bass, giant (black) (no-take)
• Seabass, white
• Sea urchin, purple
• Shark, leopard
• Shark - mako, thresher, and blue
• Shark, sixgill and sevengill
• Shark, soupfin
• Shark, white (no-take)
• Sheephead, California
• Shrimp, bay (grass)
• Shrimp, coonstripe (Pandalus danae)
• Shrimp, ghost and blue mud
• Skates
• Smelt, surf (night smelt, day fish, and whitebait)
• Snail, moon
• Sole, Dover
• Sole, English
• Spiny dogfish
• Squid, market and jumbo
• Sturgeon, green (no-take)
• Sturgeon, white (catch-and-release only)
• Surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.) (no-take)
• Surfperch
• Swordfish, broadbill
• Thornyheads
• Tidal invertebrates
• Topsmelt
• Tunas
• Whelk, Kellet's
• Whitefish, ocean
• Whiting, Pacific
• Yellowtail

An Introduction to Lobstering (Video)
A discussion of basic California spiny lobster diving and hoop netting practices, and spiny lobster fishing regulations. Part of the CDFW Harvest Huddle Hour series.

California Spiny Lobster Fishing at Catalina Island (Video)
CDFW Lt. Rod Buckler talks about some of the “do’s” and “don’ts” of lobster diving in the Catalina Island area.

How to Measure a California Spiny Lobster (Video)
CDFW Warden Michael Dilts provides a brief overview of spiny lobster fishing regulations and how to measure a lobster.

CDFW Short Video: Ocean Fishing from Piers (YouTube)
Overview of pier fishing regulations

Ocean Fishing from Piers (YouTube)
A brief overview of fishing regulations that apply when fishing from an ocean pier

An Introduction to Angling and Crabbing from Shore and Pier (YouTube)
How to fish and crab from jetties and piers in California. Part of the CDFW Harvest Huddle Hour series.

A Beginners Look at California Halibut and Sandy Beach Surf Fishing (YouTube)
Tips and advice on beach fishing for California halibut and surf fishes. Part of the CDFW Harvest Huddle Hour series.

How to Fish from a Pier (YouTube)
How to organize gear and fish from a Southern California pier. This basic information applies to pier fishing at other locations in California, as well. Part of the CDFW California Fishing Passport program.

Live Bait Tutorial (Video)
How to set up gear and fish surface waters using live bait. Part of the CDFW California Fishing Passport program.

How to Rebury a Pismo Clam (Video)
This short video shows how to bury undersized or unwanted Pismo clams to help them survive and replenish the population.

California Abalone Reporting and Tagging Requirements demonstration (Video)
NOTE: The red abalone sport fishery is closed through at least April, 2026. This video shows abalone sport divers and rock pickers how to comply with abalone regulations enacted April 2008.

Harvest Huddle Hour Videos
The Harvest Huddle Hour is a pre-recorded video series for adults who would like to learn how to fish in the ocean (or harvest any wild food in California). The series was discontinued in Spring 2023, however you can watch past episodes on a number of ocean fishing topics.