29.05. General.
(a) Except as provided in this article there are no closed seasons, closed hours or minimum size limits for any invertebrate. The bag limit on all invertebrates for which the take is authorized and for which there is not a bag limit otherwise established in this article is 35. In San Francisco and San Pablo bays and saltwater tributaries east of the Golden Gate Bridge invertebrates may not be taken at night except from the shore.
(b) Take of all invertebrates is prohibited within state marine reserves. Take of certain invertebrates may be prohibited within state marine parks and state marine conservation areas as per sub-section 632(b). In addition, tidal invertebrates may not be taken in any tidepool or other areas between the high tide mark (defined as Mean Higher High Tide) and 1,000 feet seaward and lateral to the low tide mark (defined as Mean Lower Low Water) except as follows:
(1) Except where prohibited within state marine reserves, state marine parks, state marine conservation areas, or other special closures only the following may be taken: red abalone, limpets, moon snails, turban snails, chiones, clams, cockles, mussels, rock scallops, native oysters, octopuses, squid, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, sand dollars, sea urchins and worms except that no worms may be taken in any mussel bed, unless taken incidental to the harvesting of mussels.
(c) Measuring Devices. Every person while taking invertebrates which have a size limit shall carry a device which is capable of accurately measuring the minimum legal size of the species taken.
(d) In all ocean waters skin and Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) divers may take invertebrates as provided in this article except that in all ocean waters north of Yankee Point (Monterey Co.), SCUBA may be used only to take sea urchins, rock scallops and crabs of the genus Cancer. For the purpose of this section, breathing tubes (snorkels) are not SCUBA.
(e) It shall be unlawful to use or possess any hydraulic pump or other device capable of liquifying sand within 100 yards of any place where marine invertebrates may be present, except in a permanent residence.
29.06. Sea Urchin.
(a) Except as provided in this section, the daily bag limit for sea urchin is 35 individuals of each species.
(b) The daily bag limit for purple sea urchin is forty (40) gallons when taken while skin or SCUBA diving in ocean waters of the following counties: Humboldt, Mendocino, and Sonoma.
(c) There is no possession limit for purple sea urchin.
(d) Notwithstanding other parts of this Section, and until April 1, 2024:
(1) In ocean waters seaward of Caspar Headlands State Beach commonly referred to Caspar Cove, in Mendocino County, in the area eastward of a straight line connecting points between 39
o 22.045' N. lat. 123o 49.462' W. long. and 39o 21.695' N. lat. 123o 49.423' W. long. purple sea urchins may be taken in any number for the purpose of restoring kelp. The purple sea urchins may only be taken by hand or with manually operated hand-held tools.
(2) In ocean waters seaward of Fort Ord Dunes State Park commonly referred to as Tanker Reef, in Monterey County, in the area eastward of a straight line connecting points between 36° 36.076’ N. lat. 121° 53.225’ W. long. and 36° 36.679’ N. lat. 121° 53.220’ W. long., westward of a straight line connecting points between 36° 36.649’ N. lat. 121° 51.594’ W. long. and 36° 37.094 N. lat. 121° 51.914 W. long., and shoreward of a straight line connecting points between 36° 36.679’ N. lat. 121° 53.220’ W. long. and 36°37.094’ N. lat. 121° 51.914’ W. long., red sea urchins and purple sea urchins may be taken in any number for the purpose of restoring the kelp ecosystem. Red sea urchins and purple sea urchins may only be taken by hand or with manually operated hand-held tools.
Mollusks
Abalone, clams, scallops, mussels, etc.
29.10. General.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, saltwater mollusks, including octopus, may be taken only on hook-and-line or with the hands.
(b) The size of a mollusk is measured in greatest shell diameter.
NOTE: The red abalone season is closed until April 1, 2026.
29.15. Abalone.
(a) All ocean waters are closed to the take of abalone. Abalone may not be taken or possessed.
(b) This subsection and subsection (a) shall remain in effect only until April 1, 2026, and as of that date are repealed, unless a later enacted amendment deletes or extends that date.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), subsections (c)(1) and (c)(2) are applicable for abalone in possession prior to April 1, 2018:
(1) Minimum Abalone Size: All red abalone must be seven inches or greater measured along the longest shell diameter.
(2) Abalone Possession and Transportation: It shall be unlawful to possess any untagged abalone or any abalone that have been removed from their shell, except when they are being prepared for immediate consumption.
(d) Minimum Abalone Size: All red abalone must be seven inches or greater measured along the longest shell diameter. No undersized abalone may be brought ashore or aboard any boat, placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person, or retained in any person's possession or under his control. Undersize abalone must be replaced immediately to the same surface of the rock from which detached. Abalones brought ashore shall be in such a condition that the size can be determined.
(e) Special Gear Provisions: The use of SCUBA gear or surface supplied air to take abalone is prohibited. Abalone may not be taken or possessed aboard any boat, vessel, or floating device in the water containing SCUBA or surface supplied air. Abalone may be taken only by hand or by devices commonly known as abalone irons. Abalone irons must be less than 36 inches long, straight or with a curve having a radius of not less than 18 inches, and must not be less than 3/4 inch wide nor less than 1/16 inch thick. All edges must be rounded and free of sharp edges. Knives, screwdrivers and sharp instruments are prohibited.
(f) Measuring Device. Every person while taking abalone shall carry a fixed caliper measuring gauge capable of accurately measuring seven inches. The measuring device shall have fixed opposing arms of sufficient length to measure the abalone by placing the gauge over the shell.
(g) Abalone Possession and Transportation:
Abalones shall not be removed from their shell, except when being prepared for immediate
consumption.
(1) Individuals taking abalone shall maintain separate possession of their abalone. Abalone may not be commingled in a float tube, dive board, dive bag, or any other container or device, until properly tagged. Only after abalones are properly tagged, as described in Section 29.16(b), Title 14, CCR, may they be commingled with other abalone taken by another person.
(h) Report Card Required: Any person fishing for or taking abalone shall have in their possession a nontransferable Abalone Report Card issued by the department and shall adhere to all reporting and tagging requirements for abalone defined in Sections 1.74 and 29.16, Title 14, CCR.
(i) Effective April 1, 2026: Bag Limit and Yearly Trip Limit: Three red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, may be taken per day. No more than three abalone may be possessed at any time. No other species of abalone may be taken or possessed. Each person taking abalone shall stop detaching abalone when the limit of three is reached. No person shall take more
than 18 abalone during a calendar year. In the Open Area as defined in subsections 29.15(j) and 29.15(j)(1), not more than 9 abalone of the yearly trip limit may be taken south of the boundary between Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
(j) Effective April 1, 2026: Open Area: Except in the area described in subsection (j)(1) below, abalone may only be taken north of a line drawn due west magnetic from the center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay. No abalone may be taken, landed, or possessed if landed south of this line.
(1) No abalone may be taken in the Fort Ross area bounded by the mean high tide line and a line drawn due south true from 38º30.63' N, 123º14.98' W (the northern point of Fort Ross Cove) and a line drawn due west true from 38º29.45' N, 123º11.72' W (Jewel Gulch, south boundary Fort Ross State Park).
(k) Effective April 1, 2026: Open Season and Hours:
(1) Open Season: Abalone may be taken only during the months of April, May, June, August, September, October and November.
(2) Open Hours: Abalone may be taken only from 8:00 AM to one-half hour after sunset.
29.16. Abalone Report Card and Tagging Requirements.
[Season closed until April 1, 2026. See Section 29.15]
(a) Abalone Report Card Required. All individuals including divers must have an Abalone Report Card in their immediate possession while fishing for or taking red abalone. Individuals must complete and return the card pursuant to regulations in this Section and in Section 1.74.
(b) Tagging Requirements. An Abalone Report Card includes detachable tags that shall be used to tag any abalone that is taken and retained in the sport fishery. Any red abalone possessed by any person shall be tagged.
(1) Cardholders shall tag any red abalone either immediately upon exiting the water or immediately upon boarding a vessel, whichever occurs first. For the purposes of this section a vessel is defined as any watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water (reference Section 9840(a) CVC). Cardholders shall not wait to return to their vehicle, beach site or other location to tag any abalone in possession. Exception: Cardholders who dive from a non-motorized vessel such as a kayak that is in the water may wait until immediately after disembarking from the non-motorized vessel to tag and record any abalone in possession, but shall not transfer any abalone from his or her immediate possession unless they are first tagged and recorded on the report card.
(2) The cardholder shall fill in the month, day, time of catch, and fishing location on the abalone tag, remove and completely detach the tag from the card, and affix it to the shell of the abalone.
(3) The tag shall be securely fastened to the shell of the abalone. To affix the tag, a “zip tie”, string, line or other suitable material shall be passed through a siphon hole on the abalone shell and through the tag at the location specified on the abalone tag.
(4) Tags shall be used in sequential order, and shall not be removed from the report card until immediately prior to affixing to an abalone. Any tags detached from the report card and not affixed to an abalone shall be considered used and therefore invalid.
(5) No person shall possess any used or otherwise invalid abalone tags not attached to an abalone shell.
(c) Reporting Requirements. Immediately upon tagging all abalone in possession, the cardholder shall record the month, day, time of catch, and fishing location in the appropriate spaces on the numbered line on the Abalone Report Card which corresponds to the number on the tag attached to the abalone.
(d) Records of Prior Activity. All tags must be accounted for at all times by entry of a record on the Abalone Report Card corresponding to all tags that are not in possession. Any tag that was lost or destroyed shall be recorded as such on the corresponding line on the Abalone Report Card. Any tag that was inadvertently removed and is still in possession shall be recorded as void on both the tag and the corresponding line on the Abalone Report Card.
(e) Abalone tags must be left affixed to the shell, including while stored at a residence or non-transient location, until the abalone is processed for immediate consumption.
(f) The annual fee for the Abalone Report Card is specified in Section 7149.8 of the Fish and Game Code.
29.17. Kellet’s Whelk.
(a) Open Season: From July 1 through the first Wednesday after the 15th of March.
29.20. Clams General.
(a) Except as provided in this article, there are no closed seasons, bag limits or size limits on saltwater clams.
(b) Fishing hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
(c) Gear restrictions. It shall be unlawful to use anything other than the following hand-operated devices to take clams: spades, shovels, hoes, forks, rakes, devices that use suction to remove clams commonly known as slurp guns or clam guns, or rigid pipes used to prevent the collapse of holes when digging for clams. It shall be unlawful to use any other device to take clams, including any hydraulic pump or other devices capable of liquifying sand. It shall be unlawful to possess any such unauthorized device, except in a permanent residence, concurrently with any clam. No instrument capable of being used to dig clams may be possessed between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, on any beach of this state, except tools and implements used in the work of cleaning, repairing or maintaining such beach when possessed by a person authorized by appropriate authority to perform such work.
(d) Clams that have a size limit shall be immediately measured. Any undersize clams, or other clams that are not retained, shall be immediately reburied in the area from which they were taken. All clams shall be kept in a whole and measurable condition until being prepared for immediate consumption. When taking or possessing clams each person is required to keep a separate container for their clams. It shall be unlawful to commingle one person’s clams with clams taken by another person.
29.25. Gaper Clams (Horse Clams and Horseneck Clams) and Washington Clams.
(a) Limit: Ten of each species, except in Humboldt Bay the limit is fifty in combination; however, no more than 25 gaper clams may be taken or possessed. In Elkhorn Slough the limit is twelve in combination. All gaper clams and Washington clams dug, regardless of size or broken condition, must be retained until the bag limit is reached. For purposes of this section, clams commonly termed horse clams or horseneck clams are gaper clams, not geoduck clams regulated pursuant to Section 29.30.
29.30. Geoduck Clams.
Limit: Three. The first three geoduck clams dug must be retained as the bag limit regardless of size or broken condition. For purposes of this section, clams commonly termed horse clams or horseneck clams are not geoduck clams.
29.35. Littleneck Clams, Soft-Shell Clams, Chiones, Northern Quahogs, and Cockles.
(a) Limit: Fifty in combination.
(b) Minimum size: One and one-half inches in greatest diameter, except there is no size limit for soft-shell clams. All soft-shell clams dug, regardless of size or broken condition, must be retained until the bag limit is reached.
29.40. Pismo Clams.
(a) Open season: May be taken in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties September 1 through April 30. In all other counties, except in state marine reserves or other marine protected areas which prohibit the take of clams (see Section 632), Pismo clams may be taken at any time of the year.
(b) Limit: Ten.
(c) Minimum size: Five inches in greatest shell diameter north of the boundary between San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties; four and one-half inches in greatest shell diameter south of the boundary, between San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties.
(d) Clam preserves: No clams shall be taken within state marine reserves or other marine protected areas which prohibit the take of clams (see Section 632).
29.45. Razor Clams.
(a) Open season:
(1) Clam Beach (also known as Little River Beach) in Humboldt County: Between Mad River and south of the boundary line due west from the Clam Beach south parking lot trailhead (40° 59.67’ N. lat.) open only during even-numbered years; between Moonstone Beach and north of the boundary line due west from the Clam Beach south parking lot trailhead (40° 59.67’ N. lat.) open only during odd-numbered years.
(2) In Del Norte County: North of Battery Point open only during odd-numbered years; south of Battery Point open only during even-numbered years.
(3) All other areas: Open all year.
(b) Limit: Twenty. The first twenty clams dug must be retained as the bag limit regardless of size or broken condition.
29.55. Mussels.
Limit: Ten pounds (in the shell) of California sea mussels and bay mussels in combination.
29.60. Rock Scallops.
(a) Limit: Ten.
(b) Methods of take: Rock scallops may be taken only by hand, by the use of dive knives, or by devices commonly known as abalone irons in compliance with provisions of Section 29.15(e) of these regulations.
29.65. Speckled (Bay) Scallops. May not be taken or possessed.
29.70. Market Squid, Jumbo Squid. Squid may be taken with hand-held dip nets. There is no limit.
29.71. Moon Snails.
(a) Limit: Five.
(b) Open season: All year except that moon snails may not be taken north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Crustaceans
Crabs, lobster, shrimp, etc.
29.80. Gear Restrictions for Recreational Take of Saltwater Crustaceans.
(a) General Provisions:
(1) Saltwater crustaceans may be taken by hand.
(2) Nets, traps or other appliances may not be used except as provided in this Section.
(3) It is unlawful to disturb, move, or damage any trap; or remove any saltwater crustacean from a trap, that belongs to another person without written permission, including permission transmitted electronically, in possession from the operator of the trap. Any person with written permission from the operator of a crab trap will be in compliance with subsection (c)(3)(A)(1) if the written permission contains the operator’s GO ID number that matches the GO ID number on the buoy of the crab trap being fished.
(b) Hoop nets
(1) Hoop nets may be used to take spiny lobsters and all species of crabs.
(2) The owner of the hoop net or person who placed the hoop net into the water shall raise the hoop net to the surface and inspect the contents of the hoop net at intervals not to exceed 2 hours.
(3) It is unlawful to abandon or leave unchecked a hoop net for more than 2 hours. Any hoop net abandoned or left unchecked for more than 2 hours may be seized by any person authorized to enforce these regulations.
(4) Hoop Net Defined: There are two types of hoop nets allowed for use:
(A) Type A: Fishing gear that is comprised of one to three rigid ring(s), with each ring measuring no greater than 36 inches in inside diameter nor less than 10 inches in inside diameter, which is/are connected to non-metallic soft mesh thereby forming a circular-shaped net with an enclosed bottom. Lift lines shall be attached only to the top ring. A second and third rigid ring(s) may be connected by non-metallic soft mesh to the top ring; however, each ring must be equal in size to or smaller than the ring above it. When the net is being raised the top ring shall be above and parallel to all other rings, with the enclosed bottom portion of the non-metallic soft mesh even with or hanging below all other rings. All parts of the hoop net shall collapse and lie flat when resting on the ocean floor in such a manner that the gear does not entrap or restrict the free movement of crustaceans until lifted. When suspended from lift lines, the entire hoop net shall measure no taller than 36 inches. The ring material shall not be thicker than one inch in any dimension.
(B) Type B: Fishing gear that is comprised of only two rigid rings (not including the bait ring), with the bottom ring measuring no greater than 36 inches in inside diameter and the top ring measuring no less than 15 inches in inside diameter. The top ring shall be connected to the bottom ring and supported by no more than six rigid straight support arms, and the assembled frame shall measure no more than 10 inches tall. The rings and support material shall not be thicker than one inch in any dimension. All rings shall be connected by non-metallic soft mesh, thereby forming a net with an enclosed bottom, and lift lines shall be attached only to the top ring. It is unlawful to have any entrances below the top ring. When suspended from lift lines the enclosed bottom portion of the net shall be even with or hanging below all other rings, and the entire net shall measure no taller than 30 inches. A bait ring may be attached to the net as long as the ring is not part of the rigid frame.
(5) Limits: Between Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County, and the United States-Mexico border, not more than five hoop nets shall be possessed by a person when taking spiny lobster or crab, not to exceed a total of 10 hoop nets possessed when taking spiny lobster or crab per vessel.
Hoop net limits do not apply north of Point Arguello to the California-Oregon border.
(6) Gear Identification Requirements: Hoop nets shall be marked with a surface buoy, except for those hoop nets deployed by persons on shore or manmade structures connected to the shore.
(A) The surface buoy of hoop nets deployed from commercial passenger fishing vessels shall be legibly marked to identify the commercial boat registration number of the vessel.
(B) The surface buoy of hoop nets provided by a licensed guide to clients for use on guided trips shall be legibly marked to identify the guide license number of the accompanying guide.
(C) In all other cases, the surface buoy shall be legibly marked to identify the operator's GO ID number as stated on the operator's sport fishing license or lobster report card, or the GO ID number of one operator if there are multiple operators.
(c) Crab traps:
(1) Crab traps shall have at least two rigid circular openings of not less than four and one-quarter inches inside diameter so constructed that the lowest portion of each opening is no lower than five inches from the top of the trap.
(2) Crab traps shall contain at least one destruct device of a single strand of untreated cotton twine size No. 120 or less that creates an unobstructed escape opening in the top or upper half of the trap of at least five inches in diameter when the destruct attachment material corrodes or fails.
(3) Trap Gear Identification: Every crab trap shall be marked with only a main buoy and a marker buoy, except as noted under subsection 29.80(c)(3)(C) below.
(A) A main buoy is a surface buoy that is at least 5 inches in diameter and 11 inches in length.
1. The main buoy for traps deployed by an individual shall be legibly marked with the operator’s assigned GO ID number.
2. The main buoy for traps deployed from a commercial passenger fishing vessel shall be legibly marked to identify the commercial boat registration number of that vessel.
(B) A marker buoy is a red buoy 3 inches in diameter and 5 inches in length attached no more than 3 feet from the main buoy.
(C) In addition to marking the buoy pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(A)2., traps deployed by commercial passenger fishing vessels shall be legibly marked to identify the commercial boat registration number of the vessel.
(4) Crab traps shall not be deployed and used in ocean waters seven days prior to the opening of the Dungeness crab season.
(5) Every crab trap shall be raised, cleaned, and emptied (serviced) at intervals not to exceed 9 days, weather conditions at sea permitting, and no crab trap shall be abandoned in the waters of this state.
(6) Trap Limits:
(A) An individual shall not operate more than 10 deployed traps, except an individual may service up to 10 additional traps if the individual has in possession written permission from the operator(s) of the additional traps whose gear are identified in accordance with subsection (c)(3)(A)1.
(B) A commercial passenger fishing vessel shall not deploy more than 60 traps per vessel.
(7) Starting at least 5 days in advance of the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab fishing season pursuant to Section 29.85, the director shall, on at least a monthly basis until the season opens statewide and March 1 through June 15, evaluate and respond to risk of humpback whales, blue whales, and/or Pacific leatherback sea turtle entanglement with recreational crab fishing gear as follows:
(A) The director shall evaluate entanglement risk based on marine life concentrations as defined in subsection 132.8(a)(10), Title 14, CCR, and consistent with the acceptable data and numerical triggers outlined in subsection 132.8(c)(2).
1. If data are available, and marine life concentrations meet the numerical triggers for any species as specified in subsection 132.8(c)(2)(A) 4. (in the fall) or 132.8(c)(2)(B) (in the spring), the director shall take action pursuant to subsection 29.80(c)(7)(B) below.
2. If data are unavailable prior to the recreational Dungeness crab season opener, the director shall take action pursuant to subsection 29.80(c)(7)(B) below until data are available, at which point subsection 29.80(c)(7)(A)1. shall apply.
(B) If required under subsection 29.80(c)(7)(A) above, the director after consulting with the president of the commission or the president’s designee, shall implement one or more of the following recreational management actions that the director demonstrates protects humpback whales, blue whales, and/or Pacific leatherback sea turtles based on best available science. Recreational management action shall be determined based on consideration of information outlined in subsection 132.8(d):
1. Advisory notice to recreational crab fishers to employ voluntary efforts and/or measures to reduce the risk of entanglements (e.g. best fishing practices).
2. Recreational Dungeness crab season delay and continuation of the crab trap prohibition specified in subsection 29.80(c)(4), whereby the director shall prohibit the deployment and use of recreational crab traps until new data indicates the numerical triggers for any species as specified in subsection 132.8(c)(2)(A) 4. (in the fall) are no longer met, at which point the director shall lift or modify the Dungeness crab season delay as appropriate.
3. Season closure, whereby the director shall prohibit the deployment and use of recreational crab traps until new data indicates the numerical triggers for any species as specified in subsection 132.8(c)(2)(B) (in the spring) are no longer met, or the normal end of the Dungeness crab season specified in subsection 29.85(b)(2), at which point the director shall lift or modify the closure as appropriate.
(C) Recreational management action may be implemented statewide or by fishing zone(s) (as defined in subsections 132.8(a)(7)(A)-(G)), if the director demonstrates less-than-statewide action protects humpback whales, blue whales, and/or Pacific leatherback sea turtles based on best available science.
(D) Notice of a delay or closure pursuant to subsection 29.80(c)(7)(B) 2. or 3. shall be transmitted via a director’s declaration. The declaration will describe the following:
1. Data supporting the entanglement risk evaluation pursuant to subsection 29.80(c)(7)(A).
2. Relevant information informing management considerations from subsection 132.8(d).
3. Rationale for nexus between management considerations in subsection 132.8(d) and chosen recreational management action under subsection 29.80(c)(7)(B).
4. Duration of management action.
(E) The director’s declaration pursuant to subsection 29.80(c)(7)(D) shall provide a minimum of 5 days’ notice before the delay or closure becomes effective.
(F) The director’s declaration and/or any advisory notice shall be communicated via the department’s “Whale Safe Fisheries” web page located at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Whale-Safe-Fisheries. At its discretion, the department may communicate declarations and/or advisory notices via additional formats.
(G) After the director implements a management action pursuant to subsection (c)(7)(B), he or she shall notify the commission and request that the commission schedule a public discussion of the management action at its next regularly-scheduled commission meeting.
(d) Crab loop traps may have up to six loops.
(e) Crab trap areas: Crab traps, including crab loop traps, may be used north of Point Arguello, Santa Barbara County to take all species of crabs.
(f) Shrimp and prawn traps may be used to take shrimp and prawns only. Trap openings may not exceed ½ inch in any dimension on traps used south of Point Conception nor five inches in any dimension on traps used north of Point Conception.
(g) Diving for crustaceans: In all ocean waters, except as provided in Section 29.05, skin and SCUBA divers may take crustaceans by the use of the hands only. Divers may not possess any hooked device while diving or attempting to dive. Divers may be in possession of spearfishing equipment so long as possession of such equipment is otherwise lawful and is not being used to aid in the take of crustaceans.
(h) Gear Restrictions. It shall be unlawful to use anything other than the following hand-operated devices to take sand crabs or shrimp: spades, shovels, hoes, forks, rakes, devices that use suction commonly known as slurp guns or clam guns, or rigid pipes used to prevent the collapse of holes when digging for sand crabs or shrimp. It shall be unlawful to use any other devices to take crabs or shrimp, including any hydraulic pump or other devices capable of liquifying sand.
(i) Dip nets and Hawaiian-type throw nets: Shrimp may be taken with dip nets and Hawaiian-type throw nets north of Point Conception.
(j) Shrimp trawls: Shrimp beam trawls may be used to take shrimp only in San Francisco Bay waters east of the Golden Gate Bridge, and in San Pablo Bay. The beam trawl frame from which the net is hung may not exceed 24 inches by 18 inches. The trawl may be towed by motorized vessels but may not be retrieved by mechanical devices. Any fish, other than shrimp, caught in the trawl must be returned immediately to the water.
29.85. Recreational Take of Crabs.
(a) Any individual who fishes for crabs using crab trap(s) pursuant to subsection 29.80(c), shall have in possession a valid Recreational Crab Trap Validation for the current license year (Section 701, Title 14, CCR).
(b) Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister):
(1) Dungeness crab may not be taken from or possessed if taken from San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, plus all their tidal bays, sloughs and estuaries between the Golden Gate Bridge and Carquinez Bridge.
(2) Open season: Fishing rules for Dungeness crab may be changed during the year or in-season by the director under the authority of subsection 29.80(c)(7). See subsection 29.80(c)(7) for additional information.
(A) Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties: From the first Saturday in November through July 30.
(B) All other counties: From the first Saturday in November through June 30.
(3) Limit: Ten.
(4) No vessel that takes Dungeness crabs under authority of this section, or Section 29.80, shall be used to take Dungeness crabs for commercial purposes.
(5) Minimum size: Five and three-quarter inches measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines).
(c) All crabs of the Cancer genus except Dungeness crabs, but including: yellow crabs, rock crabs, red crabs and slender crabs:
(1) Open season: All year. Fishing rules for crabs of the Cancer genus may be changed during the year or in-season by the director under the authority of subsection 29.80(c)(7). See subsection 29.80(c)(7) for additional information.
(2) Limit: Thirty-five.
(3) Minimum size: Four inches measured by the shortest distance through the body, from edge of shell to edge of shell at the widest part, except there is no minimum size in Fish and Game Districts 8 and 9.
(d) All crabs of the genus Cancer, including Dungeness crabs, yellow crabs, rock crabs, red crabs and slender crabs, may be brought to the surface of the water for measuring, but no undersize crabs may be placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person’s possession or under his direct control; all crabs shall be measured immediately and any undersize crabs shall be released immediately into the water.
(e) Sand crabs (Emerita analoga): Limit: Fifty.
29.86. Bay Shrimp (Grass Shrimp).
(a) Limit: Five pounds.
29.87. Ghost Shrimp and Blue Mud Shrimp.
(a) Limit: Fifty in combination.
29.88. Coonstripe shrimp (Pandalus danae). Twenty pounds (in the shell, heads on) per day. The first 20 pounds taken, regardless of size or condition, shall constitute a daily bag and possession limit.
29.90. Spiny Lobsters.
(a) Open season: From 6:00 a.m. on the Saturday preceding the first Wednesday in October through the first Wednesday after the 15th of March.
(b) Limit: Seven.
(c) Minimum size: 3 and 1/4 inches measured in a straight line on the mid-line of the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell. All lobsters shall be measured immediately and any undersize lobster shall be released immediately into the water. Divers shall measure lobsters while in the water and shall not remove undersize lobsters from the water. Hoop netters may measure lobsters out of the water, but no undersize lobster may be placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person’s possession or under his or her direct control.
(d) Report Card Required: Any person fishing for or taking spiny lobster shall have in their possession a non-transferable Spiny Lobster Report Card issued by the department and shall adhere to all reporting requirements for lobster defined in Sections 1.74 and 29.91, Title 14, CCR.
(e) Spiny lobsters shall be kept in a whole, measurable condition, until being prepared for immediate consumption.
29.91. Spiny Lobster Report Card Requirements for Ocean Waters.
(a) Spiny Lobster Report Card Required. All individuals must have a Spiny Lobster Report Card in their possession while fishing for or taking lobster. In the case of a person diving from a boat, the report card may be kept in the boat, or in the case of a person diving from the shore, the report card may be kept within 500 yards from the point of entry. Individuals must complete and return the card pursuant to regulations in this Section and in Section 1.74.
(b) Prior to beginning fishing activity, the cardholder must record the month, day, location, and gear code on the first available line on the report card.
(c) When the cardholder moves to another location code, or finishes fishing for the day, he or she must immediately record on the card the number of lobster kept from that location.
(d) In the event an individual fills in all lines and returns a Spiny Lobster Report Card, an additional card may be purchased. See Section 1.74.
(e) The annual fee for the Spiny Lobster Report Card is specified in Section 701, Title 14, CCR.