Ask Marine - Frequently Asked Questions Can't find your answer? Email AskMarine. FAQ Home What would you like to Ask Marine? Home / Recreational Fishing / General Recreational Fishing Q&As / Do I need a permit to host a fishing tournament in the ocean? Recreational Fishing General Recreational Fishing Q&As Do I need a permit to host a fishing tournament in the ocean? fishing tournaments No, while permits are required and special conditions apply to freshwater tournaments in California, pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 2003, tournaments held in waters of the Pacific Ocean are exempt from these conditions. As long as all other fishing regulations are abided by, you may host a fishing tournament in the ocean off California. Glad we could be helpful. Thanks for the feedback. Sorry we couldn't be helpful. Your feedback will help us improve this article. How helpful was this page? Updated on Thu, 13 Feb 2025 by amanda.vandiggelen@wildlife.ca.gov In this section What are the seasons, size limits, and bag and possession limits for the FISH species I am taking or want to keep? What are the seasons, size limits, and bag and possession limits for the INVERTEBRATE species I am taking or want to keep? I caught a bunch of fish but don't see them listed under the regulations. Are they off limits? Do I have to release them all? Where can I look to quickly reference fishing regulations? How can I best identify a fish I just caught? Where can I fish? How can I be certain that I am allowed to fish in a specific area? When do I need a sportfishing license? How do I know when a certain season opens or closes? What piers can I fish off without needing to buy a license? What do I legally need on hand if fishing from a public pier? Can I fish two crab nets and two fishing poles for four gear types total, or only a maximum of two when fishing from a pier? Can I use an Alabama (umbrella) rig on a pier? Can I use a compressed air launcher to launch my line out beyond the surf? What are the recreational tuna fillet-at-sea regulations? What is the sport Pacific bluefin tuna bag limit? Is it legal to use more than one fishing rod when ocean fishing? Can I sell my sport caught fish? Where can I use cast nets in California ocean waters? If I go camping and limit out on the first day and put my catch in a cooler in my car, can I go out on the second day and keep my catch? Is it legal if I limit out on the second day but keep the fish separate from the first day? How can I know if the fish I catch are fish safe to eat throughout the year? How does CDFW develop their fishery population estimates? Do I need a permit to host a fishing tournament in the ocean? Related articles If I go camping and limit out on the first day and put my catch in a cooler in my car, can I go out on the second day and keep my catch? Is it legal if I limit out on the second day but keep the fish separate from the first day? Recreational Fishing / General Recreational Fishing Q&As Is it legal to use more than one fishing rod when ocean fishing? Recreational Fishing / General Recreational Fishing Q&As What do I legally need on hand if fishing from a public pier? Recreational Fishing / General Recreational Fishing Q&As Where can I look to quickly reference fishing regulations? Recreational Fishing / General Recreational Fishing Q&As Can I fish two crab nets and two fishing poles for four gear types total, or only a maximum of two when fishing from a pier? Recreational Fishing / General Recreational Fishing Q&As