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Inland Sportfish Regulations Simplification FAQ

Attention Anglers! In October 2020, the Fish and Game Commission adopted the largest regulatory inland sport fishing package in their 150-year history. The new regulations took effect March 1, 2021. See responses below to some common questions about these exciting changes!

Why did CDFW change the sport fishing regulations?

These changes stemmed from a CDFW effort to address anglers’ concerns about the complexity of the inland sport fishing regulations by simplifying and streamlining them, and better aligning them with CDFW’s current fisheries management goals and objectives. The underlining goal was to make it easier for anglers to understand the regulations while maintaining and protecting the fisheries.

How have the regulations been simplified?

The regulations have been simplified in three main ways.

  • The special fishing regulations for inland trout (non-anadromous waters) are separated from regulations for hatchery trout, hatchery steelhead and salmon (anadromous waters) to make it easier to understand the bag and possession limits. The special fishing regulations for trout remain in Section 7.50 and will be included in the Freshwater Sport Fishing regulations booklet effective March 2021. The special fishing regulations for hatchery trout, hatchery steelhead and salmon are moved to Section 7.40, and will be included in the Supplemental Sport Fishing regulations booklet effective June 2021.
  • The District regulations, which formerly followed political boundaries, have been consolidated into consistent statewide regulations in a watershed-based approach similar to the Special Regulations.
  • The Special Fishing Regulations were standardized and consolidated through application of a suite of regulations based on fisheries management goals, including angling seasons (closures), bag and possession limits, size limits, and gear restrictions.

How will I know if the regulations are changing for my favorite fishing location(s)?

Anglers can view and download regulations for all inland water bodies in the 2021-2022 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations Booklet, which can be viewed and downloaded on this page, or at wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations. Inland trout (non-anadromous) waters will remain in Section 7.50, while regulations for waters supporting hatchery trout, hatchery steelhead, and salmon (anadromous waters) have moved to a new Section 7.40.

How was the public notified that these changes were coming?

CDFW held a series of community meetings in 2018 and 2019 at locations across the state to publicly introduce and discuss proposed changes to simplify statewide inland sport fishing regulations. CDFW proposals and recommendations from the public were then vetted at the January and March 2020 Wildlife Resources Committee meetings through the Fish and Game Commission and associated stakeholders. The rulemaking process (July – October 2020) provided additional opportunity for public comment.

What if I want to suggest changes to the new regulations?

Where can I get a complete copy of the regulations?

Printed fishing and hunting regulations booklets and the Big Game Hunting Digest have been phased-out over the past two years and CDFW will no longer print and ship hard copies to license agents or customers. Digital booklets will continue to be available for viewing and downloading on the CDFW Regulations page.

Why won’t hard copies of the sport fishing booklets be available anymore?

As part of a broader effort to go paperless, CDFW is transitioning to a digital format for all 2021 hunting and fishing regulations booklets and the Big Game Hunting Digest. The cost to print and ship the booklets is significant, and the money saved by going paperless will be redirected to fish and wildlife conservation.

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Freshwater Sport Fishing

Regulations for taking fish, amphibians and reptiles

  • Klamath River Basin Salmon and Steelhead Fishing Reminders

    Updated May 19, 2025

    In response to continued low returns of Chinook Salmon to California rivers, and decreased ocean abundance estimates, the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) at their May 14th teleconference meeting adopted “Option 2 – complete closure of in-river recreational salmon fisheries” in the Klamath River basin for both the spring/early summer (KRSC) and the fall (KRFC) for 2025.

    Despite this closure, fishing for steelhead in the basin is unaffected and remains open pursuant to subsections 7.40(b)(50)(E)(2) and (6). Additionally, fishing for brown trout on the Trinity River is unaffected and remains open pursuant to subsection 7.40(b)(50)(E)(6).

    Coho salmon regulations (no retention) also remain unchanged, as they are protected under state and federal listings.

    KRSC and KRFC salmon regulations for the Klamath Basin are adopted each year by the FGC at their May meeting. As a result, digital publication of all supplemental regulations content is not completed until early Summer and may not be available at the time of this update.

    Up-to-date Klamath Basin regulations will be found in the 2025 Fishing Regulations Supplement, expected to be published by July 1, 2025.

    We remind anglers to call the Klamath and Trinity River Information Hotline: 1 (800) 564-6479, where up-to-date information is available. This hotline includes Klamath/Trinity salmon and steelhead regulations, Fall Chinook quota updates (when salmon fishing is open) and other information.

  • Central Valley Sportfishing

    Sport fishing regulations for the American, Feather, Mokelumne and Sacramento rivers are adopted each year by the California Fish and Game Commission at their May meeting.

    In response to continued low returns of Chinook Salmon to California rivers, and decreased ocean abundance estimates, the California Fish and Game Commission at their May 15 teleconference meeting adopted Option 4, “No Salmon Fishing in all Central Valley Rivers, Streams, and Tributaries” option for the Central Valley recreational salmon fishery for the coming season. This maintains the existing regulations for 2024-2025 that were already effective in 2023-2024. Other sportfishing regulations in these watersheds remain unchanged.

    Up-to-date Central Valley sport fishing regulations can be found in the 2024-2025 Fishing Regulations Supplement, expected to be published by July 1, 2024.