News Archive

After years of discussion and consideration of public comment and scientific research, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) did not approve a proposed regulation amendment to set a maximum size limit for recreational striped bass fishing. This decision and regulatory action affecting California’s natural resources took place at the Commission’s October 8-9 meeting in Sacramento.

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) has approved the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan, a living document that aims to conserve western Joshua trees pressured by habitat loss and a warming climate. Other matters acted on by the Commission at its Aug. 13-14 meeting include designating Quino checkerspot butterfly as a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), and adopting emergency regulations to reopen recreational rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod fisheries north of Point Conception.

The California Fish and Game Commission adopted emergency changes to the state’s groundfish regulations so that recreational ocean fisheries are no longer constrained by quillback rockfish.

The Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has re-opened the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County following a recommendation from state health agencies that domoic acid no longer poses a significant threat. While the razor clam fishery has reopened due to recent tests for domoic acid, the bivalve shellfish health advisory for Del Norte County issued by California Department of Public Health on July 3, 2025, warning consumers not to consume any sport-harvested bivalves (including razor clams, mussels, scallops, and clams, etc.) due to dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins remains in effect. The razor clam fishery remains closed in Humboldt County due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

California’s June 7-8 Ocean salmon season offered some of the best fishing many longtime anglers can remember. Fast action, quick limits and bustling harbors characterized the weekend along much of the coast with a hot salmon bite reported as far south as San Luis Obispo County. Excellent ocean conditions from Crescent City all the way down to Avila Beach allowed anglers to get out both days and try to catch the iconic sport fish in ocean waters for the first time since 2022.