Using the map or the links below, select the portion of the California coast where you plan to fish, and you will access a summary of current sport fishing regulations for that area. Oregon Border to the 40°10' Line The 40°10' Line to Point Arena Point Arena to Pigeon Point Pigeon Point to the 36°00' Line The 36°00' Line to Point Conception Point Conception to the Mexico Border San Francisco Bay District In-Season Ocean Fishing Regulation Changes CDFW news releases detailing the reasons behind in-season regulatory changes as well as a summary of changes Fish and Shellfish Identification Health Advisories and Fishery Closures for California Finfish, Shellfish, and Crustaceans Groundfish Management Areas: Federal latitude/longitude coordinates defining the West Coast 50-fathom depth contours and other West Coast depth contours(opens in new tab) 20-fathom groundfish boundary line(opens in new tab) Cowcod Conservation Areas California Marine Protected Area Maps and Regulations Text Regulations General Sport Fishing Regulations 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 Seasons, Size and Bag Limits 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 More Regulation Information 2024 Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations (PDF)(opens in new tab) Sport fishing regulations booklet continually updated with the latest sport fishing information. Check out our interactive Ocean Sport Fishing Map(opens in new tab) Find fishing regulations, marine protected areas, groundfish conservation area depth restrictions, and more from your cell phone! Current Sport Fishing Regulations for: Groundfish (rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, etc.) Pacific Halibut (831) 649-2801 Ocean Salmon (707) 576-3429 Dungeness Crab and Rock Crab Go Fishing! Get Your Fishing License Measurement Methods for Finfish and Invertebrates (PDF)(opens in new tab) California Beach Fishing List of free fishing piers, jetties, and breakwaters in California (no sport license required, other regulations still apply ) Bring That Rockfish Down! Tips and techniques for releasing rockfish. English version (PDF)(opens in new tab) Versión en español (PDF)(opens in new tab) Phiên bản việt nam (PDF)(opens in new tab) 简体中文版 (PDF)(opens in new tab) Tips for Releasing Saltwater Fish (PDF)(opens in new tab) California Seabirds: Give Them a Break, Not a Line Tips for releasing entangled seabirds How Old Are the Fish I Am Catching? English Version (PDF)(opens in new tab) Versión en español (PDF)(opens in new tab) 简体中文版 (PDF)(opens in new tab) Safe Fish Eating Guidelines(opens in new tab) California State Parks with Accessible Beach/Shoreline(opens in new tab) California State Parks website Report Lost Fishing Gear(opens in new tab) NOAA Fisheries Recreational Fishing Resources(opens in new tab) CDFW Marine Life Management and Research Multi-Day Fishing Permit Information More Publications and Information "How to Fish" Videos California Spiny Lobster 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. Shore/Pier Fishing An Introduction to Angling and Crabbing from Shore and Pier (Video) 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 (Video) 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 (Video) 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 Live Bait Tutorial (Video) How to set up gear and fish surface waters using live bait. Part of the CDFW California Fishing Passport program. Pismo Clam and Red Abalone 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 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. California Fishing Passport The California Fishing Passport Program is a fishing incentive and recognition program that highlights and promotes fishing throughout the state. Make plans to explore California in pursuit of the state's most popular fresh and salt water finfish and shellfish—and start the fishing adventure of a lifetime.
Text Regulations General Sport Fishing Regulations 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 Seasons, Size and Bag Limits 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
More Regulation Information 2024 Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations (PDF)(opens in new tab) Sport fishing regulations booklet continually updated with the latest sport fishing information. Check out our interactive Ocean Sport Fishing Map(opens in new tab) Find fishing regulations, marine protected areas, groundfish conservation area depth restrictions, and more from your cell phone! Current Sport Fishing Regulations for: Groundfish (rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, etc.) Pacific Halibut (831) 649-2801 Ocean Salmon (707) 576-3429 Dungeness Crab and Rock Crab
Go Fishing! Get Your Fishing License Measurement Methods for Finfish and Invertebrates (PDF)(opens in new tab) California Beach Fishing List of free fishing piers, jetties, and breakwaters in California (no sport license required, other regulations still apply ) Bring That Rockfish Down! Tips and techniques for releasing rockfish. English version (PDF)(opens in new tab) Versión en español (PDF)(opens in new tab) Phiên bản việt nam (PDF)(opens in new tab) 简体中文版 (PDF)(opens in new tab) Tips for Releasing Saltwater Fish (PDF)(opens in new tab) California Seabirds: Give Them a Break, Not a Line Tips for releasing entangled seabirds How Old Are the Fish I Am Catching? English Version (PDF)(opens in new tab) Versión en español (PDF)(opens in new tab) 简体中文版 (PDF)(opens in new tab) Safe Fish Eating Guidelines(opens in new tab) California State Parks with Accessible Beach/Shoreline(opens in new tab) California State Parks website Report Lost Fishing Gear(opens in new tab) NOAA Fisheries Recreational Fishing Resources(opens in new tab) CDFW Marine Life Management and Research Multi-Day Fishing Permit Information More Publications and Information
"How to Fish" Videos California Spiny Lobster 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. Shore/Pier Fishing An Introduction to Angling and Crabbing from Shore and Pier (Video) 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 (Video) 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 (Video) 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 Live Bait Tutorial (Video) How to set up gear and fish surface waters using live bait. Part of the CDFW California Fishing Passport program. Pismo Clam and Red Abalone 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 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.
California Fishing Passport The California Fishing Passport Program is a fishing incentive and recognition program that highlights and promotes fishing throughout the state. Make plans to explore California in pursuit of the state's most popular fresh and salt water finfish and shellfish—and start the fishing adventure of a lifetime.