Recreational Groundfish Season Opens in All State Waters on April 19, 2024

Happy angler with lingcod
Happy California angler with a nice lingcod
photo courtesy E. W. Roberts III

On March 26, 2024, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted proposed changes to the 2024 groundfish season. Those changes are now in effect. The following is an overview of changes in the 2024 groundfish sport fishing regulations: Continue reading “Recreational Groundfish Season Opens in All State Waters on April 19, 2024”

Creature Feature: Opaleye

Opaleye illustration by A. BacharOpaleye may be found from San Francisco Bay southward off rocky shorelines and kelp beds. Young opaleye less than an inch long live in tidepools; they seek deeper water as they grow larger. The largest concentrations of opaleye may be found in about 65 ft. of water. Continue reading “Creature Feature: Opaleye”

Griddy in the Moonlight: 2024 Schedule of Expected California Grunion Runs Now Available

grunion on the beach
As waves recede, grunion stay on the wet sand to reproduce. photo by heather, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Grunion runs are one of California’s most spectacular natural phenomena. If you explained what happens during a grunion run to people who live outside of Southern California, they might think you’re joking. Thousands of fish ride the waves ashore, to lay eggs on the beach in the middle of the night? Sounds like a tall tale! But it’s undeniably true. By accurately charting the moon and tidal cycles, you can figure out when this natural phenomenon occurs and witness it for yourself (or you can use our handy grunion run prediction table instead). Continue reading “Griddy in the Moonlight: 2024 Schedule of Expected California Grunion Runs Now Available”

Annual Salmon Information Meeting to Take Place via Webinar on March 1 

commercial salmon troller
Commercial salmon troller. CDFW photo

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites the public to attend a virtual Salmon Information Meeting on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. State and federal fishery scientists will present information on topics such as last year’s spawning escapement, estimates of forecasted ocean abundance, Continue reading “Annual Salmon Information Meeting to Take Place via Webinar on March 1 “

CDFW Proposes Changes to Open Commercial Nearshore Groundfish Fishery

kelp greenling swimming above a rocky reef
A male kelp greenling swims above a rocky reef off California. The kelp greenling is one of many commercial nearshore species.
CDFW photo by MARE

On January 26, 2024 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife proposed emergency changes for commercial groundfish fishing regulations. The changes would Continue reading “CDFW Proposes Changes to Open Commercial Nearshore Groundfish Fishery”