Creature Feature: Striped Marlin

Striped marlin range statewide off California, but are most common south of Point Conception. They may be found throughout the warm, tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Final 2018 Commercial Landings Reports Now Available

photo courtesy NOAA

The Final California Commercial Landings report for 2018 has been posted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website. The report consists of summary tables that provide landings information by month, by port, and by area of California.

The 2018 commercial passenger fishing vessel (party/charter boat) landings report has also been posted in summary table form. The tables report the total number of fish kept by anglers and divers

Creature Feature: Yellowtail

Yellowtail may be found statewide off California, but most fish are taken south of Point Conception from the sea surface to a depth of 228 ft. Prime yellowtail areas include the La Jolla kelp beds,

Spiny Lobster Report Cards Due by April 30, 2019

California spiny lobster
illustration by J. Hofmeister

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds 2018-2019 Spiny Lobster Report Card holders to submit their harvest report online or return their cards by April 30, 2019, as required by law. Information collected from the cards provides CDFW with data necessary to monitor and manage California’s spiny lobster fishery. CDFW generates estimates of recreational spiny lobster catch and effort based on data collected from lobster report cards each season.

CDFW is making a focused effort to improve estimates of recreational lobster effort and catch by taking action to increase the number of report cards returned each year. It is extremely important for

2019 Ocean Salmon Seasons Finalized for the California Coast

King salmon caught off the San Francisco coastline.
CDFW photo

Ocean salmon anglers across the California coast will be able to spend more time on the water this year chasing after King Salmon (also known as Chinook Salmon). At its meeting this week in Rohnert Park, the Pacific Fishery Management Council finalized and adopted ocean salmon seasons beginning on or after May 1 through the remainder of the year.

Sport fisheries in the Klamath Management Zone will open from late May through early September. Fort Bragg and San Francisco areas are currently open; they will close for the first half of May, then reopen and continue through the end of October. The Monterey