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”

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”

CDFW Wants Your Input on New 20-Fathom Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Line

rockfish
Schooling rockfish
CDFW/MARE photo

Note: The comment period is now closed.

CDFW is seeking public review of a proposed 20-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line. The proposed line will allow commercial and recreational groundfish fishing in shallow waters, providing access to most nearshore rockfish while also minimizing catch and release of quillback rockfish, which may not be retained in California as of 2023.  Continue reading “CDFW Wants Your Input on New 20-Fathom Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Line”

Recreational Groundfish All-Depth Season Opens July 16 in San Francisco and Mendocino Management Areas

girl with rockfish
North Coast black rockfish
photo by E.W. Roberts III

The all-depth recreational groundfish season will open on July 16, 2023 in the San Francisco Groundfish Management Area (GMA) and Mendocino GMA. The all-depth, boat-based season allows fishing in these GMAs regardless of depth, outside of many state or federal marine protected areas or other closures where fishing is prohibited.

Continue reading “Recreational Groundfish All-Depth Season Opens July 16 in San Francisco and Mendocino Management Areas”

CDFW To Host Public Hearing on Proposed Changes to Commercial Groundfish Regulations

commercial boats
Commercial groundfish vessels deliver their catch in Eureka, California
CDFW photo by M. Parker

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will hold an online public hearing on Tuesday May 30, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to discuss proposed regulatory amendments to California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 189, pertaining to commercial groundfish fishing.  The amendments will clarify that existing federal commercial groundfish regulations are incorporated into state regulations and are applicable in state waters.

Additional proposed amendments include: