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California fishing regulations

Curated references from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected California ocean-sport reference subset is not a complete rulebook.

OPEN NOWALL SPECIESAUG 2026

SOURCECDFW ocean sport fishing regulations ↗UPDATED JULY 17, 2026 · CHECKED AUG 14, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCRules vary by location, method, vessel, and emergency closure.The CDFW page is an informational summary; the California Code of Regulations (Title 14) and emergency orders are authoritative.

SPECIESLISTED SEASON WINDOWSJFMAMJJASONDBAGMIN SIZELISTING

Barred Sand Bass[confirmed] Year-round. Minimum size is 14 inches total length or 10 inches alternate length. The maximum-4 barred-sand-bass provision remains in effect until June 1, 2028, when the booklet says it is repealed.5 fish in any combination of kelp bass, barred sand bass, and spotted sand bass; maximum 4 may be barred sand bass.14"OPEN

Cabezon[confirmed] CDFW Groundfish Summary (updated June 23, 2026): Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Management Areas are closed Jan 1-Mar 31 and open all depths Apr 1-Dec 31. Southern Management Area is open all depths Apr 1-Jun 30; Jul 1-Sep 30 is 50-fathom (300-foot) Rockfish Conservation Area inshore-only; Oct 1-Dec 31 nearshore RCG (including cabezon) is closed. Groundfish Exclusion Areas are closed to cabezon. Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from seasons/depths. · Listed season windows: Jan 1, 2026 through Mar 31, 2026 · 0 fish listed · Apr 1, 2026 through Jun 30, 2026 · 10 fish listed · Jul 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026 · 10 fish listed · Oct 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2026 · 10 fish listed10 fish within the Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex) limit of 10 fish per person.—OPEN

California Halibut[confirmed] CDFW states year-round season, 22 inches total length minimum. Daily bag and possession limit is 5 south of a line extending due west magnetic from Point Sur, Monterey County, and 2 north of that line.North of Point Sur, Monterey County: 2 fish; south of Point Sur: 5 fish.22"OPEN

California Spiny Lobster[confirmed] Official rule is from 6:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding the first Wednesday in October through the first Wednesday after the 15th of March. The booklet gives the 2025-26 dates as September 26, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. through March 18, 2026, and 2026-27 dates as October 2, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. through March 17, 2027; calendar-year 2026 windows are split above. Minimum size is 3 and 1/4 inches carapace length. · Listed season windows: Jan 1, 2026 through Mar 18, 2026 · 7 fish listed · Oct 2, 2026 through Dec 31, 2026 · 7 fish listed——CLOSED

Dungeness Crab[confirmed] Official season wording is from the first Saturday in November through June 30 in all other counties, and through July 30 in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties. [inferred] The first Saturday in November 2026 is November 7; the calendar-year windows above retain the nominal June 30 statewide end. Dungeness crab may not be taken from or possessed if taken from San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, or their tidal bays, sloughs, and estuaries between the Golden Gate Bridge and Carquinez Bridge. Minimum size is 5 and three-quarter inches measured by the shortest distance through the body, excluding lateral spines. · Listed season windows: Jan 1, 2026 through Jun 30, 2026 · 10 fish listed · Nov 7, 2026 through Dec 31, 2026 · 10 fish listed——CLOSED

Kelp Bass (Calico)[confirmed] Year-round. Minimum size is 14 inches total length or 10 inches alternate length. The cited CDFW rule groups kelp bass, barred sand bass, and spotted sand bass; the maximum-4 barred-sand-bass provision remains in effect until June 1, 2028, when the booklet says it is repealed.5 fish in any combination of kelp bass, barred sand bass, and spotted sand bass; maximum 4 may be barred sand bass.14"OPEN

Leopard Shark[confirmed] Open year-round in all depths, except leopard shark may not be taken or possessed at any time in Groundfish Exclusion Areas. Minimum size is 36 inches total length.3 fish.36"OPEN

Lingcod[confirmed] CDFW Groundfish Summary (updated June 23, 2026): Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Management Areas are closed Jan 1-Mar 31 and open all depths Apr 1-Dec 31. Southern Management Area is open all depths Apr 1-Jun 30; Jul 1-Sep 30 is 50-fathom (300-foot) Rockfish Conservation Area inshore-only; Oct 1-Dec 31 is 50-fathom offshore-only for shelf/slope rockfish and lingcod. Groundfish Exclusion Areas are closed to lingcod. Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from seasons/depths. Minimum size is 22 inches total length. · Listed season windows: Jan 1, 2026 through Mar 31, 2026 · 0 fish listed · Apr 1, 2026 through Jun 30, 2026 · 2 fish listed · Jul 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026 · 2 fish listed · Oct 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2026 · 2 fish listed2 fish per person.22"OPEN

Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling (RCG Complex)[confirmed] CDFW Groundfish Summary (updated June 23, 2026): Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Management Areas are closed Jan 1-Mar 31 and open all depths Apr 1-Dec 31. Southern Management Area is open all depths Apr 1-Jun 30; Jul 1-Sep 30 is 50-fathom (300-foot) Rockfish Conservation Area inshore-only; Oct 1-Dec 31 is 50-fathom offshore-only for shelf/slope rockfish and lingcod while nearshore RCG is closed. Groundfish Exclusion Areas are closed. Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from seasons/depths. · Listed season windows: Jan 1, 2026 through Mar 31, 2026 · 0 fish listed · Apr 1, 2026 through Jun 30, 2026 · 10 fish listed · Jul 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026 · 10 fish listed · Oct 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2026 · 10 fish listed10 fish in combination per person; copper rockfish 1; vermilion/sunset rockfish 4 in the Northern Management Area or 2 in all other areas; canary rockfish 2; bronzespotted, cowcod, quillback, and yelloweye rockfish zero.—OPEN

Striped Bass[confirmed] Open all year. North of Point Conception, minimum size is 18 inches total length; south of Point Conception there is no minimum size limit. Snagging is illegal; the booklet also restricts methods of take.2 fish.18"OPEN

White Seabass[confirmed] Open all year. Minimum is 28 inches total length or 21.5 inches alternate length. The 1-fish exception applies south of Point Conception from March 15 through June 15.3 fish, except only 1 fish may be taken in waters south of Point Conception between March 15 and June 15.28"OPEN

White Sturgeon[confirmed] Official open season is October 1 through June 30; calendar-year 2026 windows are split above. Daily and annual limits are zero, so the fishery is catch-and-release only. Any sturgeon greater than 60 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. San Francisco Bay special closure applies January 1-March 15 in the boundaries stated by CDFW. · Listed season windows: Jan 1, 2026 through Jun 30, 2026 · 0 fish listed · Oct 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2026 · 0 fish listed——CLOSED

Reference only, not permission to fish or retain a catch. Verify the current official regulations before you go.