Cabezon regulations

California · Curated reference 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.

2026

SPECIES LINKS

Wikipedia · Cabezon ↗

FIELD GUIDE

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

speciesBASIC

A large sculpin native to the Pacific coast of North America — the only known member of its genus, whose name translates literally as "scorpion fish."

HABITAT

Rocky, muddy, and sandy bottoms and kelp beds from Sitka, Alaska, to Baja California, 0–200 m.

SIZE

up to 99 cm (3 ft 3 in) and 14 kg (31 lb)

TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0

SOURCESTALE — VERIFYCDFW ocean sport fishing regulations ↗CALIFORNIA · SPECIES Cabezon · AUTHORITY California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations, T14 CCR §28.28 and §§27.20, 27.25-27.50 (updated June 23, 2026) · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026UPDATED JUNE 23, 2026 · CHECKED SEP 22, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · FRESHNESS ≤ 7 DAYSChecked more than 7 days ago — current status is unknown until verified.The CDFW page is an informational summary; the California Code of Regulations (Title 14) and emergency orders are authoritative.

RULESSTALE — VERIFYVERIFYVerify official rules

Cabezon identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for California.

SPECIESLISTED SEASON WINDOWSJFMAMJJASONDBAG / LIMITMIN SIZELISTING

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 listed · Last listed/reference: 10 fish within the Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex) limit of 10 fish per person.WINDOWS UNVERIFIED · SEE NOTES——VERIFY

LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS: 10 fish within the Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex) limit of 10 fish per person.
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 listed
APPLICABILITY: [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.
SOURCE AUTHORITY: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations, T14 CCR §28.28 and §§27.20, 27.25-27.50 (updated June 23, 2026)

UPDATED June 23, 2026 · CHECKED Sep 22, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026

CDFW ocean sport fishing regulations ↗

The CDFW page is an informational summary; the California Code of Regulations (Title 14) and emergency orders are authoritative.

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