Lingcod 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 · Lingcod ↗

FIELD GUIDE

Ophiodon elongatus

speciesBASIC

A greenling of the family Hexagrammidae — despite its name, neither a cod nor a ling. Native from the Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California.

HABITAT

Rocky bottoms at 10–100 m (33–328 ft), occasionally deeper.

SIZE

up to 152 cm (60 in) and 39 kg (86 lb)

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

SOURCEVERIFIEDCDFW ocean sport fishing regulations ↗CALIFORNIA · SPECIES Lingcod · AUTHORITY California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations, T14 CCR §28.27 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 DAYSFreshness contract: checked within 7 days. Still verify the official rule before fishing.The CDFW page is an informational summary; the California Code of Regulations (Title 14) and emergency orders are authoritative.

RULESVERIFIEDCLOSING SOONListed open through September 30, 2026

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

SPECIESLISTED SEASON WINDOWSJFMAMJJASONDBAG / LIMITMIN SIZELISTING

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"CLOSING SOON

LISTED LIMIT: 2 fish per person.
LISTED MIN SIZE: 22 inches
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 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 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.
SOURCE AUTHORITY: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations, T14 CCR §28.27 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.

LAUNCH SITES

Curated launch sites in California (29)

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Berkeley Marina

SF Bay Area · MARINA