Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling (RCG Complex) 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.
FIELD GUIDE
Sebastes
genusBASICSebastes is a genus of rockfishes in the family Scorpaenidae, found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; a few species are called ocean perch, sea perch, or redfish. Sizes vary from 13.7 cm to 108 cm.
HABITAT
Intertidal zone to almost 3,000 m (9,800 ft), usually benthic on rocky substrates.
SIZE
13.7 cm–108 cm across species
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling (RCG Complex) identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for California.
- LISTED LIMIT
- 10 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.
- 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 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.
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations, T14 CCR §§1.91, 27.20, 27.25-27.50, 28.28-28.29, 28.55 (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)
SF Bay Area · MARINA
Northern California · MARINA
Southern California · MARINA
SF Bay Area · MARINA
Northern California · MARINA
Southern California · MARINA
Northern California · MARINA
SF Bay Area · MARINA
SF Bay Area · RAMP
Southern California · MARINA
Southern California · MARINA
Central California · MARINA
Central California · MARINA
Central California · MARINA
Southern California · MARINA
Northern California · MARINA
Southern California · MARINA
SF Bay Area · MARINA
SF Bay Area · DOCK
SF Bay Area · MARINA
Central California · MARINA
SF Bay Area · MARINA
Southern California · MARINA
SF Bay Area · MARINA
Southern California · MARINA
Central California · MARINA
SF Bay Area · RAMP
Northern California · DOCK
Southern California · MARINA
This reference does not grant permission to fish or retain a catch. Location, method, vessel, species identification, and emergency closures can change what applies. Verify the applicable official rules.