2017–2018 CALIFORNIA SALTWATER SPORT FISHING REGULATIONS For Ocean Sport Fishing in California Effective March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018 13 2017–2018 CALIFORNIA SALTWATER SPORT FISHING REGULATIONS Groundfish Regulation Tables Contents What’s New for 2017? ............................................................. 4 24 License Information ................................................................ 5 Sport Fishing License Fees ..................................................... 8 Keeping Up With In-Season Groundfish Regulation Changes .... 11 Map of Groundfish Management Areas ...................................12 Summaries of Recreational Groundfish Regulations ..................13 General Provisions and Definitions ......................................... 20 General Ocean Fishing Regulations ��������������������������������������� 24 Fin Fish — General ................................................................ 24 General Ocean Fishing Fin Fish — Minimum Size Limits, Bag and Possession Limits, and Seasons ......................................................... 24 Fin Fish—Gear Restrictions ................................................... 33 Invertebrates ........................................................................ 34 34 Mollusks ............................................................................34 Crustaceans .......................................................................36 Non-commercial Use of Marine Plants .................................... 38 Marine Protected Areas and Other Restricted Fishing Areas ..... 42 Public Health Advisories ........................................................66 Regulations Reference Tables ...............................................68 Invertebrates (Crabs, Clams, Lobsters, etc.) Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/CaliforniaDFW Contact wildlife.ca.gov Regulations seen in RED TEXT are new this year. Headquarters State of California 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento 95814 Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. (916) 653-7664 Natural Resources Agency wildlife.ca.gov/explore/contact-us FREE FISHING DAYS Secretary John Laird License and Revenue Branch July 1 and September 2, 2017 Department of Fish and Wildlife 1740 North Market Blvd., Director Charlton H. Bonham On these days only, ALL regulations apply Sacramento, CA 95834 and report cards are required, but NO license is required for sport fishing. California Fish and Game Commission The Fish and Game Commission is composed of five members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by Eric Sklar Russel Burns the State Senate. The Commission sets hunting and sport fishing regulations including seasons, bag limits, President – St. Helena Member - Napa methods, and areas of take. In addition, the Commission formulates general policies for the Department of Fish and Wildlife and regulates aspects of commercial fishing. Monthly topical meetings are held to hear regulation Jacque Hostler-Carmesin Peter Silva change proposals. The public may make recommendations in writing before a Commission meeting or present Vice President – McKinleyville Member - Chula Vista its proposals verbally at the meeting. The Commission’s meeting schedule, including specific topics, dates and locations, is posted on their website www.fgc.ca.gov. Written comments can be directed to the Fish and Anthony Williams Valerie Termini Game Commission at 1416 Ninth Street, Room 1320, Sacramento, CA 95814, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Member – Huntington Beach Executive Director - Sacramento Alternate communication formats are available upon request. If reasonable accommodation is needed call CDFW at (916) 322-8911. The California Relay Service for the deaf or hearing-impaired can be utilized from TDD phones at (800) 735-2929. Cover Photo: Matt Wong with barred surfperch. Photo courtesy of Products or services provided by advertisers are not promoted or endorsed by the California Department Kristine Lesyna. of Fish and Wildlife. 2 GENERAL INFORMATION REGIONAL OFFICES MARINE REGION NORTH CENTRAL REGION Encompassing the entire California coastline from Serving: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, border to border and three nautical miles out to sea Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Solano, and Sonoma counties, Yolo Field Offices and Region County south of I-80 and San Joaquin County Williamstown, MA | Birmingham, AL Headquarters: west of I-5. 619 2nd Street, Eureka 95501 1701 Nimbus Road (707) 445-6493 Rancho Cordova 95670 • (916) 358-2900 [email protected] 32330 N. Harbor Drive About This Guide Fort Bragg 95437 (Licenses are not sold at this office) CENTRAL REGION (707) 964-9078 Serving: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, This high-quality guide is offered to you Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, by the California Department of Fish and 5355 Skylane Boulevard, Suite B Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties Santa Rosa 95403 Wildlife through its unique partnership (Licenses are not sold at this office) 1234 E. Shaw Avenue, Fresno 93710 with J.F. Griffin Publishing, LLC. (707) 576-2882 (559) 243-4005 x 151 The revenue generated through ad sales [email protected] significantly lowers production costs and Marine Region Headquarters generates savings. These savings translate 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100 into additional funds for other important Monterey 93940 SOUTH COAST REGION agency programs. (831) 649-2870 Serving: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa [email protected] Barbara, and Ventura counties If you have any feedback or are inter- ested in advertising, please contact us at 1933 Cliff Drive, Suite 9 3883 Ruffin Road, San Diego 92123 413.884.1001 or at www.JFGriffin.com Santa Barbara 93109 (858) 467-4201 (Licenses are not sold at this office) [email protected] Graphic Design: (805) 568-1231 Enforcement inquiries for this region should be Jon Gulley, Dane Fay, John Corey, directed to the Ontario office (below) Evelyn Haddad, Chris Sobolowski 4665 Lampson Avenue, Suite C Los Alamitos 90720 (562) 342-7100 INLAND DESERTS REGION Serving: Imperial, Inyo, Mono, Riverside, and 3883 Ruffin Road, San Diego 92123 San Bernardino counties (858) 467-4201 3602 Inland Empire Boulevard, Suite C220 Ontario 91764 • (909) 484-0167 BAY DELTA REGION (Licenses are not sold at this office) Serving: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, [email protected] Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Solano, and Sonoma counties, Yolo County south of I-80 and San Joaquin County CDFW HEADQUARTERS west of I-5. P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento 94244-2090 7329 Silverado Trail, Napa 94558 (916) 653-7664 (707) 944-5500 wildlife.ca.gov/explore/contact-us [email protected] NORTHERN REGION LICENSE AND Serving: Del Norte, Humboldt, Lassen, Mendocino, REVENUE BRANCH Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity This guide is also counties 1740 N. Market Boulevard Sacramento 95834 • (916) 928-5805 available online at 601 Locust Street, Redding 96001 [email protected] (530) 225-2300 [email protected] 2017–2018 CALIFORNIA SALTWATER FISHING REGULATIONS SAVE TODAY ADVENTURE TOMORROW At GEICO, great rates and outstanding coverage doesn’t stop with your car. Whether you drive a motorcycle, boat or RV, we could help you save money on more than just car insurance. See how much you could save. Get a quote today. 1-800-947-AUTO geico.com | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO 4 REGULATION CHANGES WHAT’S NEW FOR 2017? IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DO THE FOLLOWING CDFW OFFICES NO RED ABALONE (EFFECTIVE • Fish without a valid fishing license if LONGER ACCEPT CASH APRIL 1, 2017) you are 16 years of age or older (FGC, Starting January 1, 2017 the California Depart- The California Fish and Game Commission ap- Section 7145) ment of Fish and Wildlife will no longer accept proved emergency regulations on December 7, • Fail to return a report card by the cash at the License and Revenue Branch and re- 2016 to reduce the take of red abalone in the open deadline printed on the report card. gional license offices. Checks, money orders, or area north of San Francisco Bay due to unfavorable Reporting harvest online at wildlife. any debit or credit card with the Visa or Master- environmental conditions. Under the emergency ca.gov/licensing/online-sales card logo are accepted. Cash transactions will still regulations, red abalone may be taken only during satisfies the return requirement. (CCR be available for all items sold at authorized local the months of May, June, August, September and T-14, Section 1.74) sales agents. Search for a license agent near you October. The yearly trip limit is reduced from • Use a sport fishing license that is not at www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales/ 18 to 12 abalone, with no more than 9 abalone signed by the licensee. (CCR T-14, OutletSearch/FindOutlet. from south of the boundary between Sonoma Section 705) and Mendocino counties. See pg. 34. • Transfer any license, tag, validation, stamp, permit, application or reserva- GROUNDFISH (EFFECTIVE tion to another person. (FGC, Section CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER 1052) FEBRUARY 7, 2017) • Use or possess any license, valida- The California