Updated California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Guide Now Available​

January 23, 2025

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has updated its California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations guide (PDF) (large download in attached file), and encourages anglers and all outdoor enthusiasts coastwide to download and review the January 22, 2025 version.

The updated guide is now available on the CDFW Fishing Regulations web page, in the CDFW License App, and on the CDFW Marine Region's comprehensive Ocean Sport Fishing web page.

Regulation changes and updates include the following:

1.  When filleted at sea, lingcod fillets must retain all of the skin on each fillet (not just a small patch of skin). (CCR T14 §27.65(b)(3))

2.  When filleted at sea, California scorpionfish (sculpin) fillets can be of any size, and must retain all of the skin on each fillet (not just a small patch of skin). (CCR T14 §27.65(b)(9))

3.  When filleted at sea, kelp greenling and rock greenling fillets must retain all of the skin on each fillet. (CCR T14 §27.65(b)()

4.  The minimum size limits for cabezon, California scorpionfish (sculpin), kelp greenling, and rock greenling have been eliminated. There are no minimum size limits for these species. (CCR T14 §28.28(c), §28.29(c), and §28.54(c))

To quickly check for open seasons, size limits, and bag/possession limits for popular California fish and shellfish, go to the regulation summary tables beginning on page 45 in the guide.

Sign up for the CDFW Marine Region News Service to receive notification of future updates to the Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations guide.

Walks away shaking his head....

If you are involved in the enforcement,  you should have the ability to identify the specific species...
Carry on

Thanks for posting, Howard.  After some years of the regs being a little more difficult to keep up with, it's nice that this year it's basically the same as last year - with the dropping of cabezon and greenling minimum lengths being the exception.