Any Restrictions on Harvesting Crayfish?

November 10, 2011

Question: Are there any restrictions on the collection of crayfish? Any bag limits? Do I need a fishing license? (Kathleen J.)

Answer: Crayfish may only be taken by hand, hook and line, dip net or with traps not over three feet in greatest dimension. The one exception is the endangered Shasta crayfish (endemic to Shasta County) where no take is allowed at all.  You must have a sport fishing license and there is no season or bag limit for most species. There are some stream closures listed in the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 5.35(d). In addition, if using hook and line, you may not take crayfish in waters closed to the take of fish.