Sablefish

With the 50fathom ground fish new reg for us, there are more and more  juvenile sablefish/black cod caught by rockfish gears. What is the size limit,, daily bag limit, possession limit on it? Thanks!

I recently caught a few and started to research the issue. You need to be within the 50 fathom line, there is a 10 fish bag limit, however no size limit to the best of my knowledge.

10 bag limit on top of rockfish, correct?

Assuming sablefish fall under ocean whitefish, it looks like it is 10 sablefish on top of 10 rockfish. But, regs also state a general limit of 20 finfish (lings and halis too). *With the exceptions stated in 27.60(b) of the regs - anchovy, sanddabs, etc.

Same depth, gear restriction, and season limits as groundfish for a given area.  No size limit.  The general bag limit of not more than 20 finfish in combination of all species with not more than 10 of any one species applies.

Citations for the above summary:

28.49. SOUPFIN SHARK, DOVER SOLE, ENGLISH SOLE, ARROWTOOTH FLOUNDER, SPINY
DOGFISH, SKATES, RATFISH, GRENADIERS, FINESCALE CODLING, PACIFIC COD, PACIFIC WHITING,
SABLEFISH AND THORNYHEADS. Soupfin shark, Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny
dogfish, all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine
thornyhead, and shortspine thornyhead are federal groundfish, as defined in subsection 1.91(a), and
are subject to special regulations as follows. Regulations of this Section do not apply to other species
of flounders, sole, sharks, or codlings unless otherwise specified.
(a) Open areas, seasons, and depth constraints: See Section 27.20 through Section 27.50 for
definitions, special closure areas, and exceptions. Take and possession is authorized as follows:
(1) Northern Groundfish Management Area: Open and closed dates and depth constraints as
defined by Section 27.25.
(2) Mendocino Groundfish Management Area: Open and closed dates and depth constraints as
defined by Section 27.30.
(3) San Francisco Groundfish Management Area: Open and closed dates and depth constraints
as defined by Section 27.35.
(4) Central Groundfish Management Area: Open and closed dates and depth constraints as
defined by Section 27.40.
(5) Southern Groundfish Management Area: Open and closed dates and depth constraints as
defined by Section 27.45.
(6) Cowcod Conservation Areas: Closed.
(b) Limit:
(1) The limit on soupfin shark is one fish.
(2) The general bag limit of not more than 20 finfish in combination of all species with not more
than 10 of any one species applies to Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish,
all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine
thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead.
(c) Fishing rules for soupfin shark, Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish,
all skates, ratfish, all grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish, longspine
thornyhead and shortspine thornyhead may be changed during the year or in-season by the
department under the authority of subsection 27.20(e). See subsection 27.20(f ) for additional
information.

Thank you!

I'm seeing lots of reports of hake being caught on salmon gear. Are you guys referring to hake or black cod/sablefish?

I'm seeing lots of reports of hake being caught on salmon gear. Are you guys referring to hake or black cod/sablefish?

Sablefish, friends have been jigging them up well rockfish fishing in those new deeper water. Mostly are just juvenile sablefish tho.

What gear would you use if trying to specifically target sablefish?

What gear would you use if trying to specifically target sablefish?

Same as you'd use for any other groundfish.  They're common bycatch when targeting halibut up in Alaska, but way deep (like 700+ fow).  Hi-lo rigs with squid, swimbaits, etc.

Pretty good under water camera footage of the juvenile sablefish being caught off Bodega. They consume all of his tray bait pretty quickly. Skip to about 6min if you just want see him catch a double, and then the under water action.