In-shore fishing restrictions coming in October and December

September 27, 2024

The change from summer to fall isn’t the only seasonal change happening. The season for rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod is shifting from inshore fishing to its scheduled offshore fishing starting October 1!

Throughout the month of October, boat-based anglers who are targeting rockfish, cabezon and greenling species or lingcod may only fish in waters seaward of the 50-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line. Only shelf rockfish, slope rockfish and lingcod may be retained, while take and possession of nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenling are prohibited during the offshore only fishery.

This offshore only fishery will remain in effect through the end of the year for anyone south of 36°00' N latitude (near Point Lopez, Monterey County). However, for those who fish north of 36°00' N latitude you will have one more opportunity to fish inshore of the 20-fathom boundary line during the month of November, before it moves back offshore December 1, through the end of the year.

This seasonal change does not apply to divers and shore-based anglers, who will continue to be exempt from boat-based season restrictions affecting rockfish and other federally managed groundfish. As a reminder, in waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed, such as the Rockfish Conservation Areas, boat-based anglers may possess groundfish to anchor, drift, or transit in or through that closed area. Additionally, while anchoring, drifting or transiting through a closed area with groundfish aboard, anglers may only deploy gear specific to the take of crustaceans, including hoop nets, Dungeness crab traps and dip nets.