Rockfish, lings, cabs in December?

Okay, I've forgotten again what is closed as of December 1st...what can we fish for during December? Lings, cabs, rockfish?
 Thanks,
 Andrew

When in doubt, check with Fish and Game. Here's a nice easy clickable map that will help you figure out the regulations for your particular region.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/fishing_map.html

For those of us in the North-Central Management Area: Point Arena to Pigeon Point:

As of tomorrow Dec 1, 2005

Open: Rockfish, greenling, surfperch, sturgeon, striped bass, halibut, sand dabs, other flounder, dungeness crab
Closed: Lingcod, Cabezon, Salmon, Abalone

From the DFG website...

Rockfish

The recreational fishery for rockfish (Sebastes sp.) is open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through December 31, 2005; the fishery is open to divers and shore-based anglers year-round. Rockfish may only be taken or possessed** in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish within the RCG Complex (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings) in combination of all species per person, with a sub-limit on bocaccio (1 per person, minimum size limit of 10 inches total length, also included in the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit). Yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and cowcod may not be retained (bag limit: zero).

Click here for a summary table of 2005 Recreational Bottom Fishing Regulations.

Note - the recreational fishery for rockfish and associated species* may close early if the annual harvest guidelines for any one specie or species group is met prior to the end of the year.

Cabezon

The recreational fishery for cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) is open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through December 1, 2005; the fishery is also open to divers and shore-based anglers through December 1, 2005. Cabezon may only be taken or possessed** in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 1 fish within the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings), with a minimum size limit of 15 inches total length.

Please note that the December 1 closure is an in-season regulation change. Click here for more information.

Note - the recreational fishery for cabezon and associated species* may close early if the annual harvest guidelines for any one specie or species group is met prior to the end of the year.

Kelp Greenling and Rock Greenling

The recreational fishery for kelp and rock greenlings is open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through December 31, 2005; the fishery is open to divers and shore-based anglers year-round. Greenlings may only be taken or possessed** in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 1 fish within the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings), with a minimum size limit of 12 inches total length.

Click here for a summary table of 2005 Recreational Bottom Fishing Regulations.

Note - the recreational fishery for greenlings and associated species* may close early if the annual harvest guidelines for any one specie or species group is met prior to the end of the year.

Lingcod

The recreational fishery for lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through November 30, 2005; the fishery is open to divers and shore-based anglers from April 1 through November 30, 2005. Lingcod may only be taken or possessed** in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. The daily bag and possession limit is 2 fish with a minimum size limit of 24 inches total length.

Click here for a summary table of 2005 Recreational Bottom Fishing Regulations.

Note - the recreational fisheries for rockfish, lingcod and associated species* may close early if the annual harvest guidelines for any one specie or species group is met prior to the end of the year.

All Other Federally Managed Groundfish and Associated State-Managed Species*

The recreational fisheries for all other federally managed groundfish and associated state-managed species* is open to boat-based anglers from July 1 through December 31, 2005; the fishery is open year-round to divers and shore-based anglers. These species may only be taken or possessed** in waters less than 120 feet (20 fathoms) deep. Refer to the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for size limits, bag limits and other regulations pertaining to these species.

Exceptions:

The recreational fisheries for sanddabs, butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, rex sole, rock sole, sand sole, and starry flounder, using gear specified for sanddabs in federal and state regulations, are exempt from fishery restrictions that pertain to other federally managed groundfish.

The recreational fishery for leopard shark inside San Francisco Bay, Bodega Harbor, Tomales Bay, Bolinas Bay and Drakes Estero is exempt from fishery restrictions that pertain to other federally managed groundfish.

Click here for a summary table of 2005 Recreational Bottom Fishing Regulations.

Note - the recreational fisheries for rockfish, lingcod and associated species* may close early if the annual harvest guidelines for any one specie or species group is met prior to the end of the year.

Sturgeon

The recreational fishery for sturgeon (Acipenser sp.) remains open all year. The daily bag and possession limit is one fish that must be between 46 and 72 inches total length. The sturgeon must voluntarily take the bait or lure in its mouth. No sturgeon may be taken by trolling, snagging, or by the use of firearms. Sturgeon may not be gaffed, nor shall any person use any type of firearm to assist in landing or killing any sturgeon.

Surfperch

The recreational fishery for surfperch (family Embiotocidae) remains open all year. The daily bag and possession limit is 5 fish in combination of all species except shiner surfperch, which have a separate bag limit of 20 fish. Redtail surfperch (Amphistichus rhodoterus) have a minimum size limit of 10 1/2 inches total length.

Dungeness Crab

The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is open in Mendocino county from November 26 2005, through July 30, 2006, and from Sonoma county to the Mexico border from November 5, 2005, through June 30, 2006. The following regulations apply:

    * The daily bag and possession limit is ten Dungeness crabs, except in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties while fishing aboard a Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV), the limit is six.
    * The minimum size limit is 5 3/4 inches measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines); except in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties while fishing aboard a CPFV, the minimum size limit is six inches.
    * Every person taking crab shall carry a device that is capable of accurately measuring the size of the crab using the method described above.
    * Dungeness crab may not be taken or possessed in San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, between the Golden Gate Bridge and Carquinez Bridge.

Click here to view a crab measurement diagram.

Click here for information on crab identification.

See the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for complete information on Dungeness crab, including gear restrictions, measuring devices and methods.

Abalone

The recreational fishery for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) north of the mouth of San Francisco Bay is open from August 1 through November 30, 2005. The following regulations apply:

    * Only red abalone may be taken; no other species of abalone may be taken or possessed
    * No more than three red abalone may be taken or possessed at any one time. Each person taking abalone shall stop detaching abalone when the limit of three is reached
    * No person shall take more than 24 red abalone during a calendar year
    * All red abalone must be seven inches or greater measured along the longest shell diameter
    * Red abalone may only be taken from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset
    * All persons taking abalone are required to carry a fixed caliper measuring gauge capable of accurately measuring seven inches
    * The use of SCUBA gear or surface-supplied air to take abalone is prohibited. Abalone may not be taken or possessed aboard any boat, vessel or floating device in the water containing SCUBA or surface-supplied air
    * All persons required to possess a sport fishing license must also have an Abalone Permit Report Card, and complete it as required in the sport fishing regulations. Abalone permit report cards must be returned to the address on the card within 30 days of the close of the abalone season, whether or not any abalone were taken

Click here to view an abalone measurement diagram.

See the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations for complete information on abalone.

Other Species

There are no depth restrictions on the take of other species, including California halibut, sanddabs, yellowtail, tunas, kelp bass, barred and spotted sand bass, California corbina, white seabass, striped bass, monkeyfaced eels, and California barracuda. See the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet for complete regulations, including regulations for species not covered here.

* Associated species include all species of rockfish (including thornyheads), lingcod, cabezon, greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos, California sheephead, California scorpionfish, ocean whitefish and other federally managed groundfish.

** These fish may be possessed in waters deeper than specified only aboard vessels in transit with no fishing gear in the water.

What’s Closed:

Ocean Salmon

The sport fishery for ocean salmon from Point Arena (Mendocino county) to Pigeon Point (San Mateo county) is closed as of November 14, 2005. The 2006 ocean salmon season will be decided in April by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the California Fish and Game Commission.

Abalone

The recreational fishery for abalone (Haliotis sp.) is closed year-round south of the mouth of San Francisco Bay.

Existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Click here for information on existing MPAs in this region.

For complete regulation information, see the California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.

* Associated species include all species of rockfish (including thornyheads), lingcod, cabezon, greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos, California sheephead, California scorpionfish, ocean whitefish and other federally managed groundfish.

** These fish may be possessed in waters deeper than specified only aboard vessels in transit with no fishing gear in the water.

link is hosed, extra </a> in there or something.

fixed link:(?)

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/fishing_map.html

brian, you are too kind to post this stuff, thanks.