New Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Coming in the New Year

December 20, 2022

Changes to recreational fishing seasons, depth limits and bag limits for a variety of groundfish species will be implemented in 2023.

The new regulations were adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council in June 2022 and the California Fish and Game Commission in November 2022 and are expected to take effect on or around Jan. 1, 2023. As in previous years, the boat-based fishery for most groundfish species will be closed statewide beginning Jan. 1, while spear divers and shore-based anglers will continue to have year-round fishing opportunities for groundfish.

For groundfish including Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenling (RCG) as well as lingcod, the boat-based seasons will bring a mix of increased and reduced fishing opportunities, depending on the species. Unlike prior years, all Groundfish Management Areas will have a portion of the season when ‘all-depth’ fishing is allowed and anglers are not subject to the Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) depth constraints. This allows new fishing opportunities for deeper-water shelf and slope rockfish, which are most abundant in areas that have been previously closed to recreational groundfish fishing. The following is a summary of the new boat-based regulations for RCG species and lingcod in each management area:

Southern Management Area between 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception) and the U.S./Mexico border:

1.  For nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through March 31, open at all depths April 1 through Sept. 15, closed Sept. 16 through Dec. 31.

2.  For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through March 31, open at all depths April 1 through Sept. 15. From Sept. 16 through Dec. 31, take of shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom RCA line.

3.  Additional regulations still apply within the Cowcod Conservation Areas. 

Central Management Area between 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point) and 34°27' N. latitude (Point Conception):

1.  For nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through April 30, open at all depths May 1 through Sept. 30, closed Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

2.  For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through April 30, open at all depths May 1 through Sept. 30. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, take of shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom RCA line.

San Francisco Management Area between 38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena) and 37°11' N. latitude (Pigeon Point):

1.  For nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through July 15, open at all depths July 16 through Dec. 31.

2.  For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through May 14. From May 15 through July 15, take of shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom RCA line. From July 16 through Dec. 31, open at all depths.

Mendocino Management Area between 40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) and 38°57.5' N. latitude (Point Arena):

1.  For nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings: closed Jan. 1 through July 15, open at all depths July 16 through Dec. 31.

2.  For all other rockfish (shelf and slope species) and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through May 14. From May 15 through July 15, take of shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom RCA line. From July 16 through Dec. 31, open at all depths.

Northern Management Area between the California/Oregon state line and 40°10' N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino):

1.  For rockfish, cabezon, greenlings and lingcod: closed Jan. 1 through May 14, open at all depths May 15 through Oct. 15, closed Oct. 16 through Dec. 31.

Anglers will need to identify rockfish species they catch, and beginning in 2023, be able to determine if the fish is categorized as a nearshore, shelf or slope rockfish species, as different seasons and depths apply to each category depending on the Groundfish Management Area and month. The RCG bag limit will remain at 10 fish in combination of rockfish, cabezon and greenlings, with sub-bag limits of not more than four vermilion rockfish, one copper rockfish and one quillback rockfish. Take and possession of cowcod, yelloweye and bronzespotted rockfish will remain prohibited.

The new groundfish regulations are a significant departure from the fishing seasons and depth limits that anglers are accustomed to and are necessary due to scientific information suggesting that copper rockfish and quillback rockfish populations are in severe decline. The season structures for each management area were developed in consultation with fishing industry representatives, non-governmental organizations and state, federal and tribal governments, and were designed to provide the greatest amount of groundfish fishing time and opportunity to anglers throughout the year.

“While recognizing there are concerns with copper and quillback rockfish that will reduce nearshore fishing time in the near-term, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is excited to offer recreational anglers new deeper-water and offshore bank and reef opportunities for groundfish that have been closed for more than two decades,” said CDFW Environmental Program Manager Marci Yaremko. “We look forward to seeing the diversity of healthy species come across the docks in the coming years as significant new fishing grounds will now be available to recreational angling.”

There are also changes for several species that have been subject to boat-based closures in the past, which may offer new alternatives for boat-based anglers as early as January. They include:

1.  New year-round opportunities: ocean whitefish, California scorpionfish, leopard shark, soupfin shark, Dover sole, English sole, arrowtooth flounder, spiny dogfish, skates, ratfish, grenadiers, finescale codling, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, sablefish and thornyheads will now be open year-round in all depths, statewide.

2.  Boat-based fishing for California sheephead, will be open from March 1 through Dec. 31, statewide. The bag limit, regardless of fishing mode, will decrease from five fish to two fish.

To meet harvest goals, the recreational groundfish fishery is subject to in-season regulatory changes. Please stay informed by visiting CDFW’s summary of recreational groundfish fishing regulations webpage before fishing ( https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery).

Scratching my head on this one: 

Anglers will need to identify rockfish species they catch, and beginning in 2023, be able to determine if the fish is categorized as a nearshore, shelf or slope rockfish species, as different seasons and depths apply to each category depending on the Groundfish Management Area and month. The RCG bag limit will remain at 10 fish in combination of rockfish, cabezon and greenlings, with sub-bag limits of not more than four vermilion rockfish, one copper rockfish and one quillback rockfish. Take and possession of cowcod, yelloweye and bronzespotted rockfish will remain prohibited

So, how do you identify a nearshore vs slope?  My only guess is that you have to have bloated fish on board or you will be suspected of catching near shore fish, is this right? 

Descending devices should be mandatory if they really want to save specific species.

Scratching my head on this one: 

Anglers will need to identify rockfish species they catch, and beginning in 2023, be able to determine if the fish is categorized as a nearshore, shelf or slope rockfish species, as different seasons and depths apply to each category depending on the Groundfish Management Area and month. The RCG bag limit will remain at 10 fish in combination of rockfish, cabezon and greenlings, with sub-bag limits of not more than four vermilion rockfish, one copper rockfish and one quillback rockfish. Take and possession of cowcod, yelloweye and bronzespotted rockfish will remain prohibited

So, how do you identify a nearshore vs slope?  My only guess is that you have to have bloated fish on board or you will be suspected of catching near shore fish, is this right? 

Descending devices should be mandatory if they really want to save specific species.

Most of the relevant ones are nearshore. Notable shelf rockfish are yellowtail, canaries, and vermillion. Yellowtail vs olive is tricky.

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Groundfish/Nearshore-Shelf-And-Slope

Ah I see clearly now!    I've never seen anyone catch any of these species before:  https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=36553&inline

Those poor halibut are going to get hammered next year.

Ah I see clearly now!    I've never seen anyone catch any of these species before:  https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=36553&inline

Some of those look like the rockfish I used to catch as a kid in Southern Oregon. Lots of fish that were red, black, or orange, and lots in various combos of those colors.  We didn't have a fish finder, but the line counter was usually around 150 ft or so where we would catch them. Often this was within 100 yds of the cliffs on shore. 

Those poor halibut are going to get hammered next year.

Definitely true. Already working up game plans for various weather/tide scenarios.

Those poor halibut are going to get hammered next year.

100%, and I wouldn't be surprised if new hali regs come after that...

Black-gill and Chilipepper rockfish are delicious

Who will be the first one to catch a Sablefish on the yak?

I gotta make a good descending device now

Black-gill and Chilipepper rockfish are delicious

Who will be the first one to catch a Sablefish on the yak?

I gotta make a good descending device now

Sablefish were thick out of bodega bay last year (2021) and I caught a few trolling for salmon deep. They were juveniles and smaller (maybe 18 inches). Unfortunately they were in the protected area where you couldn’t keep them. I “think” I marked a bunch in some other areas while salmon fishing as well, but they would have been inside the 300’ line we have to deal with next year.

Fifty fathoms from Sonoma Coast shore would be out of range for most kayakers and more than a bit unsafe. I do think exemptions, like non motorized craft fishing inside 300 feet would defeat the "purpose" of FG's idea of greatly reducing take. Cutting the daily limit would have been a better way to go about reducing take. Shore casting off the rocks or spearfishing will see an increase of participants as will halibut fishing in the bays. Any permitted areas are going to be hit hard.

Black-gill and Chilipepper rockfish are delicious

Who will be the first one to catch a Sablefish on the yak?

I gotta make a good descending device now

Sablefish were thick out of bodega bay last year (2021) and I caught a few trolling for salmon deep. They were juveniles and smaller (maybe 18 inches). Unfortunately they were in the protected area where you couldn’t keep them. I “think” I marked a bunch in some other areas while salmon fishing as well, but they would have been inside the 300’ line we have to deal with next year.

Similar story here... found sablefish while trolling (probably too deep) for salmon off Bodega in the MPA/SMCA.  I was quite surprised to get one, too.

Lets add Sablefish to AOTY! 

I understand that if the fish are declining that something needs to be done.....
But who to F&*&&*K wrote these regs..... they are borderline un-useable....

Make it simple..... limit the season or the amount or type of fish but to make it based on these and depth with a stepped calendar is just plain complicated....  really seems screwy and maybe even unenforceable .

Only someone who does not fish or who is paid by the word would write them the way they are presented.

Troy

...really seems screwy and maybe even unenforceable

I agree. Enforcement will definitely be interesting...

Also, 50 fathoms out of Santa Cruz is out of range for any non-motorized kayaker, except for the X-man...

CDFW consulted with "fishing industry representatives"...you mean the charter fleet? Instead of reducing the total RF bag limit from 10 to 5 or 7 or whatever to reduce CnR impacts on coppers and quillbacks, they chop off months of the nearshore season and retain the 10-rockfish limit. But, they did open up deepwater stuff for people who can afford the gas and boat and have the equipment to partake in it...something that's right up the charter fleet's alley.

I get that it's all a balancing act, but they sure leaned heavy towards one particular "industry representative" on this one.

Descending devices should be mandatory if they really want to save specific species.

+1. Will be interesting to see if yelloweye impacts skyrocket without a descending device requirement.