New Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Coming in the New Year

I also think it’s a very complicated and hard to enforce regulation

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.

Kayak fishing has become a major player in the fishing industry but we don't have a seat a table. Maybe i should write and article on this?? haha I'm weary about out diving into fishing politics but we're not really represented. Just saying...

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.

Kayak fishing has become a major player in the fishing industry but we don't have a seat a table. Maybe i should write and article on this?? haha I'm weary about out diving into fishing politics but we're not really represented. Just saying...

We are not.  I have been to several meetings but don't really have the time to dedicate to a volunteer rep position.  I'd be happy to help behind the scenes with anyone who does though.

Kayak fishing has become a major player in the fishing industry but we don't have a seat a table.

That's sad.

One cattle boat in one day takes far more rockfish than I do in an entire season...

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

I've never seen any of them either. Do any of these exist in the Monterey Bay?

Condensed version of just open for near shore dates from the regulations at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Sport-Fishing/General-Ocean-Fishing-Regs

27.20. Groundfish Management Areas, Seasons, Depths, Exceptions, and Fishery Closure/Rule Change Process Described. Regulations that follow in sections 27.25 through 27.50 define fishing seasons and depth constraints that are effective within each Groundfish Management Area (GMA). These sections apply to take and possession of federal groundfish species as defined in Section 1.91 and all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos.

(a) The Northern Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 42° 00’ N. lat. (the Oregon/California border) and 40° 10’ N. lat. (near Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County).
(2) May 15 through October 15: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(a) The Mendocino Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 40° 10’ N. lat. (near Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County) and 38° 57.50’ N. lat. (at Point Arena, Mendocino County).
(3) July 16 through December 31: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(a) The San Francisco Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 38° 57.50’ N. lat. (at Point Arena, Mendocino County) and 37° 11’ N. lat. (at Pigeon Point, San Mateo County).
(3) July 16 through December 31: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(a) The Central Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 37° 11’ N. lat. (at Pigeon Point, San Mateo County) and 34° 27’ N. lat. (at Point Conception, Santa Barbara County).
(2) May 1 through September 30: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

27.45. Southern Groundfish Management Area.
(2) April 1 through September 15: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(3) July 16 through December 31: Open for all species

Not confusing at all

Is this mean we can keep the yellow eye now? if so how many? 

It looks like from May 1 to July 15, Santa Cruz to Monterey will get hammered. I’m having a hard time seeing how this is supposed to be an improvement.

Now in Order 

Condensed version of just open for near shore dates from the regulations at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Sport-Fishing/General-Ocean-Fishing-Regs

27.20. Groundfish Management Areas, Seasons, Depths, Exceptions, and Fishery Closure/Rule Change Process Described. Regulations that follow in sections 27.25 through 27.50 define fishing seasons and depth constraints that are effective within each Groundfish Management Area (GMA). These sections apply to take and possession of federal groundfish species as defined in Section 1.91 and all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos.




27.45. Southern Groundfish Management Area.
(2) April 1 through September 15: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(a) The Central Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 37° 11’ N. lat. (at Pigeon Point, San Mateo County) and 34° 27’ N. lat. (at Point Conception, Santa Barbara County).
(2) May 1 through September 30: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(a) The Northern Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 42° 00’ N. lat. (the Oregon/California border) and 40° 10’ N. lat. (near Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County).
(2) May 15 through October 15: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(a) The Mendocino Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 40° 10’ N. lat. (near Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County) and 38° 57.50’ N. lat. (at Point Arena, Mendocino County).
(3) July 16 through December 31: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(a) The San Francisco Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 38° 57.50’ N. lat. (at Point Arena, Mendocino County) and 37° 11’ N. lat. (at Pigeon Point, San Mateo County).
(3) July 16 through December 31: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

I was told that to kayak fish in 300fow+ you'll need to be in the canyon off Moss Landing or about 1-2 miles out of Stillwater Cove P.B.  Fishing out there will be for very experienced kayakers and dangerous as hell for novices!             Just a tip...

I was told that to kayak fish in 300fow+ you'll need to be in the canyon off Moss Landing or about 1-2 miles out of Stillwater Cove P.B.  Fishing out there will be for very experienced kayakers and dangerous as hell for novices!             Just a tip...

I'm going to try out of SWS for sure. Usually, I have to watch that I don't go too deep. Should be interesting.

Time to bust out my jigging electric reels. 

Time to bust out my jigging electric reels. 

Electricity?  That's cheating!

Time to bust out my jigging electric reels. 

Electricity?  That's cheating!

Ha! That's what they said when people first started using Hobie's.

The dark side. 

B—-A wrote:

<snipped> . . . That's what they said when people first started using Hobie's.

And that’s changed?