top of page
0
to
300
Northern California, Southern California, Central California
Minimum Size:
No minimum size.
Limit and Possession:
10 / day | 10 possessed , in any combination of species of Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex, as defined in Section 1.91), except as provided below.
(1) The limit on bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish is zero. These
species shall not be taken or possessed as part of the RCG limit.
(2) The limit on vermilion rockfish is four fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(3) The limit on quillback rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(4) The limit on copper rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(5) In the Cowcod Conservation Areas (see Section 27.50), the limit on slope rockfish, as
defined in subsection 1.91(a)(4), is zero. These species shall not be taken or possessed as
part of the RCG limit in the Cowcod Conservation Areas.
Season:
Open Yearly
Southern California, Northern California
Minimum Size:
No minimum size.
Limit and Possession:
10 / day | 10 possessed , in any combination of species of Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex, as defined in Section 1.91), except as provided below.
(1) The limit on bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish is zero. These
species shall not be taken or possessed as part of the RCG limit.
(2) The limit on vermilion rockfish is four fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(3) The limit on quillback rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(4) The limit on copper rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(5) In the Cowcod Conservation Areas (see Section 27.50), the limit on slope rockfish, as
defined in subsection 1.91(a)(4), is zero. These species shall not be taken or possessed as
part of the RCG limit in the Cowcod Conservation Areas.
Season:
Open Yearly
Southern California, Central California, Northern California
Minimum Size:
No minimum size.
Limit and Possession:
10 / day | 10 possessed , in any combination of species of Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex, as defined in Section 1.91), except as provided below.
(1) The limit on bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish is zero. These
species shall not be taken or possessed as part of the RCG limit.
(2) The limit on vermilion rockfish is four fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(3) The limit on quillback rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(4) The limit on copper rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(5) In the Cowcod Conservation Areas (see Section 27.50), the limit on slope rockfish, as
defined in subsection 1.91(a)(4), is zero. These species shall not be taken or possessed as
part of the RCG limit in the Cowcod Conservation Areas.
Season:
Open Yearly
Southern California, Central California, Northern California
Minimum Size:
No minimum size.
Limit and Possession:
10 / day | 10 possessed , in any combination of species of Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex, as defined in Section 1.91), except as provided below.
(1) The limit on bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish is zero. These
species shall not be taken or possessed as part of the RCG limit.
(2) The limit on vermilion rockfish is four fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(3) The limit on quillback rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(4) The limit on copper rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(5) In the Cowcod Conservation Areas (see Section 27.50), the limit on slope rockfish, as
defined in subsection 1.91(a)(4), is zero. These species shall not be taken or possessed as
part of the RCG limit in the Cowcod Conservation Areas.
Season:
Open Yearly
Northern California, Southern California, Central California
Minimum Size:
No minimum size.
Limit and Possession:
10 / day | 10 possessed , in any combination of species of Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling complex (RCG complex, as defined in Section 1.91), except as provided below.
(1) The limit on bronzespotted rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish is zero. These
species shall not be taken or possessed as part of the RCG limit.
(2) The limit on vermilion rockfish is four fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(3) The limit on quillback rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(4) The limit on copper rockfish is one fish, within the RCG bag limit.
(5) In the Cowcod Conservation Areas (see Section 27.50), the limit on slope rockfish, as
defined in subsection 1.91(a)(4), is zero. These species shall not be taken or possessed as
part of the RCG limit in the Cowcod Conservation Areas.
Season:
Open Yearly
CA Spearfish Regulations
General Rules
28.90. DIVING, SPEARFISHING: Persons who are floating or swimming in the water may use spearfishing gear and skin or SCUBA diving equipment to take fin fish other than giant (black) sea bass, garibaldi, gulf grouper, broomtail grouper, trout, salmon, or broadbill [swordfish], except that:
(a) No person may possess or use a spear within 100 yards of the mouth of any stream in any ocean waters north of Ventura County.
(b) When spearfishing for or in possession of federal groundfish species or all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos as authorized pursuant to subsection 27.20(b)(1)(D), in an area or during a season closed to the take of these species, no fishing gear except spearfishing gear may be aboard the vessel or watercraft.
Disclaimer
I've done my best to reproduce the CA spearfishing laws accurately, but it is important to note that CA Fish and Wildlife often change their regulations without notice and can do so whenever they please. I am one person and cannot always keep up with the regulation. I hope you find this a useful source, but ultimately it is your responsibility to keep current with the laws.
Fish Advisory
Fish can take in harmful chemicals from the water and the food they eat. Chemicals like mercury and PCBs can build up in their bodies over time. Risks include exposure to Mercury, which can harm the brain and nervous system and is especially harmful to fetuses, infants, and children, and PCBs, which can cause cancer and other harmful health effects. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) offers over 100 site-specific advisories for lakes, rivers, bays, reservoirs, and the coast. For water bodies without site-specific advice, look for the appropriate statewide advisory at: oehha.ca.gov/fish/advisories.
MPA
Marine Protected Areas protect the diversity of marine life, the habitats they depend on, and the integrity of the ecosystem. In general, you may not spearfish in these zones. You can see a map of the CA MPA at CDFW.
Reference
This information was aggregated from OEHHA, NOAA Fisheries, and CA Fish and Wildlife (booklet) for Spearfisherman. Images are referenced within the individual fish page. Boat and shore anglers refer to CA Fish and Wildlife website.
bottom of page