Spearfishing Hub
0
to
300
Central California, Northern California
Minimum Size:
No minimum size.
Limit and Possession:
20 / day | 20 Possessed
Season:
(1) Clam Beach (also known as Little River Beach) in Humboldt County: Between Mad
River and south of the boundary line due west from the Clam Beach south parking lot
trailhead (40° 59.67’ N. lat.) open only during even-numbered years; between Moonstone
Beach and north of the boundary line due west from the Clam Beach south parking lot
trailhead (40° 59.67’ N. lat.) open only during odd-numbered years.
(2) In Del Norte County: North of Battery Point open only during odd-numbered years;
south of Battery Point open only during even-numbered years.
(3) All other areas: Open all year.
-----
Both the Del Norte County and Humboldt County razor clam fisheries have been reopened as of July 6, 2023 and August 7, 2023, respectively.
Northern California, Central California, Southern 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
Central California, Northern California
Minimum Size:
Total Length: 10.5"
Limit and Possession:
5 / day | 5 possessed in San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay
20 / day | 20 possessed all other areas, not including Shiner Surfperch. Not more than 10 surfperch may be of any one species.
Season:
Open Yearly, except may not be taken or possessed by a person in San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay between April 1 and July 31, inclusive.
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, Central California, Southern 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.